The United States Navy, an Overview

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Guess the recent US Navy posts got me to thinking (INCOMING!!!!!)

I have always felt that GDW massively overstated the losses suffered by the navy, after all a fleet of some 1,100 ships just doesn't disappear, even after a limited nuclear exchange. Granted losses would be heavy, and a lot of the fleet would by inmobilized in harbor due to lack of fuel/spare parts/damage.

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Naval Guns

With the reactivation of the Iowa-class battleships, the US Navy once again mounts the biggest guns on the ocean! But beyond these battleships, there has been a steady decline of naval guns as the older cruisers and destroyers have been decommissioned.

All cruisers armed with 8-inch and 6-inch guns have been retired, as have all of the 5-inch gunned FRAM destroyers and all but one of the 18 destroyers of the Forrest Sherman-class.

The principal guns now being installed in the US Navy and Coast Guard ships are the 5-inch Mk45 Lightweight Gun, the 76mm Mk75 OTO-Melara and the 20mm Mk15 Phalanx CIWS. The 50inch guns are considered primarily for shore bombardment, with a limited air defense capability. The 76mm gun is for air defense and the CIWS is for close-in defense against anti-ship missiles.

The only foreign warships currently in service ate the ten Sverdlov-class light cruisers of the Soviet Navy, mounting between 8-12 6-inch guns. The introduction of the Sovremennyy-class destroyers, the Slava-class cruisers and the Kirov-class battlecruisers has seen the introduction of the 130mm/70-caliber guns

And now, for all of those gun-nuts out there...

The 16-inch/50-caliber Mk7 Mod 0 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,425 fps AP; 2,690fps HC
Crew: 79
Weight: 1,700 tons per ea triple-mount turret
Rate of Fire: 2 rpm per barrel
Maximum Range: 40,185 yds AP, 41,622yds HC
Projectile Weight: 2,700lbs AP, 1,900lbs HC
Ships: Iowa-class BB

The 8-inch/55-caliber Mk16 Mod 0 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,800fps
Crew: 45
Weight: 451 tons per ea triple mount turret
Rate of Fire: 10rpm per barrel
Maximum Range: 30,100yds AP, 31,350yds HC
Projectile Weights: 335lbs AP, 260lbs HC
Ships: Des Moines-class CA

The 8-inch/55-caliber Major Caliber Lightweight Gun Mk71
Muzzle Velocity: 2,800fps
Crew: 6
Weight: 172,895lbs for single tube mount
Rate of Fire: 12rpm
Maximum Range: 31,408yds
Projectile Weight: 260lbs
Ships: program cancelled, originally designed to replace the forward 5-inch mount on the Spruance-class destroyers, one was mounted on USS Hull between 1975-79, it is estimated that some 12 were procured.

The 5-inch/54-caliber Mk45 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,500fps
Crew: 6
Weight: 47,820lbs
Rate of Fire: 16-20rpm
Maximum Range: 25,909 yds HC, 48,700 RAP-HC
Projectile Weight: 70lbs
Ships: CGN-38, CGN-36, CG-47, DDG-993, DD-963, LHA-1 classes

5-inch/54-caliber Mk42 gun Mark 18 Mod 0
Muzzle Velocity: 2,650fps
Crew: 14
Weight: 145,000lbs (early versions) to 139,000lbs
Rate of Fire: 20rpm
Maximum Range: 25,909yds HC
Projectile Weight: 70lbs
Ships: CGN 35, CG-26, DDG-37, DD-931, FF-1052 classes

The 5-inch/38-caliber Mk32 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,500fps
Crew: 27
Weight: 120,000lbs
Rate of Fire: 18rpm
Maximum Range: 17,306yds
Projectile Weight: 55lbs
Ships: CA-134 class (the twin mount dates from WWII)

5-inch/38caliber Mk30 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,500fps
Crew: 17
Weight: 45,000lbs
Rate of Fire: 18rpm
Maximum Range: 17,306yds
Projectile Weight: 55lbs
Ships: CGN 9, FFG 1, FF 1098, FFF 1040, AS 11, WHEC 715,
WHEC 39, WHEC 379, WHEC 31 classes (Single mount dating from WWII)

5-inch/38-caliber Mk28 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,500fps
Crew: 27
Weight: 153,000
Rate of Fire: 18rpm
Maximum Range: 17,306yds
Projectile Weight: 55lbs
Ships: BB-61

