USCGC Sapelo

The USCGC Sapelo (WPB-1314) is an Island class cutter, operated by the United States Coast Guard.[1] In 2013, unlike other Island class cutters, she was not commanded by a commissioned officer, she was commanded by a Chief Warrant Officer.

USCGC Sapelo moored next to a cruise liner in San Juan.
History
United States
NameSapelo
NamesakeSapelo Island, Georgia, U.S.
BuilderBollinger Shipyard
CostApprox. $7 Million
Homeport
Identification
StatusDecommissioned/scrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeIsland-class patrol boat
Displacement164 tons
Length110 ft (34 m)
Beam21 ft (6.4 m)
Draft6.5 ft (2.0 m)
PropulsionTwin Paxman Valenta 16-CM RP-200M
Speed30+ knots
Range9,900 miles
Endurance6 days
Boats & landing
craft carried		1 - RHI (90 HP outboard engine)
Complement18 personnel (3 officers, 15 enlisted)
Armament

In 2013 the Sapelo seized a shipment of 1.3 tons of cocaine, estimated to be worth $34 million United States dollars.[2]

In June 2015, the Homer News reported that a sister ship of Sapelo, Roanoke Island, stationed in Homer, Alaska, was being retired.[3] They reported that, since the Sapelo had been replaced by a new Sentinel class cutter, she would be brought to Homer to replace Roanoke Island. The previous crew of Roanoke Island would then cross-deck to Sapelo in a crew swap.

Design

The Island-class patrol boats were constructed in Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana. Sapelo has an overall length of 110 feet (34 m). It had a beam of 21 feet (6.4 m) and a draft of 7 feet (2.1 m) at the time of construction. The patrol boat has a displacement of 154 tonnes (152 long tons; 170 short tons) at full load and 137 tonnes (135 long tons; 151 short tons) at half load. It is powered two Paxman Valenta 16 CM diesel engines or two Caterpillar 3516 diesel engines. It has two 99 kilowatts (135 PS; 133 shp) 3304T diesel generators made by Caterpillar; these can serve as motor–generators. Its hull is constructed from highly strong steel, and the superstructure and major deck are constructed from aluminium.[4][5]

The Island-class patrol boats have maximum sustained speeds of 29.5 knots (54.6 km/h; 33.9 mph). It is fitted with one 25 millimetres (0.98 in) machine gun and two 7.62 millimetres (0.300 in) M60 light machine guns; it may also be fitted with two Browning .50 Caliber Machine Guns. It is fitted with satellite navigation systems, collision avoidance systems, surface radar, and a Loran C system. It has a range of 3,330 miles (2,890 nmi; 5,360 km) and an endurance of five days. Its complement is sixteen (two officers and fourteen crew members). Island-class patrol boats are based on Vosper Thornycroft 33 metres (108 ft) patrol boats and have similar dimensions.[4][5]

References
  1. "Coast Guard Cutter Sapelo (WPB-1314): Primary mission is law enforcement and search and rescue". USCG. 2013-04-19. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
  2. "Coast Guard Cutter Sapelo seizes $34 million of cocaine". Coast Guard News. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2015-06-04. After searching throughout the night and the following day, the crew of the Sapelo recovered 43 bales of contraband that had been thrown overboard by the suspects aboard the fleeing vessel. Further inspection and testing of the suspected contraband revealed it to be cocaine.
  3. Michael Armstrong (2015-06-04). "Coast Guard cutter forced into retirement". Homer News. Archived from the original on 2015-06-05. Homer won't lose the 18 crewmembers and their families, however. An Island Class patrol boat, the 110-foot Roanoke Island will be replaced in Homer by a sister ship, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sapelo, now stationed in Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  4. "110-foot Island Class Patrol Boat (WPB)" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  5. "USCG 110' "Island Class" Patrol Boats (WPB)". Bollinger Shipyards. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
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