The class leader USCGC Barracuda underway. Note the boat launching ramp at the stern. The fifty caliber machine guns mount on pintles, port and starboard, just forward of the red stripe. The black smudge in the hull abaft the superstructure is the exhaust of the port engine.
Class overview
NameMarine Protector class
BuildersBollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana
Operators United States Coast Guard
Preceded byPoint class
In commission1998-present[1]
Completed73
Cancelled0
Active67
Retired6
General characteristics
Displacement91 Long tons
Length87 ft (27 m)
Beam19 ft 5 in (5.92 m)
Draft5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Propulsion2 x MTU diesels
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)+
Range900 nmi (1,700 km)
Endurance3 days
Complement10
Sensors and
processing systems		1 x AN/SPS-73 surface search radar
Armament2 × .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns
Notes[2]
USCGC Cochito launching a small boat from the stern ramp
USCGC Sailfish in New York City

The 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. Each boat is named after sea creatures which fly or swim.[3]

The Coast Guard placed its original order in 1999 for 50 boats, which were delivered by mid-2002.[4] Several additional orders brought the class to a total of 74 ships, with the last, USCGC Sea Fox, being completed in October 2009.[3][5][6] Four additional vessels were built for Foreign Military Sales, with two each going to Malta and Yemen.[7]

In May 2021, the United States announced that it would send three ships to the Lebanese Navy[8]

The Marine Protector class replaced the 82-foot Point class which had smaller accommodations and had to stop to deploy its pursuit inflatable boat via crane. The last Point-class cutter was decommissioned in 2003.[9][10]

In 2020, the Department of Homeland Security began to decommission the fleet, with 8 Marine Protector cutters replaced by newer Sentinel class cutters.[11]

In May 2023, the United States government pledged to provide the Philippines at least two Marine Protector vessels, as well as two Island-class patrol boat and three Lockheed C-130H Hercules during President Bongbong Marcos' visit to Washington D.C.[12][13] The transferred vessels will be operated by the Philippine Navy.[14][15]

General characteristics

Missions include combating drug smuggling, illegal immigration, marine fisheries enforcement and search and rescue support. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks many have a homeland security mission in the form of ports waterways and coastal security (PWCS) patrols.[16]

Boarding parties can be launched while the vessel is underway, through the cutter's stern launching ramp.[3] The attached rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) has been upgraded in an effort to increase speed and sea state sustainability for boarding parties and rescue and assistance teams. The stern launching system requires only a single crew member to remain on deck to launch or retrieve the boarding party.

The vessels consume approximately 165 gallons of diesel per hour at their maximum speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph).

Like all new U.S. Coast Guard vessels, the Marine Protector class are designed to accommodate crews of mixed gender with five separate small berthing spaces accommodating standard crews of ten with maximum berthing for 12.[3]

Sea Dragon and Sea Dog are assigned to guard a United States Navy submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, while Sea Devil and Sea Fox guard another submarine base in Bangor, Washington. All mount an additional machine gun operated by remote control.[3]

Boats in class

Image Name Hull Number Builder Commissioned Homeport Status
USCGC Barracuda WPB-87301 Bollinger Shipyards 1998 Eureka, California Active
USCGC Hammerhead WPB-87302 Woods Hole, Massachusetts
USCGC Mako WPB-87303 Cape May, New Jersey
USCGC Marlin WPB-87304 Fort Myers Beach, Florida
USCGC Stingray WPB-87305 Mobile, Alabama
USCGC Dorado WPB-87306 1999 Crescent City, California Decommissioned on March 10, 2021. Donated to the Lebanese navy.
USCGC Osprey WPB-87307 Port Townsend, Washington
USCGC Chinook WPB-87308 New London, Connecticut
USCGC Albacore WPB-87309 New London, Connecticut Sold to Uruguay.[17]
USCGC Tarpon WPB-87310 Tybee Island, Georgia
USCGC Cobia WPB-87311 Mobile, Alabama
USCGC Hawksbill WPB-87312 Monterey, California