5-inch/38-caliber Mk24 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,500fps
Crew: 15
Weight: 33,100lbs
Rate of Fire: 18rpm
Maximum Range: 17,306yds
Projectile Weight: 55lbs
Ships: CV 9-19 (single mount)

76mm/62-caliber Mk75 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 fps
Crew: 4
Weight: 13,680lbs
Rate of Fire: 75-85rpm
Maximum Range: 21,000yds
Projectile Weight: 14lbs
Ships: FFG 7, PHM 1, WHEC 715, WMEC 901

3-inch/50-caliber Mk33 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,650fps
Crew: 12
Weight: 33,000lbs
Rate of Fire: 50rpm
Maximum Range: 14,041yds
Projectile Weight: 7lbs
Ships: CA 134, DD 931, FF 1037, LCC 19, AGF 3/11, AS 33
Generally considered to be ineffective and difficult to maintain. Normally fired in local control only.

3-inch/50-caliber Mk27 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,650fps
Crew: 12
Weight: 30,960lbs
Rate of Fire: 50rpm
Maximum Range: 14,041yds
Projectile Weight: 7lbs
Ships: CA-134

3-inch/50-caliber Mk26 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,650fps
Crew: 11
Weight: 9,210
Rate of Fire: 2-rpm
Maximum Range: 14,041
Projectile Weight: 7lbs
Ships: auxiliaries
Single mount

3-inch/50-caliber Mk22 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,650fps
Crew: 11
Weight: 7,510lbs
Rate of Fire: 20rpm
Maximum Range: 14,041yds
Projectile Weight: 7lbs
Ships: WMEC 615, WMEC-76
Single mount

40mm/60-caliber Mk3 Mod 9 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,800fps
Crew: 1
Weight: 13,800lbs
Rate of Fire: 160rpm
Maximum Range: 5,000yds
Projectile Weight: 2lbs
Ships: PB Mk III
Single mount

40mm/60-caliber Mk2 Mod 18 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,800fps
Crew: 11
Weight: 23,800lbs
Rate of Fire: 160rpm
Maximum Range: 11,000yds
Projectile Weight: 2lbs
Ships: ARL 24
Quad 40mm of WWII fame

40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher Mk19
Muzzle Velocity:
Crew: 1
Weight: 72.5lbs
Rate of Fire: 375rpm
Maximum Range: 2,400yds
Projectile Weight: 0.4lb
Ships: amphibious, small combatant, auxiliaries

25mm Close-in Weapon System (Sea Vulcan)
Muzzle Velocity: 4,400fps
Crew: unmanned
Weight: 2,800lbs
Rate of Fire: 2,000rpm
Maximum Range: 5,500yds
Projectile Weight: 6.4lbs
Ships: SES-2000 (evaluation)

20mm Mk68 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,740fps
Crew: 1
Weight: 900lbs
Rate of Fire: 800rpm
Maximum Range: 4,800yds
Projectile Weight: 0.75lbs
Ships: auxiliaries

20mm Mk67 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,740fps
Crew: 1
Weight: 475lbs
Rate of Fire: 800rpm
Maximum Range: 4,800yds
Projectile Weight: 0.75lbs
Ships: amphibious ships, auxiliaries

20mm/76-caliber Close-in Weapon System Mk 15 (Phalanx)
Muzzle Velocity:
Crew: unmanned
Weight: 12,000lbs
Rate of Fire: 3,000rpm
Maximum Range: 1,625yds
Projectile Weight: 0.75lbs
Ships: all warships, many auxiliaries and amphibious ships

20mm/70-caliber Mk10 gun
Muzzle Velocity: 2,730lbs
Crew: 2
Weight: 1,000lbs
Rate of Fire: 450rpm
Maximum Range: 4,800yds
Projectile Weight: 0.2lbs
Ships: auxiliaries

81mm Mortar Mk2
Muzzle Velocity:
Crew: 2
Weight: 580lbs
Rate of Fire: 10rpm in trigger mode, 18rpm in drop-fire mode
Maximum Range: 2,200yds
Projectile Weight: 10.85lbs
Ships: WPC
Usually mounted in a piggy mount with a .50-caliber machine gun

Source material is the "13th and 14th Editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet"

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The United States Coast Guard

At the time of the Twilight War, the Coast Guard is a separate military service under the Department of Transportation.. The USCG is responsible for the enforcement of U.S. Laws in coastal waters and on the high seas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. In addition, the USCG has coastal defense responsibilities under the concept of Maritime Defense Zones.

