The Medium Endurance Cutter or WMEC is a type of United States Coast Guard Cutter mainly consisting of the 270-foot (82-metre) Famous- and 210-foot (64-metre) Reliance-class cutters. These larger cutters are under control of Area Commands (Atlantic Area or Pacific Area).[1] These cutters have adequate accommodations for crew to live on board[1] and can do 6 to 8 week patrols.[2]
Other ships in the WMEC classification are the 282-foot (86-metre) USCGC Alex Haley, and the now-decommissioned 213-foot (65-metre) USCGC Acushnet, and 230-foot (70-metre) USCGC Storis,[3] and 205-foot (62-metre) USCGC Tamaroa which began as the United States Navy Cherokee-class fleet tug USS Zuni launched in 1943.
There are 13 vessels in the Famous class, and 12 vessels still in active US service in the Reliance class. The Coast Guard plans to eventually phase out the vessels in both of these cutter classes and replace them with the Offshore Patrol Cutter as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program.[4]
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)."[5]
Famous-class cutter
| Builders |
|
|---|---|
| Operators | United States Coast Guard |
| Built range | 1979–1989 |
| In commission range | 1983–present |
| Total ships completed | 13 |
| Total ships active | 13 |
| Displacement | 1,800 long tons (1,829 t) |
|---|---|
| Length | 270 ft (82 m) |
| Beam | 38 ft (12 m) |
| Draft | 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m) |
| Power | 2 × Caterpillar V12 diesel generators |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph) |
| Range | 9,900 nmi (18,300 km; 11,400 mi) |
| Complement | 100 (14 officers, 86 enlisted) |
| Sensors |
|
| Ew | AN/SLQ-32A(V)2 2 x Mark 36 SRBOC |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft facilities | Helipad and hangar for HH-65 Dolphin or HH-60J Jayhawk |
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-foot (100-metre) Treasury-class cutters, and their mission profile emphasized law enforcement, particularly patrolling the newly established 200-nautical mile (370-kilometre; 230-mile) exclusive economic zone.[5]
The Coast Guard harvested weapons systems components from decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates 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.[6]
Ships in class
| Hull number | Name | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMEC-901 | USCGC Bear | February 4, 1983[7] | Active |
| WMEC-902 | USCGC Tampa | March 16, 1984[7] | Active |
| WMEC-903 | USCGC Harriet Lane | September 20, 1984[7] | Active |
| WMEC-904 | USCGC Northland | December 17, 1984[7] | Active |
| WMEC-905 | USCGC Spencer | June 28, 1986[7] | Active |
| WMEC-906 | USCGC Seneca | May 4, 1987[7] | Active |
| WMEC-907 | USCGC Escanaba | August 27, 1987[7] | Active |
| WMEC-908 | USCGC Tahoma | April 6, 1988[7] | Active |
| WMEC-909 | USCGC Campbell | August 19, 1988[7] | Active |
| WMEC-910 | USCGC Thetis | June 30, 1989[7] | Active |
| WMEC-911 | USCGC Forward | August 4, 1990[8] | Active |
| WMEC-912 | USCGC Legare | August 4, 1990[8] | Active |
| WMEC-913 | USCGC Mohawk | March 20, 1991[8] | Active |
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.[9] 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.[10] The last SLEP is expected to be complete by 2030.[11]
| Hull number | Name | Entered SLEP | Departed SLEP |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMEC-906 | USCGC Seneca | July 2021[10] | April 4, 2022[12] |
| WMEC-903 | USCGC Harriet Lane | March 28, 2022[12] | August 3, 2023[9] |
| WMEC-905 | USCGC Spencer | July 1, 2023[10] | March 8, 2025[11] |
| WMEC-912 | USCGC Legare | June 24, 2024[13] | |
| WMEC-909 | USCGC Campbell | ||
| WMEC-911 | USCGC Forward | ||
| WMEC-907 | USCGC Escanaba | ||
| WMEC-908 | USCGC Tahoma |
Reliance-class cutter
| Builders | |
|---|---|
| Operators | |
| Built range | 1962–1968 |
| In commission range | 1964–present |
| Total ships completed | 16 |
| Total ships active | 12 |
| Displacement | 1,127.2 long tons (1,145 t) full load |
|---|---|
| Length | |
| Beam | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Draft | 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × 2,500 hp (1,864 kW) ALCO 251B diesel engines |
| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Range | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 75 |
| Armament | |
| Aircraft facilities | Helipad |
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-foot (38-metre) cutters of the Prohibition era and were the first major cutter replacement project since the 255-foot (78-metre) Owasco-class cutters from World War II.[5]
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.[5]
Ships in class
| Hull number | Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| WMEC-615 | USCGC Reliance | Active |
| WMEC-616 | USCGC Diligence | Active |
| WMEC-617 | USCGC Vigilant | Active |
| WMEC-618 | USCGC Active | Active |
| WMEC-619 | USCGC Confidence | In commission, special status |
| WMEC-620 | USCGC Resolute | Active |
| WMEC-621 | USCGC Valiant | In commission, special status |