Decommissioned

USCGC Cormorant WPB-87313 South Padre Island, Texas
USCGC Finback WPB-87314 Cape May, New Jersey
USCGC Amberjack WPB-87315 South Padre Island, Texas
USCGC Kittiwake WPB-87316 Honolulu, Hawaii
USCGC Blackfin WPB-87317 Santa Barbara, California
USCGC Bluefin WPB-87318 Fort Pierce, Florida
USCGC Yellowfin WPB-87319 Charleston, South Carolina
USCGC Manta WPB-87320 2000 Freeport, Texas Decommissioned on Apr 16, 2021. Donated to the Lebanese navy.
USCGC Coho WPB-87321 Panama City, Florida
USCGC Kingfisher WPB-87322 Mayport, Florida
USCGC Seahawk WPB-87323 Carrabelle, Florida
USCGC Steelhead WPB-87324 Port Aransas, Texas
USCGC Beluga WPB-87325 Little Creek, Virginia
USCGC Blacktip WPB-87326 Oxnard, California
USCGC Pelican WPB-87327 Abbeville, Louisiana
USCGC Ridley WPB-87328 Montauk, New York
USCGC Cochito WPB-87329 Little Creek, Virginia Sold to Uruguay.[18]
USCGC Manowar WPB-87330 Galveston, Texas
USCGC Moray WPB-87331 Jonesport, Maine
USCGC Razorbill WPB-87332 Gulfport, Mississippi
USCGC Adelie WPB-87333 Port Angeles, Washington
USCGC Gannet WPB-87334 Dania, Florida Sold to Uruguay.[19]
USCGC Narwhal WPB-87335 Corona Del Mar, California
USCGC Sturgeon WPB-87336 Grand Isle, Louisiana
USCGC Sockeye WPB-87337 Bodega Bay, California
USCGC Ibis WPB-87338 Cape May, New Jersey
USCGC Pompano WPB-87339 Gulfport, Mississippi
USCGC Halibut WPB-87340 Marina Del Rey, California
USCGC Bonito WPB-87341 Pensacola, Florida
USCGC Shrike WPB-87342 Port Canaveral, Florida
USCGC Tern WPB-87343 San Francisco, California
USCGC Heron WPB-87344 Sabine Pass, Texas
USCGC Wahoo WPB-87345 Port Angeles, Washington
USCGC Flyingfish WPB-87346 Boston, Massachusetts
USCGC Haddock WPB-87347 San Diego, California
USCGC Brant WPB-87348 2002 Corpus Christi, Texas Decommissioned on March 17, 2022
USCGC Shearwater WPB-87349 2002 Portsmouth, Virginia Decommissioned on April 15, 2021. Donated to the Lebanese navy.
USCGC Petrel WPB-87350 San Diego, California
87351[20] Malta
USCGC Sea Lion WPB-87352 Bellingham, Washington
USCGC Skipjack WPB-87353 Galveston, Texas
USCGC Dolphin WPB-87354 Miami, Florida
USCGC Hawk WPB-87355 St. Petersburg, Florida
USCGC Sailfish WPB-87356 Sandy Hook, New Jersey
USCGC Sawfish WPB-87357 Key West, Florida
USCGC Swordfish WPB-87358 Port Angeles, Washington
USCGC Tiger Shark WPB-87359 Newport, Rhode Island
USCGC Blue Shark WPB-87360 Everett, Washington
USCGC Sea Horse WPB-87361 Portsmouth, Virginia
USCGC Sea Otter WPB-87362 San Diego, California
USCGC Manatee WPB-87363 Corpus Christi, Texas
USCGC Ahi WPB-87364 Honolulu, Hawaii
USCGC Pike WPB-87365 San Francisco, California
USCGC Terrapin WPB-87366 Bellingham, Washington
USCGC Sea Dragon WPB-87367 Kings Bay, Georgia In active service
USCGC Sea Devil WPB-87368 Bangor, Washington
USCGC Crocodile WPB-87369 St Petersburg, Florida
USCGC Diamondback WPB-87370 Miami Beach, Florida
USCGC Reef Shark WPB-87371 Juneau, Alaska
USCGC Alligator WPB-87372 St. Petersburg, Florida
USCGC Sea Dog WPB-87373 Kings Bay, Georgia
USCGC Sea Fox WPB-87374 Bangor, Washington In active service