At the direction of the President of the United States, the Coast Guard can become a part of the Navy (as during both world wars) or it can operate in a war zone as an independent service (as during the Korean and Vietnam Wars).

The Coast Guard was established on August 4, 1790 as the Revenue Marine of the Department of the Treasury. Subsequently, it became the Revenue Cutter Service and, from 1915, the Coast Guard. The USCG incorporated the Lighthouse Service in 1939. The USCG was a component of the Treasury Department from 1790 until it was transferred to the newly established Department of Transportation in 1967.

The main peacetime missions of the USCG are:
(1) Recreational boating safety.
(2) Search and Rescue.
(3) Aids to navigation (responsible for over 400 lighthouses and 13,000 minor navigation lights).
(4) Merchant marine safety.
(5) Environmental protection.
(6) Port safety.
(7) Enforcement of laws and treaties.

The USCGs last mission comprises the enforcement of the nations customs and immigration laws, including the prevention of smuggling and narcotics, as well as the enforcement of fisheries laws, including international treaties related to the United States 200-mile national economic zone.

The USCG operates in two main areas: the Atlantic Area (headquarters in New York City) and the Pacific Area (headquarters in San Francisco), with 12 subordinate districts:

1st CG District: Boston, MA
2nd CG District: St. Louis, MO
3rd CG District: New York City, NY
5th CG District: Portsmouth, VA
7th CG District: Miami, FL
8th CG District: New Orleans, LA
9th CG District: Cleveland, OH
11th CG District: Long Beach, CA
12th CG District: San Francisco, CA
13th CG District: Seattle, WA
14th CG District: Honolulu, HI
17th CG District: Juneau, AK

The district commanders control all shore, air and sea activities in their area of responsibility.

In 1985, the commanders of the Coast Guard Atlantic and Pacific Areas were designated as commanders of the newly established Maritime Defense Zones (Atlantic and Pacific, respectively). As MDZ commanders, they report to their respective Navy fleet Commanders in addition to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

The MDZ commanders are responsible for:

(1) Planning, conducting and coordinating wartime operations in and around U.S. harbors and coasts.
(2) Ensuring an integrated defense plan for the MDZs areas of responsibility.
(3) Protecting coastal and nearby sea lines of communications.

Within each MDZ are operating sectors, which are commanded by Coast Guard district or base commanders.

The USCG uses the term vessels for all water craft operated by the service. Within that classification, the term cutter is used for all ships that have oean assigned personnel allowance and that have installed habitability features for the extended support of a permanently assigned crew. All smaller USCG vessels are referred to as boats.

All USCG vessels are prefixed by the letter W (unofficially for White-painted ships). Larger cutters are numbered in a single, sequential series. Cutters less than 100 feet in length and boats have hull numbers with the first two digits indicating the vessels overall length.

USCG vessels are painted white, with a narrow blue and wide orange stripe with the Coast Guard shield superimposed on the latter, is carried on the bows of all vessels.

The USCG operates some 200 aircraft based at 26 air stations in the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico.

The most recent Coast Guard aircraft procurement was the acquisition of two E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft, for use in anti-drug patrols. A series of HH-60J Seahawk helicopters are being procured as replacements for the aging HH-3F Pelicans.

Two major USCG procurement programs are being completed: 41 HU-25A Guardian Medium-Range Search fixed-wing aircraft are replacing the HU-16 Albatross amphibian and HC-131 Samaritan and 90 HH-65A Dolphin Short Range Recovery helicopters are replacing the HH-52A Sea Guard helicopters. As the HH-65As become operational, the HH-52As are being mothballed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, AZ.

The cutters of the Hamilton and Bear classes as well as the icebreakers regularly operate helicopters while some of the other cutter classes have landing decks but cannot support helicopters. In wartime, both the Hamilton and Bear classes are to be assigned Navy SH-2F ASW helicopters, but the availability of these helicopters for USCG service is unlikely due to USN requirements and shortfalls, and their effectiveness is limited because of the lack of towed-array sonars for the USCG cutters.

The USCG operates the following aircraft, numbers in parenthesis indicate aircraft in reserve or storage. No aircraft are operated by the Coast Guard Reserve.

