USCG Patrol Boat
Encyclopedia
The Island class patrol boat is a class of cutters
of the United States Coast Guard
. 49 cutters of the class were built, of which 41 remain in commission. Their hull numbers are WPB 1301 through WPB 1349.
s. These cutters are equipped with advanced electronics and navigation equipment and are used on the front lines of the Coast Guard's Maritime Homeland Security, Migrant Interdiction, Fisheries Enforcement, and Search-and-Rescue missions.
, the USCG began refitting these vessels, adding 13 feet (4 m) to the stern to make room for a high-speed stern launching ramp, and replacing the superstructure so that these vessels had enough room to accommodate mixed gender crews. The refit added about 15 tons to the vessel's displacement, and reduced its maximum speed by approximately one knot. In 2005, then-Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas H. Collins
made the decision to stop at eight hulls the contractor’s conversion of 110-foot Island Class patrol boats into 123 feet (37.5 m) patrol boats, because sea trials revealed intractable structural flaws. The decision to stop conversions at eight hulls reflected the Coast Guard’s determination that the 123-foot cutters will not provide homeland security capabilities required to meet current or projected needs of the post-9/11 threat environment, as defined in the revised Deepwater Mission Needs Statement.
In August 2006, a Lockheed Martin
engineer went public with allegations that the company and the Coast Guard were ignoring serious security flaws in the refitting project, and that they were likely to repeat the same mistakes on similar projects. The flaws included blind spots in watch cameras, FLIR
equipment not suitable for operating under extreme temperatures, and the use of non-shielded cables in secure communications systems, a violation of TEMPEST
.
In late November 2006 all of the 123 WPBs were taken out of service due to debilitating problems with their hulls. These as well as other issues - such as C4ISR problems - drove the program $60 million over budget on just the first 8 boats which was three times the original bid for those boats. The 41 unmodified 110's - which were destined for the 123 upgrade - are now being pressed harder in to service to take up the slack.
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...
of the United States Coast Guard
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...
. 49 cutters of the class were built, of which 41 remain in commission. Their hull numbers are WPB 1301 through WPB 1349.
Island Class Patrol Boat Overview
The 110' Island-class Patrol Boats are a U.S. Coast Guard modification of a highly successful British-designed patrol boat. With excellent range and seakeeping capabilities, the Island Class, all named after U.S. islands, replaced the older 95-foot Cape class patrol boatCape class patrol boat
Cape class patrol boats were steel hull patrol boats with aluminum superstructures of the United States Coast Guard. They were unnamed until 1964, when they acquired names of US capes of land. Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare , all 35 boats in this class were built at the United...
s. These cutters are equipped with advanced electronics and navigation equipment and are used on the front lines of the Coast Guard's Maritime Homeland Security, Migrant Interdiction, Fisheries Enforcement, and Search-and-Rescue missions.
Hull Problems
As built, these vessels were all 110 feet (33.5 m) in length. In 2002 as part of the Integrated Deepwater System ProgramIntegrated 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 USCG began refitting these vessels, adding 13 feet (4 m) to the stern to make room for a high-speed stern launching ramp, and replacing the superstructure so that these vessels had enough room to accommodate mixed gender crews. The refit added about 15 tons to the vessel's displacement, and reduced its maximum speed by approximately one knot. In 2005, then-Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas H. Collins
Thomas H. Collins
Thomas Hansen Collins is a retired United States Coast Guard 4 star admiral who served as the 22nd Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 2002 to 2006.-Background:...
made the decision to stop at eight hulls the contractor’s conversion of 110-foot Island Class patrol boats into 123 feet (37.5 m) patrol boats, because sea trials revealed intractable structural flaws. The decision to stop conversions at eight hulls reflected the Coast Guard’s determination that the 123-foot cutters will not provide homeland security capabilities required to meet current or projected needs of the post-9/11 threat environment, as defined in the revised Deepwater Mission Needs Statement.
In August 2006, a Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
engineer went public with allegations that the company and the Coast Guard were ignoring serious security flaws in the refitting project, and that they were likely to repeat the same mistakes on similar projects. The flaws included blind spots in watch cameras, FLIR
Forward looking infrared
Forward looking infrared cameras, typically used on military aircraft, use an imaging technology that senses infrared radiation.The sensors installed in forward looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal imaging cameras, use detection of infrared radiation, typically emitted from a...
equipment not suitable for operating under extreme temperatures, and the use of non-shielded cables in secure communications systems, a violation of TEMPEST
TEMPEST
TEMPEST is a codename referring to investigations and studies of compromising emission . Compromising emanations are defined as unintentional intelligence-bearing signals which, if intercepted and analyzed, may disclose the information transmitted, received, handled, or otherwise processed by any...
.
In late November 2006 all of the 123 WPBs were taken out of service due to debilitating problems with their hulls. These as well as other issues - such as C4ISR problems - drove the program $60 million over budget on just the first 8 boats which was three times the original bid for those boats. The 41 unmodified 110's - which were destined for the 123 upgrade - are now being pressed harder in to service to take up the slack.
See also
- USCG 87 foot Marine Protector class coastal patrol boatUSCG Coastal Patrol BoatThe Marine Protector class is a class of coastal patrol boats of the United States Coast Guard.The 87-foot-long vessels are based on the Stan 2600 design by Damen Group, and were built by Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana...
- USCG Short Range ProsecutorUSCG Short Range ProsecutorThe United States Coast Guard Short Range Prosecutor is a 7 meter, high speed launch designed to be launched from cutters, at speed, from a rear launching ramp....
- USCG USCG 95 foot Cape class patrol boat