Island-class patrol boat
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 7 remain in commission. Their hull numbers are WPB-1301 through WPB-1349.[4]
USCGC Knight Island, commissioned in 1992, is the second newest Island-class boat. | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Island class |
Builders | Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana, U.S. |
Operators | |
Preceded by | Cape-class |
Succeeded by | Sentinel-class |
Built | 1985–1992[1] |
In service | 1985–present |
Completed | 49 |
Active | 7 |
Lost | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Patrol boat |
Displacement | 168 tons |
Length | 110 ft (34 m) |
Beam | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
Draft | 7.3 ft (2.2 m)[2] |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 29.5 kn (54.6 km/h; 33.9 mph) |
Range | 2,900 nmi (5,400 km; 3,300 mi) |
Endurance | 5 days |
Boats & landing craft carried | 1 – Cutter Boat Medium (Yamaha 90 HP outboard engine) |
Complement | 16 (2 officers, 14 enlisted) |
Sensors and processing systems | AN/SPS-73 radar |
Armament | |
Aircraft carried | None |
Overview
The 110 feet (34 metres) Island-class patrol boats are a U.S. Coast Guard modification of a highly successful British-designed Vosper Thornycroft patrol boat built for Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore.[2] With excellent range and seakeeping capabilities, the Island class, all named after U.S. islands, replaced the older 95 feet (29 metres) Cape-class cutters. These cutters are equipped with advanced electronics and navigation equipment, and are used in support of the Coast Guard's maritime homeland security, migrant interdiction, drug interdiction, defense operations, fisheries enforcement, and search and rescue missions.[5]
The 58 ordered Sentinel-class cutters, selected under the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) program, are slated to replace the Island class. Six Island class cutters are currently stationed in Manama, Bahrain, as a part of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia to provide the Navy's Fifth Fleet with combat ready assets.[6] The cutters have 10 tons worth of space and weight reservations for additional weapons.[7]
Conversion problems
As built, these vessels were all 110 feet (34 m) in length. In 2002 as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program, the Coast Guard began refitting some of these vessels, adding 13 feet (4.0 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. The eight cutters[8] modified were;
- USCGC Matagorda (WPB-1303)
- USCGC Attu (WPB-1317)
- USCGC Metompkin (WPB-1325)
- USCGC Padre (WPB-1328)
- USCGC Manitou (WPB-1302)
- USCGC Monhegan (WPB-1305)
- USCGC Nunivak (WPB-1306)
- USCGC Vashon (WPB-1308)
In 2005, then-Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thomas H. Collins made the decision to stop the contractor's conversion at eight hulls when sea trials revealed intractable structural flaws.[9][10]
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 standards.[11]
In late November 2006 all eight of the 123 ft (37 m) WPBs were taken out of service due to debilitating problems with their lengthened hulls – all eight hulls were cracking when driven at high speed in heavy seas. These as well as other issues – such as C4ISR problems – drove the program $60 million over budget, triple the original bid for the eight boats converted. The 41 unmodified 110s are now being pressed harder to take up the slack.[12] The eight modified were moved to the United States Coast Guard Yard and moored in Arundel Cove.[13]
Transfers to foreign operators
The U.S. Coast Guard has transferred several ships to foreign navies and coast guards via the Defense Security Cooperation Agency's Office of International Acquisition's Excess Defense Articles Program (EDA).[14]
In May 2023, the United States government pledged to provide the Philippines at least two Island-class patrol vessels which was agreed by both sides, as it was offered alongside two Marine Protector-class patrol boats and three Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft during President Bongbong Marcos' visit to Washington D.C.[15][16] The recipient of the transferred vessels will be the Philippine Navy. [17][18]
Operators
- United States Coast Guard
- Georgian Coast Guard – two ships via EDA in September 2016[19]
- Pakistan Maritime Security Agency – two ships via EDA in 2016[20]
- Costa Rican Coast Guard – two ships via EDA in 2017[20]
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society – purchased former USCGC Block Island and Pea Island, June 2015,[22] and Bainbridge Island, November 2017.[23]
- Ukrainian Navy – five acquired from the USCG[24]
- Hellenic Navy – four ships via EDA in 2023[25]
Dispositions
image | name | commissioned | decommissioned | notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Farallon (WPB-1301) | ||||
Manitou (WPB-1302) | Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006 | |||
Matagorda (WPB-1303) | Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006 | |||
Maui (WPB-1304) | 22 March 2022 in Manama, Bahrain | |||
Monhegan (WPB-1305) | Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006 | |||
Nunivak (WPB-1306) | Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006 | |||
Ocracoke (WPB-1307) | transferred to Ukraine, renamed P192 Sumy | |||
Vashon (WPB-1308) | Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006 | |||
Aquidneck (WPB-1309) | 15 June 2021 in Manama, Bahrain | |||
Mustang (WPB-1310) | ||||
Naushon (WPB-1311) | 3 October 1986 | Homeport - Homer, Alaska | ||
Sanibel (WPB-1312) | ||||
Edisto (WPB-1313) | ||||
Sapelo (WPB-1314) | transferred to Greece | |||
Mantinicus (WPB-1315) | ||||
Nantucket (WPB-1316) | Mar 2017 | |||
Attu (WPB-1317) | Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006 | |||
Baranof (WPB-1318) | ||||