VC-4A Gulfstream I (executive transport): 1
VC-11A Gulfstream II (executive transport): 1
E-2C Hawkeye (aerial surveillance): 2
HV-130B/H Hercules (Long-Range Search): 31
HU-25A Guardian (Medium-Range Search): 25
HU-25B Guardian (Oil-Spill Detection): 7
HU-25C Guardian (Drug Interception): 9
HH-60J Jayhawk (Medium-Range Recovery): 19 + 25
HH-65A Dolphin (Short-Range Recovery): 95
HH-3F Pelican (Medium-Range Recovery): 20 (22)
HH-52A Sea Guard (Short-Range Recovery): (86)

Uniformed Coast Guard personnel operate all cutters and boats as well as aircraft. Medical personnel are provided by the U.S. Public Health Service on assignment to the Coast Guard.

Active-duty Coast Guard strength is approximately 5,522 officers, 1,501 warrant officers and 29,583 enlisted men and women (these include 186 female officers and 2,435 female enlisted). In addition, the Coast Guard has 12,000 selected reservists who attend periodic drills as well as summer active-duty training, and 6,000 non-drilling ready reserves.

Coast Guard personnel have Navy-style ranks, the Commandant having the rank of full admiral and the Deputy Commandant vice admiral. There are two other vice admirals (commanders Atlantic and Pacific areas with additional as commanders of the 3rd and 12th Coast Guard Districts, respectively), 6 rear admirals (upper half), and 13 rear admirals (lower half), plus five rear admiral selectees.

Source material is the oe13th and 14th Editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet and oeCombat Fleets of the World: 1993

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The USCG: The High-Endurance Cutters

Source material is the oe13th and 14th Editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet and oeCombat Fleets of the World: 1993
The High-Endurance cutters are the long arm of the USCG, capable of operating anywhere on the ocean (The USCG has the legal right to stop, board and conduct safety inspections of any US-flagged ship, anywhere).

Hamilton-class WHEC
Displacement of 3,050 tons. Speed of 29kts. Crew of 165. Armament of 1 Mk30 5in/38-caliber, 2 single Mk19 40mm AGL, 2 single Mk67 20mm, 4 single .50-caliber HMGs, 2 triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, one helo. These cutters are undergoing extensive modernization and will replace the 5-inch gun with a Mk75 76mm/62, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 2 quad launchers for Harpoon (replacing the 20mm Mk67s), as well as new radars and updated sonar equipment.
WHEC-715 Hamilton Yard
WHEC-716 Dallas Atlantic Area
WHEC-717 Mellon Yard
WHEC-718 Chase Atlantic Area
WHEC-719 Boutwell Pacific Area
WHEC-720 Sherman Yard
WHEC-721 Gallatin Atlantic Area
WHEC-722 Morgenthau Pacific Area
WHEC-723 Rush Pacific Area
WHEC-724 Munro Pacific Area
WHEC-725 Jarvis Pacific Area
WHEC-726 Midgett Pacific Area

Owasco-class WHEC
Displacement of 1,913 tons. Speed: 18.4kts. Crew of 139. Armament of 1 Mk30 5in/38-cal
WHEC-41 Chautauqua In Reserve
WHEC-65 Winona In Reserve
WHEC-67 Minnetonka In Reserve
WHEC-69 Mendota In Reserve
WHEC-70 Pontchartrain In Reserve

Casco-class WHEC
Displacement of 2,800 tons. Speed of 18kts. Crew of 132. Armament of 2 single Mk19 40mm AGL.
WHEC-379 Unimak Atlantic Area

Secretary-class WHEC
Displacement of 2,656 tons. Speed of 19.8kts. Crew of 136. Armament of 1 Mk30 5in/38-cal, 2 single Mk19 40mm AGL, 2 single .50-caliber HMGs.
WHEC-31 Bibb In Reserve
WHEC-33 Duane In Reserve
WHEC-34 Ingham Atlantic Area
WHEC-37 Taney Atlantic Area

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The USCG: The Medium Endurance Cutters

The Medium Endurance Cutters are intended for off-shore operations (roughly within 500 miles of the US coast).

