USCGC Bear (WMEC-901)

USCGC Bear (WMEC-901) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. She was laid down August 23, 1979 and launched September 25, 1980 by the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company of Tacoma, Washington. She was commissioned February 4, 1983. She was named for USRC Bear (AG-29), a steam barquentine that was built in Scotland and served the United States Treasury Department in the United States Revenue Cutter Service's Alaskan Patrol.[1]

USCGC Bear (WMEC-901)
History
 United States
Builder: Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington
Laid down: August 23, 1979
Launched: September 25, 1980
Commissioned: February 4, 1983
Homeport: Portsmouth, Virginia
Identification:
Motto:
  • Summa Potentia Per Facilitatem
  • Highest might / ability through willingness.
Status: Active
General characteristics
Displacement: 1,800 tons
Length: 270 ft (82 m)
Beam: 38 ft (12 m)
Draught: 14.5 ft (4.4 m)
Propulsion: Twin turbo-charged ALCO V-18 diesel engines
Speed: 20.5 knots
Range: 9,900 miles
Complement: 100 personnel (14 officers, 86 enlisted)
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • FCS MK 92 Mod 1
  • SPS-78 Surface Search Radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:

AN/SLQ-32A(V)2

2 x Mark 36 SRBOC
Armament:
  • 1 × OTO Melara Mark 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun
  • 2 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns
Aircraft carried: HH-65 Dolphin
Aviation facilities: Helipad and Hangar
USCGC Bear WMEC-901 logo

For previous namesake see USS Bear (1874)

History

In 1986, Bear responded to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster by searching over 1900 square nautical miles (6,500 km²).[2] During any given patrol, Bear conducts a wide-spectrum of missions such as search and rescue, alien migrant interdiction operations, counter-drug patrols, fisheries enforcement, and international engagement—illustrating the versatile, multi-mission character of the Coast Guard and the cutter fleet. Since her commissioning she has made 18 significant drug seizures involving 12 marijuana and 6 cocaine busts.[1]

In 1999 the Bear was deployed with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Battle Group to support NATO combat operations during Operation Allied Force. During this the Bear performed various mission such as surface surveillance, provided backup Search and Rescue response, combat escort for US Army transport vessels in areas where the cutter was well within range of enemy missiles, and provided force protection for the Amphibious Ready Group operating near Albania. Vice Admiral Murphy stated how well and how seamlessly the Bear and her crew performed naval operations. This was due to the Bears interoperability, crew training and knowledge in naval warfare and naval war fighting doctrine, and adequate weaponry. The Bear was awarded the Kosovo Campaign Medal and the NATO Kosovo Medal.[3][4] Since her launch CGC Bear has been deployed 65 times (2019)[5]

Notes
  1. U.S. Coast Guard: USCGC Bear History
  2. U.S. Coast Guard: USCGC Bear News
  3. "The U.S. Coast Guard & Kosovo" (PDF). media.defense.gov. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  4. "1999 – USCG Cutter Bear deployed with the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet for Operation ALLIED FORCE". cgaviationhistory.org. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  5. "Coast Guard members render honors for 9/11". MY9NJ. 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
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