Sentinel-class cutter
 Artist's rendition of the Sentinel class cutters circa 2009
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators |  Coast Guard |
| Planned | 58 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 353 long tons |
| Length | 46.8 metres (154 ft) |
| Beam | 8.11 metres (26.6 ft) |
| Depth | 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 x 4,300 kilowatts (5,800 shp) 1 x 75 kilowatts (101 shp) bow thruster |
| Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Endurance | list error: <br /> list (help) 5 days, 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) Designed to be on patrol 2,500 hours per year |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 1 x Short Range Prosecutor RHIB |
| Complement | 2 officers, 20 crew |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 1 x Mk 38 Mod 2 25 mm automatic gun 4 x crew-served Browning M2 machine guns |
The Sentinel class Cutter, previously known as the Fast Response Cutter, is part of the United States Coast Guard's Deepwater program.[1][2] At 46.8 metres (154 ft) it is similar to, but larger than the 123-foot extended Island Class Cutters, like the USCGC Matagorda. 24 to 34 vessels are to be constructed by the Netherlands-based Damen Group, with the Sentinel design based on the company's Stan 4708 patrol vessel.
Planning and acquisition
On March 14 2007, Commandant Thad Allen announced that they had withdrawn from a contract for the construction of the vessels, but had not entirely cancelled the program.[3][4] The new program would focus more on "off-the-shelf" technology.
On September 26 2008, Bollinger Shipyards was awarded US$88 million to build a prototype.[5] The cutter will be the first of a series of 24-34 43 metres (141 ft) cutters built to a design largely based on the Stan 4708 patrol vessels from the Netherlands firm the Damen Group.[6] The South African government employs similar vessels for environmental and fishery patrol.[7] The first cutter will be named USCGC Bernard C. Webber, and all future Sentinel Class will be named after enlisted Coast Guard heroes.[8] Bernard C. Webber will be stationed in Miami. The Bernard C. Webber was launched on Thursday, April 21, 2011, and is expected to be commissioned some time later in the year.[9]
Design
The vessels will be armed with a remote-control 25 mm Bushmaster autocannon and four crew-served M2HB .50-caliber machine guns. They will have a bow thruster for maneuvering in crowded anchorages and channels. They will have small underwater fins, for coping with the rolling and pitching caused by large waves. They will have a stern launching ramp, like the Marine Protector class and the eight failed expanded Island Class cutters. They will be manned by a crew of 22. Like the Marine Protector class, and the cancelled extended Island class cutters, the Fast Response Cutter would deploy the Short Range Prosecutor Rigid-hulled inflatable for rescues and interceptions.[10] According to Marine Log, modifications to the Coast Guard vessels from the Stan 4708 design include an increase in speed from 23 to 28 knots (43 to 52 km/h; 26 to 32 mph), fixed pitch rather than variable pitch propellers, stern launch capability, and watertight bulkheads.[11]
Ships
| Name | Number | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Home port | Status |
| Bernard C. Webber | Bollinger Shipyards | April 2011 | Under construction, launched |
References
- ^ Christopher P. Cavas (2009-09-30). "U.S. Coast Guard Chooses New Patrol Boat". Defense News. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ "Fast Response Cutter (FRC)". Integrated Deepwater System Program. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Coast Guard reassigns Deepwater replacement patrol boat acquisition project". United States Coast Guard. 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ "U.S. Coast Guard Running Out of Ships". Strategy Page. 2007-03-25. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Acquisition Directorate: Newsroom". United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2009-10-08.
- ^ "SENTINEL Class Patrol Boat: Media Round Table". United States Coast Guard. 2008-09-30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-03.
- ^ "Damen Stan Patrol Vessel 4708: Lillian Ngoyi". Damen Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-11.
- ^ http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/alcoast/132-10_alcoast.txt ALCOAST 132/10
- ^ http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/newsroom/updates/sentinel040910.asp Acquisition Directorate Newsroom
- ^ "Short Range Prosecutor (SRP)". Integrated Deepwater System Program. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Bollinger awarded potential $1.5 billion FRC contract". Marine Log. 2009-09-26. Archived from the original on 2009-10-10.
External links
- "deckplan of the USCGC Sentinel". Marine Log. Archived from the original on 2009-10-11.
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