| WMEC-622 | USCGC Courageous | Decommissioned, transferred to Sri Lanka Navy |
| WMEC-623 | USCGC Steadfast | Decommissioned, transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency |
| WMEC-624 | USCGC Dauntless | In commission, special status |
| WMEC-625 | USCGC Venturous | Active |
| WMEC-626 | USCGC Dependable | In commission, special status |
| WMEC-627 | USCGC Vigorous | Active |
| WMEC-628 | USCGC Durable | Decommissioned and transferred to Colombia |
| WMEC-629 | USCGC Decisive | Decommissioned, will transfer to Sri Lanka Navy |
| WMEC-630 | USCGC Alert | Active |
USCGC Valiant (WMEC-621) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 17 June 2025.[14]
USCGC Courageous (WMEC 622) was decommissioned on 19 September 2001. She was transferred to the government of Sri Lanka on 24 June 2004 as SLNS Samudura (P-621).
USCGC Steadfast (WMEC-623) was decommissioned on 1 February 2024 and transferred to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.[15]
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.[16]
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.[17]
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.[18]
Notes
- ^ "Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters". United States Coast Guard. Archived 2012-11-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ^ "210' / 270' Medium Endurance Cutters". Archived 2014-10-30 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ^ "Coast Guard Assets and Equipment". United States Coast Guard Reserve. Archived from the original on 2010-07-07. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ^ "Coast Guard Modernization". United States Coast Guard. Archived 2012-10-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ^ "WPC's & WMEC's: 1945-2000". United States Coast Guard. Archived 2012-10-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ^ U.S. Navy harvests decommissioned Frigates weapon systems for U.S. Coast Guard use Archived 2015-06-26 at the Wayback Machine - Navyrecognition.com, 26 October 2014
- ^ Scheina, Robert L. (1990). U.S. Coast Guard Cutters and Craft, 1946-1990. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 37. ISBN 0-87021-719-4.
- ^ Polmar, Norman (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet. Annapolis, Maryland: U.S. Naval Institute Press. p. 589. ISBN 978-1-59114-687-2.
- ^ "Coast Guard completes work on service life extension program prototype". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ "Coast Guard begins production phase of medium endurance cutter service life extension program". United States Coast Guard. Archived 2024-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ "Coast Guard Cutter Spencer completes service life extension program". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ "Coast Guard cutters mark SLEP milestones for ISVS Program". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ "270-foot medium endurance cutter Legare begins service life extension program at Coast Guard Yard". United States Coast Guard. Archived 2024-10-30 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
- ^ "Coast Guard Cutter Valiant celebrated for over 57 years of service during heritage recognition ceremony". Naval Station Mayport, Florida: Defense media Activity. United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast decommissioned after 56 years of service". Washington, D.C.: Defense Media Activity. U.S. Department of Defense. 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "US Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless celebrated for 56 years’ service during heritage recognition ceremony". Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida: United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "US Coast Guard Cutter Dependable celebrated for 56 years’ service during heritage recognition ceremony". Virginia Beach, Virginia, US: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area. 2024-04-10. Archived 2024-04-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ "USCGC Decisive decommissioned after 55 years of service". Washington DC: Defense Media Activity. United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. 2 March 2023. Archived 2023-12-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
References
- "A Day in the Life of the Mohawk". Retrieved 2012-12-11. – HDTV documentary shows the Famous-class cutter patrolling the south coastal region of the United States in February and March 1999.
- "Famous Cutter Class 270-Foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- "Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters: Cutters / 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) - Famous Cutter Class". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- "Reliance Class 210-Foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- "Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters: Cutters / 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) - Reliance Class". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-12-11.