Bear-class
Displacement of 1,820 tons. Speed of 19.5kts. Crew of 97. Armament of 1 Mk75 76mm/62, 4 single .50-caliber HMGs, 1 helo. By all reports these are overloaded and very uncomfortable ships in a seaway. Design called for 2 quad Harpoon launchers and a Mk15 Phalanx, space and weight is reserved for later refitting, but it is considered to be unlikely that they will ever be fitted.
WMEC-901 Bear Atlantic Area
WMEC-902 Tampa Atlantic Area
WMEC-903 Harriet Lane Atlantic Area
WMEC-904 Northland Atlantic Area
WMEC-905 Spencer Atlantic Area
WMEC-906 Seneca Atlantic Area
WMEC-907 Escanaba Pacific Area
WMEC-908 Tahoma Pacific Area
WMEC-909 Campbell Pacific Area
WMEC-910 Thetis Atlantic Area
WMEC-911 Forward Pacific Area
WMEC-912 Legare Pacific Area
WMEC-913 Mohawk Pacific Area

Reliance-class WMEC
Displacement of 1,007 tons. Speed of 18kts. Crew of 76. Armament of 1 Mk22 3in/50, 2 single Mk19 40mm AGLs, 4 single .50-caliber HMGs.
WMEC-615 Reliance Atlantic Area
WMEC-616 Diligence Atlantic Area
WMEC-617 Vigilant Atlantic Area
WMEC-618 Active Atlantic Area
WMEC-619 Confidence Pacific Area
WMEC-620 Resolute Pacific Area
WMEC-621 Valiant Atlantic Area
WMEC-622 Courageous Atlantic Area
WMEC-623 Steadfast Atlantic Area
WMEC-624 Dauntless Atlantic Area
WMEC-625 Venturous Pacific Area
WMEC-626 Dependable Atlantic Area
WMEC-627 Vigorous Atlantic Area
WMEC-628 Durable Atlantic Area
WMEC-629 Decisive Atlantic Area
WMEC-630 Alert Atlantic Area

Diver-class Former USN Salvage Ships
Displacement of 1,745 tons. Speed of 15.5kts. Crew of 77. Armament of 2 single Mk19 40mm AGLs.
WMEC-6 Escape Atlantic Area
WMEC-167 Acushnet Atlantic Area
WMEC-168 Yocona Pacific Area

Cherokee-class Former USN Fleet Tugs
Displacement of 1,731 tons. Speed of 16.2kts. Crew of 76. Armament of 1 Mk22 3in/50-caliber, 2 single Mk19 40mm AGLs.
WMEC-76 Ute Atlantic Area
WMEC-85 Lipan Atlantic Area
WMEC-153 Chilula Atlantic Area
WMEC-165 Cherokee Atlantic Area
WMEC-166 Tamaroa Atlantic Area

Storis-class WMEC
Displacement of 1,925 tons. Speed of 14kts. Crew of 72. Armament of 1 Mk22 3in/50-caliber, 4 single .50-caliber HMGs. Stationed in Alaska and used for offshore icebreaking, search and rescue and law enforcement.
WMEC-38 Storis Pacific Area

Source material is the oe13th and 14th Editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet and oeCombat Fleets of the World: 1993

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The USCG-The Patrol Boats

Seabird-class Surface Effect Ships
Displacement of 160 tons. Speed of 33kts. Crew of 17. Armament of 2 single .50-caliber HMGs. Stationed at Key West, FL and used in the law enforcement role.
WSES-2 Sea Hawk, Atlantic Area
WSES-3 Shearwater, Atlantic Area
WSES-4 Petrel, Atlantic Area

Island-class Patrol Boats
Displacement of 165 tons. Speed of 26kts. Crew of 16. Armament of 1 Mk16 20mm, 2 single Mk19 40mm AGLs.
WPB-1301 Farallon; WPB-1302 Manitou; WPB-1303 Matagorda; WPB-1304 Maui; WPB-1305 Monhegan; WPB-1306 Nunivak; WPB-1307 Ocracoke; WPB-1308 Vashon; WPB-1309 Aquidneck; WPB-1310 Mustang; WPB-1311 Naushoe; WPB-1312 Sanibel; WPB-1313 Edisto; WPB-1314 Sapelo;
WPB-1315 Matincus; WPB-1316 Nantucket; WPB-1317 Attu; WPB-1318 Baranof; WPB-1319 Chandeleur; WPB-1320 Chincoteague; WPB-1321 Cushing; WPB-1322 Cuttyhunk; WPB-1323 Drummond; WPB-1324 Key Largo; WPB-1324 Metomkin; WPB-1326 Monomy; WPB-1327 Orcas; WPB-1328 Padre; WPB-1329 Sitkinak; WPB-1330 Tyree; WPB-1331 Washington; WPB-1332 Wrangell; WPB-1333 Adak; WPB-1334 Liberty; WPB-1335 Anacapa; WPB-1336 Kiska; WPB-1337 Assateague; WPB-1338 Grand Isle; WPB-1339 Key Biscayne; WPB-1340 Jefferson Island; WPB-1341 Kodiak island; WPB-1342 Long Island; WPB-1343 Bainbridge Island; WPB-1344 Block Island; WPB-1345 Staten Island; WPB-1346 Roanoke Island; WPB-1347 Pea Island; WPB-1348 Knight Island; WPB 1349 Galveston Island

