National Security Cutter
Encyclopedia
The United States Coast Guard
National Security Cutter (NSC), also known as the Legend class and Maritime Security Cutter, Large, is one design among several new cutter
designs developed as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program
.
The cutter has a rear-launching ramp, capable of launching and retrieving the two aft stored boats (Long Range Interceptor (LRI) or Short Range Prosecutor (SRP)), while underway.
class and is replacing the Hamilton Class Cutters. These cutters are envisioned by the Coast Guard as being able to undertake the entire range of the High Endurance Cutter
's role with additional upgrades to make it more of an asset to the Department of Defense
during declared national emergency contingencies. These vessels can be used for intercepting suspect vessels, or for rescuing swimmers, fishery protection, maritime homeland security missions, counter terrorism, coastal patrol missions. To facilitate intercept missions, the Legend Class Cutter is able to launch and retrieve both the Short Range Prosecutor and the larger Long Range Interceptor. Both RIBs are propelled by pump-jet
s.
entered sea trials in February 2008. It has been in service since August 2008, and is homeported at Coast Guard Island
, Alameda, California
. A second NSC, Waesche, is also homeported in Alameda in 2010. Construction of the Stratton - which now carries a crew of 123 - began in 2008 at Northrop Grumman's Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The vessel was christened by first lady Michelle Obama on July 23, 2010, and released to the custody of the Coast Guard on Sept 2, 2011. Five more units are projected.
reported that delays in the NSC program are likely to result in "the loss of thousands of cutter operational days for conducting missions through 2017." The GAO also that month reported that problems in the NSC program have delayed the OPC program by five years. The program was also plagued by structural issues, the Coast Guard historically uses its cutters extensively, typically 230 days at sea a year, furthering the problem this will often be in North Pacific and North Atlantic waters that are some of the roughest seas in the Northern Hemisphere. As such, the stresses on the Cutters are expected to be very severe. Structural Analysis showed that some parts of the cutter could be expected to survive only 3 years. This has been addressed in cutter 752 on, with the first 2 cutters receiving reinforcements later.
has offered its National Security Cutter design as a new frigate for the United States Navy
at a cost of less than $400 million as a complement to the Littoral combat ship
(LCS), with the possibility of later adding in the LCS weapons and mission module capabilities. The design would have a lower top speed than the LCS but much longer endurance. However the NSC is not built to the same level of survivability as Navy ships and so would face higher risks if pressed into combat duties. They are also offering a Patrol Frigate for international sales with Aegis and Harpoons.
with a 220 rpm ability used by the LCS program. The Missile Defense duties are handled by the MK 36 SRBOC decoy systems also used on the FFG-7 and CG-47 programs and the CIWS. The sonar is reported as having mine and underwater swimmer location ability.
is building eight National Security Cutters:
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
National Security Cutter (NSC), also known as the Legend class and Maritime Security Cutter, Large, is one design among several new cutter
United States Coast Guard Cutter
Cutter is the term used by the United States Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. A Cutter is or greater in length, has a permanently assigned crew, and has accommodations for the crew to live aboard...
designs developed as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program
Integrated Deepwater System Program
The Integrated Deepwater System Program is the 25-year program to replace all or much of the United States Coast Guard's equipment, including aircraft, ships, and logistics and command and control systems...
.
The cutter has a rear-launching ramp, capable of launching and retrieving the two aft stored boats (Long Range Interceptor (LRI) or Short Range Prosecutor (SRP)), while underway.
Design Parameters
The Legend Class Cutters are the second largest of all Coast Guard Cutters behind the HealyUSCGC Healy (WAGB-20)
USCGC Healy is a research icebreaker put into commission in 1999 by the United States Coast Guard.-Construction:Healy was constructed by Avondale Industries in New Orleans, Louisiana and named in honor of Captain "Hell Roaring" Michael A. Healy U.S.R.C.S. Her keel was laid on September 16, 1996...
class and is replacing the Hamilton Class Cutters. These cutters are envisioned by the Coast Guard as being able to undertake the entire range of the High Endurance Cutter
High endurance cutter
The designation of High endurance cutter was created in 1965 when the United States Coast Guard adopted its own designation system. High endurance cutters encompassed its largest cutters previously designated by the United States Navy as Coast Guard gunboats , Coast Guard destroyer escorts , and...
's role with additional upgrades to make it more of an asset to the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
during declared national emergency contingencies. These vessels can be used for intercepting suspect vessels, or for rescuing swimmers, fishery protection, maritime homeland security missions, counter terrorism, coastal patrol missions. To facilitate intercept missions, the Legend Class Cutter is able to launch and retrieve both the Short Range Prosecutor and the larger Long Range Interceptor. Both RIBs are propelled by pump-jet
Pump-jet
A pump-jet, hydrojet, or water jet, is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle...
s.
Units
The first NSC, BertholfUSCGC Bertholf
USCGC Bertholf is the first Legend-class maritime security cutter of the United States Coast Guard. She is named for Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf, fourth Commandant of both the Revenue Cutter Service and Coast Guard....
entered sea trials in February 2008. It has been in service since August 2008, and is homeported at Coast Guard Island
Coast Guard Island
Coast Guard Island is in the Oakland Estuary between Oakland and Alameda, California. The island is situated in the historic Brooklyn Basin, now known as Embarcadero Cove. It is within the Alameda city limits, but is accessible, by car, only via a bridge to Dennison Street in Oakland.The Island...
, Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
. A second NSC, Waesche, is also homeported in Alameda in 2010. Construction of the Stratton - which now carries a crew of 123 - began in 2008 at Northrop Grumman's Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The vessel was christened by first lady Michelle Obama on July 23, 2010, and released to the custody of the Coast Guard on Sept 2, 2011. Five more units are projected.
Program Issues
On 7 July 2009, the Government Accountability OfficeGovernment Accountability Office
The Government Accountability Office is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress. It is located in the legislative branch of the United States government.-History:...
reported that delays in the NSC program are likely to result in "the loss of thousands of cutter operational days for conducting missions through 2017." The GAO also that month reported that problems in the NSC program have delayed the OPC program by five years. The program was also plagued by structural issues, the Coast Guard historically uses its cutters extensively, typically 230 days at sea a year, furthering the problem this will often be in North Pacific and North Atlantic waters that are some of the roughest seas in the Northern Hemisphere. As such, the stresses on the Cutters are expected to be very severe. Structural Analysis showed that some parts of the cutter could be expected to survive only 3 years. This has been addressed in cutter 752 on, with the first 2 cutters receiving reinforcements later.
LCS Proposal
Northrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
has offered its National Security Cutter design as a new frigate for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
at a cost of less than $400 million as a complement to the Littoral combat ship
Littoral combat ship
A Littoral Combat Ship is a type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in the littoral zone . It is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals." Two ship classes are the first...
(LCS), with the possibility of later adding in the LCS weapons and mission module capabilities. The design would have a lower top speed than the LCS but much longer endurance. However the NSC is not built to the same level of survivability as Navy ships and so would face higher risks if pressed into combat duties. They are also offering a Patrol Frigate for international sales with Aegis and Harpoons.
Combat Suite
The Legend Class Cutters have increased data link bandwidth. The EADS TRS-3D radar system provides three dimensional air and surface search functions and is used in the LCS program as well as the German Corvette K130 program. The cutters are also equipped with the AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare (EW) system used in the DDG-51. The Legend Class are equipped with the same Bofors 57 mm gunBofors 57 mm gun
The Bofors 57 mm guns are a series of dual-purpose naval guns designed and produced by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
with a 220 rpm ability used by the LCS program. The Missile Defense duties are handled by the MK 36 SRBOC decoy systems also used on the FFG-7 and CG-47 programs and the CIWS. The sonar is reported as having mine and underwater swimmer location ability.
Active Cutters
The United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
is building eight National Security Cutters:
| USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750) |
| USCGC Waesche (WMSL-751) USCGC Waesche (WMSL-751) USCGC Waesche is the name of the second Legend-class National Security Cutter of the United States Coast Guard.Waesche is named for Coast Guard Admiral Russell R. Waesche... |
| USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) USCGC Stratton is the name of the third Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard. It is the first "white hull" cutter named after a woman since the 1980s . Stratton is named for Coast Guard Captain Dorothy C. Stratton... |
| USCGC Hamilton (WMSL-753) |
| USCGC Joshua James (WMSL-754) |
Armament
- Bofors 57MM gunBofors 57 mm gunThe Bofors 57 mm guns are a series of dual-purpose naval guns designed and produced by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
and Automatic Gunfire Control System - .50 Cal Manual Guns
- Phalanx CIWSPhalanx CIWSThe Phalanx CIWS is an anti-ship missile defense system. It is a close-in weapon system and was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division...
, SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System, - Mark 36 SRBOCMark 36 SRBOCThe BAE Systems Mark 36 Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff is a short-range mortar that launches chaff or infrared decoys from naval vessels to foil anti-ship missiles...
/NULKANulkaNulka is an Australian designed and developed active missile decoy built by an Australian/American collaboration. Used aboard warships of the United States Navy , Royal Australian Navy , United States Coast Guard , and Canadian Forces, Nulka is a rocket propelled, disposable, offboard, active decoy...
countermeasures chaff/rapid decoy launcher - Specific Emitter Identification (SEI) Sensor System
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological Detection and Defense (CBRD&D)
- Deployable Long Range Interceptor
- Deployable Short Range Prosecutor
- Deployable HH-60/HH-65 helos
- Deployable VUAVs
See also
- Equipment of the United States Coast GuardEquipment of the United States Coast GuardThe United States Coast Guard uses cutters and small boats on the water, and fixed- and rotary wing aircraft in the air. The Coast Guard employs various small arms including handguns, shotguns, rifles, and machine guns.-Cutters:...
- USCG Seagoing Buoy TenderUSCG Seagoing Buoy TenderThe Seagoing Buoy Tender is a type of U.S. Coast Guard cutter originally designed to service aids to navigation, throughout the waters of the United States, and wherever U.S. shipping interests require. The Coast Guard has maintained a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dating back to its origins in...
- USCG Inland Buoy TenderUSCG Inland Buoy TenderThere are two classes of USCG Inland Buoy Tenders.The 100-foot Class Inland Buoy Tenders consists of the following boats:*USCGC Bluebell ; Portland, Oregon, *USCGC Buckthorn ; Sault Ste...
External links
- National Security Cutters at USCG DeepwaterIntegrated Deepwater System ProgramThe Integrated Deepwater System Program is the 25-year program to replace all or much of the United States Coast Guard's equipment, including aircraft, ships, and logistics and command and control systems...
site - National Security Cutter fact sheet