USCG Island class: Difference between revisions
imported>Sean Plankey mNo edit summary |
imported>Caesar Schinas m (Bot: Update image code) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | {{subpages}} | ||
[[Image:United States Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur.jpg|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:United States Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur.jpg/credit|{{United States Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur.jpg/credit}}<br/>|}} [[United States Coast Guard]] [[Island class]] Cutter Chandeleur, one of the unmodified 110 foot vessels.]] | [[Image:United States Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur.jpg|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:United States Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur.jpg/credit|{{United States Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur.jpg/credit}}<br/>|}} [[United States Coast Guard]] [[Island class]] Cutter Chandeleur, one of the unmodified 110 foot vessels.]] | ||
{{Image|USCGC Matagorda - March 2004 - New Orleans.jpg|right|350px| USCG Matagorda, the first Island class cutter to be modernized. The yellow rails on the stern enclose the rear launching ramp. A door covers its opening, where the ship's name can be seen.}} | |||
The '''United States Coast Guard Island class''' of cutters included approximately five dozen vessels. | The '''United States Coast Guard Island class''' of cutters included approximately five dozen vessels. |
Revision as of 08:01, 8 June 2009
The United States Coast Guard Island class of cutters included approximately five dozen vessels. As originally built these vessels were crewed with sixteen personnel, were armed with a 25mm autocannon, and were capable of speeds of approximately thirty knots.
Following al Qaeda's attacks on September 11, 2001, a plan called "Project Deepwater" was to modernize and re-equip the Coast Guard's fleet. The Island class cutters were to be lengthened from 110 to 123 feet.
The crew accommodation were to be modernized to comply with a new policy for all cutters to accommodate crews of mixed sex.
The lengthening was designed so the vessels could launch and retrieve a water-jet propelled rigid-hull infatable Short Range Prosecutor high speed pursuit boat, without coming to a halt first.
Initially the first eight vessels to be modernized were described as a success. But later it emerged that the lengthened stern were structurally unsound, and the converted vessels were unseaworthy.[1][2][3] The conversion had also gone several multiples over-budget. In 2007 the Coast Guard took over direct control of the Deepwater Program from the Prime Contractor. All current 123' cutters are now still in commission, but out of service.[4]
Forty-nine of the original Island class vessels remain in active service. The unmodified vessels still have to come to a halt to launch a boat.
References
- ↑ Thad Allen. STATEMENT BY ADM. THAD ALLEN on the converted 123-foot patrol boats and changes to the Deepwater acquisition program, United States Coast Guard, 2007-04-17. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ↑ Jason Miller. Justice Department investigating Deepwater for possible fraud, Federal Computer Week, 2007-04-18. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ↑ Renae Merle, Spencer Hsu. Coast Guard To Take Over 'Deepwater': Move Wrests Control From Consortium of Contractors, Washington Post, 2007-04-17, p. D01. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
- ↑ US Coast Guard Taking Over Lead Role for Deepwater Program, Defense Industry Daily, 2007-04-18. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.