References

  1. ↑ "WPB 87' Marine Protector Class". Globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  2. ↑ "Coastal Patrol Boat" (PDF). USCG Acquisition Directorate. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 HMC James T. Flynn, Jr., USNR(ret) (2014-06-23). "U. S. Coast Guard: Small Cutters and Patrol Boats 1915 - 2012" (PDF). US Coast Guard. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-11-19. The four boats which are stationed at Kitsap, WA and Kings Bay, GA submarine bases have an extra remotely operated 50 cal. m.g.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ "Patrol Boat". Marine Talk. 1999-10-18. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26.
  5. ↑ Keyon K. Jeff (2009-10-11). "Bollinger Shipyards delivers final Marine Protector-class CPB". Tri-Parish Times. Archived from the original on 2009-10-11. We're very sad to see the Sea Fox leave. This contract was supposed to end at 51 vessels, and now we're at 75," said Christopher Bollinger, executive vice president of new construction. "We're excited to see the workmanship continue as we start the next contract for 36 boats.
  6. ↑ "USCG Contract for Bollinger". Marine News. July 2007. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-07-17. The Bollinger built CPBs are based on the Damen STAN 2600 design developed for the Hong Kong police.
  7. ↑ "International Acquisition Programs". United States Coast Guard. 2009-12-15.
  8. ↑ "The Lebanese Navy is Getting 7 New Offshore Patrol Vessels". 8 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat (WPB) - Marine Protector Class". Marine Protector Class datasheet. US Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  10. ↑ ""Last of the Class": USCGC PT BROWER (WPB 82372)". Transquest. 2003-03-28. Archived from the original on 2003-04-17. Retrieved 2020-02-13. On March 28th, 2003, the United States Coast Guard will transfer Coast Guard Cutter Point Brower (WPB 82372) to the country of Azerbaijan thus bringing an incredible era of "Point Class" vessels to an end.
  11. ↑ "Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Budget Overview, Fiscal Year 2021, Congressional Justification" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. 2020. p. 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-02-13. This initiative decommissions eight 87-foot Marine Protector Class CPBs. This initiative is based on the acquisition of the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) and Response Boat – Medium (RB-M), both of which are more capable than the legacy assets that they replace.
  12. ↑ Valmonte, Kaycee (2 May 2023). "US to transfer patrol boats, airplanes to Philippine military". Philstar Global. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Philippines To Receive Four Ex-US Coast Guard Patrol Boats". Baird Maritime. 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Nepomuceno, Priam (3 May 2023). "4 US patrol boats to beef up PH Navy's defense capabilities". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Understanding the United States' Patrol Boat Pledges to the Philippine Navy". Pitz Defense Analysis. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Office of Counterterrorism & Defense Operations Policy (CG-ODO)". US Coast Guard. 2016-12-28. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2020-02-13. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 divided the Coast Guard's eleven statutory missions between homeland security and non-homeland security. Reflecting the Coast Guard's historical role in defending our nation, the Act delineated Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security (PWCS) as the first homeland security mission.
  17. ↑ "Uruguay receives three Marine Protector-class patrol boats from US Coast Guard". 22 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "Uruguay receives three Marine Protector-class patrol boats from US Coast Guard". 22 December 2021.
  19. ↑ "Uruguay receives three Marine Protector-class patrol boats from US Coast Guard". 22 December 2021.
  20. ↑ The number 87351 was assigned to a vessel that was given to Malta, where it became P51
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