Medium endurance cutter

History

After World War II, the United States Coast Guard used the US Navy hull classification system. The large, sea-going cutters were classified primarily as Coast Guard gunboats (WPG), destroyer escorts (WDE), and seaplane tenders (WAVP). In 1965 the Coast Guard adopted its own designation system and these large cutters were then referred to as Coast Guard High Endurance Cutters (WHEC). The coastal cutters once known as Cruising Cutters, Second Class and then as Coast Guard patrol craft (WPC) were now Coast Guard Medium Endurance Cutters (WMEC)."{{cite web |access-date=2012-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017160936/http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/WMEC_Photo_Index.asp |archive-date=2012-10-17 |url-status=live

Famous-class cutter

• Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington

• 2 × 9-foot-diameter (2.7 m) controllable pitch propellers

• SPS-78 Surface Search Radar 2 x Mark 36 SRBOC

• 2 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns

The Famous-class vessels have hull numbers in the range from WMEC-901 through WMEC-913. Entering service in the 1980s, the Famous-class cutters were designed as replacements for the 327 ft s, and their mission profile emphasized law enforcement, particularly patrolling the newly established 200 mi exclusive economic zone.

The Coast Guard harvested weapons systems components from decommissioned s to save money. Harvesting components from four decommissioned frigates resulted in more than $24 million in cost savings, which increased with parts from more decommissioned frigates. Equipment such as the Mark 75, 76 mm/62 caliber gun mounts, gun control panels, barrels, launchers, junction boxes, and other components from decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates were returned to service aboard Famous-class cutters in order to extend their service lives into the 2030s.

Ships in class

Service life extension program

The service life extension program (SLEP) for eight cutters of the class started in July 2021 with prototype work for electrical and structural systems on the Seneca and Harriet Lane. Additionally, Harriet Lane served as the prototype for the replacement of the main gun with a Mk38 Mod 3 25mm machine gun. The production phase of the SLEP, which will be carried out on Spencer, Legare, Campbell, Forward, Escanaba and Tahoma, covers four main areas: the electrical, structural and weapons systems work prototyped on Seneca and Harriet Lane and finally replacement of the main propulsion Diesel engines. The last SLEP is expected to be complete by 2030.

''Reliance''-class cutter

• American Ship Building Company, Lorain, Ohio

• U.S. Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland

• Christy Corporation, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

• Sri Lanka Navy

• Colombian Navy / Coast Guard

• Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

• 200 ft LWL

• 2 × M2HB .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine guns The Reliance-class vessels have hull numbers in the range from WMEC-615 through WMEC-630. Entering service between 1964 and 1969, the Reliance-class cutters were meant to replace the 125 ft cutters of the Prohibition era and were the first major cutter replacement project since the 255 ft s from World War II.

The 210s (210-foot cutters) received upgrades and modifications (in a program named "Midlife Maintenance Availability" or MMA) during the 1986 through 1990 time period. The "A"-class cutters had their gas turbines removed, and all 210s had their stern transom exhaust systems replaced with a traditional stack. While this modification reduced the size of the flight deck, they were still more than capable of carrying out helicopter operations. Other modifications included enlarging the superstructure area, replacing the main armament, and increasing the fire-fighting capability of the cutters. The modifications cost approximately $20 million per cutter, well above their original cost of about $3.5 million each.

Ships in class

USCGC Valiant (WMEC-621) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 17 June 2025.

USCGC Courageous (WMEC 622) was decommissioned on 19 September 2001. She was transferred to the government of Sri Lanka on 24 June 2004 as (P-621).

USCGC Steadfast (WMEC-623) was decommissioned on 1 February 2024 and tranferred to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

USCGC Dauntless (WMEC-624) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 21 June 2024. As of that date she had served 56 years. She and Steadfast are the only two Coast Guard cutters to have seized one million pounds of marijuana.

USCGC Dependable (WMEC-626) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 9 April 2024. Her crew were transferred to other Coast Guard units to help meet the service-wide shortage of enlisted personnel.

USCGC Durable (WMEC-628) was decommissioned on 20 September 2001. In 2003 she was transferred to the Coast Guard of the Colombian Navy as ARC Valle del Cauca (PO-44).

USCGC Decisive (WMEC-629) was decommissioned on 2 March 2023.

Notes

References

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References

1. link. (2015-06-26 - Navyrecognition.com, 26 October 2014)
2. Scheina, Robert L.. (1990). "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters and Craft, 1946-1990". Naval Institute Press.
3. Polmar, Norman. (2013). "The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet". U.S. Naval Institute Press.
4. "Coast Guard completes work on service life extension program prototype".
5. "Coast Guard cutters mark SLEP milestones for ISVS Program".
6. "Coast Guard begins production phase of medium endurance cutter service life extension program".
7. "Coast Guard Cutter Spencer completes service life extension program".
8. "270-foot medium endurance cutter Legare begins service life extension program at Coast Guard Yard".
9. . (17 June 2025). ["Coast Guard Cutter Valiant celebrated for over 57 years of service during heritage recognition ceremony"](https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4219645/coast-guard-cutter-valiant-celebrated-for-over-57-years-of-service-during-herit/). *Defense media Activity*.
10. . (2024-02-01). ["U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast decommissioned after 56 years of service"](https://www.dvidshub.net/news/463246/us-coast-guard-cutter-steadfast-decommissioned-after-56-years-service). *Defense Media Activity*.
11. . (June 21, 2024). ["US Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless celebrated for 56 years’ service during heritage recognition ceremony"](https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3814233/us-coast-guard-cutter-dauntless-celebrated-for-56-years-service-during-heritage/). *United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security*.
12. . (2024-04-10). ["US Coast Guard Cutter Dependable celebrated for 56 years’ service during heritage recognition ceremony"](https://www.dvidshub.net/news/468214/us-coast-guard-cutter-dependable-celebrated-56-years-service-during-heritage-recognition-ceremony). *Defense Visual Information Distribution Service*.
13. . (2 March 2023). ["USCGC Decisive decommissioned after 55 years of service"](https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3316466/uscgc-decisive-decommissioned-after-55-years-of-service/). *Defense Media Activity*.