Chandeleur (WPB-1319) | ||||
Chincoteague (WPB-1320) | ||||
Cushing (WPB-1321) | transferred to Ukraine, renamed P190 Sloviansk, sunk due to Russian action 3 March 22 | |||
Cuttyhunk (WPB-1322) | ||||
Drummond (WPB-1323) | transferred to Ukraine, renamed P191 Starobilsk | |||
Key Largo (WPB-1324) | 01 December 1988 | 27 February 2023 | ||
Metompkin (WPB-1325) | Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006 | |||
Monomoy (WPB-1326) | 19 May 1989 | 22 March 2022 | Transferred to Greece | |
Orcas (WPB-1327) | ||||
Padre (WPB-1328) | Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006 | |||
Sitkanak Island (WPB-1329) | ||||
Tybee (WPB-1330) | ||||
Washington (WPB-1331) | transferred to Ukraine, renamed P193 Fastiv | |||
Wrangell (WPB-1332) | 22 March 2022 in Manama, Bahrain | Transferred to Greece | ||
Adak (WPB-1333) | 15 June 2021 in Manama, Bahrain | |||
Liberty (WPB-1334) | ||||
Anacapa (WPB-1335) | ||||
Kiska (WPB-1336) | transferred to Ukraine, renamed P194 Vyacheslav Kubrak | |||
Assateague (WPB-1337) | ||||
Grand Isle (WPB-1338) | transferred to Pakistan | |||
Key Biscayne (WPB-1339) | transferred to Pakistan | |||
Jefferson Island (WPB-1340) | Decommissioned in Portland, Maine on September 19, 2014. | transferred to Georgia (country) | ||
Kodiak Island (WPB-1341) | ||||
Long Island (WPB-1342) | transferred to Costa Rica, renamed Juan Rafael Mora Porras | |||
Bainbridge Island (WPB-1343) | purchased by Sea Shepherd, renamed MV Sharpie | |||
Block Island (WPB-1344) | purchased by Sea Shepherd, renamed MY Jules Verne | |||
Staten Island (WPB-1345) | transferred to Georgia | |||
Roanoke Island (WPB-1346) | transferred to Costa Rica, renamed Gen. Jose M. Canas Escamilla | |||
Pea Island (WPB-1347) | purchased by Sea Shepherd, renamed MY Farley Mowat | |||
Knight Island (WPB-1348) | ||||
Galveston Island (WPB-1349) |
Gallery
- USCG Sanibel moored in Boston Harbor
- Four WPBs transported to the Mediterranean aboard MV BBC Spain
- USCGC Anacapa sinks derelict Ryou-Un Maru fishing vessel with fire hose, 5 April 2012.
See also
- USCG Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boat
- USCG Short Range Prosecutor
- USCG Cape-class cutter
- USCG Sentinel-class cutter
References
- "WPB 110' Island Class". GlobalSecurity.org. Global Security. Archived from the original on 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
There are three variants of the Island Class. The A & B classes use two Paxman-Valenta 16 CM engines as there propulsion plants while the C class uses two Caterpillar 3516s.
- McCarthy, Frank N. (1986). "The Coast Guard's New Island in the Drug War". Proceedings. United States Naval Institute. 112 (2): 109&110.
- Carr, Richard (31 March 2014). "Valenta and VP185 applications – Valenta (Y3J or RP200) applications". PaxmanHistory.org.uk. Richard Carr's Paxman history pages. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- "USCG: 110 ft Patrol Boat". USCG.mil. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- "Patrol Forces Southwest Asia". USCG.mil. US Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- "Patrol Forces Southwest Asia". USCG.mil. US Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- "United States Coast Guard AntiSubmarine Warfare (ASW) in the Maritime Defense Zone (MDZ)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
The new Island Class of 110-foot Patrol Boat (WPB) was designed with "a ten-ton space and weight reservation for additional weapon systems."
- Bruce Alpert (August 18, 2011). "Feds Sue Bollinger Shipyards Over 'Unseaworthy' Coast Guard Ships". New Orleans Business News. Archived from the original on 2018-06-09. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
The suit contends that Lockport-based Bollinger exaggerated the structural hull strength of the eight boats it had contracted to lengthen from 110 feet to 123 feet.
- Nathaniel R. Helms (2005-06-23). "Coast Guard Scramble Over Deepwater Snag". Military.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- "Coast Guard ends cutter conversion program". MarineLog. 2005-07-18. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- Griff Witte (2006-08-29). "On YouTube, Charges of Security Flaws". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Eric Lipton (2006-11-30). "Coast Guard to Idle 8 Cutters After $100 Million Renovation". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- U. S. Coast Guard Patrol Craft Archived 2014-05-26 at the Wayback Machine. HMC James T. Flynn, Jr. USNR(ret). 2012.
- "EDA". dsca.mil. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- 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.
- "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.
- 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.
- "Understanding the United States' Patrol Boat Pledges to the Philippine Navy". Pitz Defense Analysis. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- "U.S. Donates Two Patrol Boats to Georgian Coast Guard". Civil Georgia. Tbilisi. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- "USCG Transfers Cutters". dcms.uscg.mil. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- "Sea Shepherd Welcomes the Farley Mowat and the Jules Verne to its Fleet - Sea Shepherd Conservation Society". Archived from the original on 2015-06-03. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
- "Sea Shepherd Launches New Anti-poaching Vessel M/V Sharpie". Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
- "Ukraine to receive two former U.S. Coast Guard Island-class cutters". navaltoday.com. navaltoday.com. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- "ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΟ: Οι ΗΠΑ παραχωρούν 3 περιπολικά κλάσης Island στο Πολεμικό μας Ναυτικό, άλλα 5 προς διάθεση στο άμεσο μέλλον - Πτήση" (in Greek). 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2023-07-08.