Cape-class Patrol Boats
Displacement is 105 tons. Speed is 20kts. Crew of 17. Armament consists of small arms only.
WPB-95300 Cape Small; WPB-95302 Cape Higgon; WPB-95303 Cape Upright; WPB-95304 Cape Gull; WPB-95305 Cape Hatteras; WPB-95306 Cape George; WPB-95307 Cape Current; WPB-95308 Cape Strait; WPB-95309 Cape Carter; WPB-95310 Cape Wash; WPB-95311 Cape Hedge; WPB-95312 Cape Knox; WPB-95313 Cape Morgan; WPB-95316 Cape Fox; WPB-95317 Cape Jellison; WPB-95318 Cape Newagen; WPB-95319 Cape Romain; WPB-95320 Cape Starr; WPB-95321 Cape Cross; WPB-95322 Cape Horn; WPB-95324 Cape Shoalwater; WPB-95326 Cape Corwin; WPB-95328 Cape Henlopen; WPB-95335 Cape York

Point-class Patrol Boats
Displacement is 67-69 tons. Speed ranges from 22.6-23.7kts. Crew of 8-10. Armament of 2 single .50-caliber HMGs, 2 single Mk19 40mm AGLs. These 82-foot cutters are used for port security and search and rescue. Built in three series from 1960-61, 1961-67 and 1970. Twenty-six were transferred to South Vietnam in 1969-70.
WPB-82302 Point Hope; WPB-82311 Point Verde; WPB-82312 Point Swift; WPB-82314 Point Thatcher; WPB-82318 Point Herron; WPB-82332 Point Roberts; WPB-82333 Point Highland; WPB-82334 Point Ledge; WPB-82335 Point Countess; WPB-82336 Point Glass; WPB-82337 Point Divide; WPB-82338 Point Bridge; WPB-82339 Point Chico; WPB-82340 Point Batan; WPB-82341 Point Lookout; WPB-82342 Point Baker; WPB-82343 Point Wells; WPB-82344 Point Estero; WPB-82345 Point Judith; WPB-82346 Point Arena; WPB-82347 Point Bonita; WPB-82348 Point Barrow; WPB-82349 Point Spencer; WPB-82350 Point Franklin; WPB-82351 Point Bennett; WPB-82352 Point Sal; WPB-82353 Point Monore; WPB-82354 Point Evans; WPB-82356 Point Hannon; WPB-82357 Point Huron; WPB-82358 Point Stuart; WPB-82359 Point Steele; WPB-82360 Point Winslow; WPB-82361 Point Charles; WPB-82362 Point Brown; WPB-82363 Point Nowell; WPB-82364 Point Whitehorn; WPB-82365 Point Turner; WPB-82366 Point Lobos; WPB-82367 Point Knoll; WPB-82368 Point Warde; WPB-82369 Point Heyer; WPB-82370 Point Richmond; WPB-82371 Point Barnes; WPB-82372 Point Brower; WPB-82373 Point Camden; WPB-82374 Point Carrew; WPB-82375 Point Doran; WPB-82376 Point Harris; WPB-82377 Point Hobart; WPB-82378 Point Jackson; WPB-82379 Point Martin

Source material is the oe13th and 14th Editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet and oeCombat Fleets of the World: 1993

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The USCG: The Icebreakers

Cost Guard icebreakers are painted with a red hull and yellow funnels for visibility in Arctic waters.

Polar-class Icebreakers
Displacement of 13,190 tons. Speed of 18kts. Crew of 139 (and 10 scientists). Armament of 2 Mk19 40mm AGLs and 2 helos.

The largest icebreakers in service, outside of the Soviet Union. Originally planned to be a class of ten, but construction stopped after the first two commissioned due to cost overruns. Arctic and oceanographic laboratories are provided. Built with CODOG (Combination Diesel or Gas turbine) propulsion with 6 18,000 bhp diesel and 3 60,000 shp gas turbines with 3 shafts fitted with controllable-pitch propellers (CPPs). Both ships have experienced problems with the CPPs and control systems.

The Polar Sea is the first ship to circumnavigate the North American continent in 1985. The icebreaker departed Seattle WA on 6 June, sailed through the Panama Canal, up the East Coast to Greenland and then through the Northwest Passage into the Bering Sea and into the Pacific, returning to Seattle on 2 October.

WAGB-10 Polar Star; WAGB-11 Polar Sea

Glacier-class Icebreaker
Displacement of 8,775 tons. Speed of 17.5kts. Crew of 229. Armament of 2 single Mk19 40mm AGLs and 2 helos.

The largest icebreaker in US service until the Polar Star was completed. Served in the USN until her transfer to the USCG in 1966.

WAGB-4 Glacier

Wind-class Icebreakers
Displacement of 6,515 tons. Speed of 16kts. Crew of 157. Armament of 12 single Mk19 40mm AGLs and 1 helo.

The principal US icebreakers for over three decades. Originally a class of seven with two built for the Navy and five for the Coast Guard. Three of the USCG vessels served with the Soviet Navy in WWII. Only two of this class remain in service.

Westwind served as the Severni Polius from 1945-1951 and the Northwind served as the Severni Veter from 1945-1951.

WAGB-281 Westwind; WAGB-282 Northwind

Mackinaw-class Icebreaker
Displacement of 5,252 tons. Speed of 18.7kts. Crew of 127. Armament consists of small arms and a helo landing pad.

Built and in service on the Great Lakes. Home ported at Cheboygan MI. Unlike the other icebreakers, Mackinaw is painted in traditional USCG colors.

WAGB-82 Mackinaw

Source material is the oe13th and 14th Editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet and oeCombat Fleets of the World: 1993

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The USCG-Training Bark

Eagle-class Training Bark
Displacement of 1,816 tons. Speed of 17kts under sail, 10.5kts on auxiliary diesel. Crew of 65 +175 cadets. Armament of small arms only.

The former Kriegsmarine training bark Horst Wessel. Taken as reparation after WWII in January 1946 and assigned to the USCG Academy at New London CN. She is used to train USCG cadets on summer cruises. Carries up to 21,350 square feet of sail.

Source material is the oe13th and 14th Editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet and oeCombat Fleets of the World: 1993

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The USCG-The Small Boats

The USCG also operates several hundred small patrol craft and auxiliaries, these include:

27 Balsam-class Seagoing Buoy Tenders
5 Red-class Coastal Buoy Tenders
6 White-class Coastal Buoy Tenders
1 Buckthorn-class Inland Buoy Tender
2 Bayberry-class Inland Buoy Tenders
2 Blackberry-class Inland Buoy Tenders
1 Cosmos-class Inland Buoy Tender
2 Kankakee-class River Buoy Tenders
9 Gasconade-class River Buoy Tenders
6 Ouachita-class River Buoy Tenders
1 Sumac-class River Buoy Tender
4 Pamlico-class Inland Construction Tenders
9 Anvil-class Inland Construction Tenders
3 Cosmos-class Inland Construction Tenders
9 Katmai Bay-class Icebreaking Tugs
14 65-ft class Small Harbor Tugs
2 ex U.S. Army Ferries
1 former Puget Sound Ferry
1 Former New York City Ferry
1 US Navy Floating Dry Dock
5 Fast Coastal Interceptors
1 49-ft Search and Resuce Boat
207 41-fr Utility Boats
2 38-ft Utility Boats
365 32-ft Ports and Waterways Boats
28 31-ft Port Security Boats
1 Lake Champlain Patrol Craft
4 21-ft Search and Rescue Boats
24 Raider Patrol Craft
6 Whaler Patrol Craft
1 Cable Repair Craft
25 55-ft Aids to Navigation Boats
9 46-ft Stern-loading Buoy Boats
32 45-ft Aids to Navigation Boats
50 21-ft Aids to Navigation Boats
1 46-ft Oil-Spill Clearance Boat
1 +105 47-ft Motor Lifeboats
105 44-ft Motor Lifeboats
4 52-ft Motor Lifeboats
19 30-ft Surf Rescue Boats
206 25ft Surf Boats




Source material is the oe13th and 14th Editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet and oeCombat Fleets of the World: 1993