USCGC Bear (WMEC-901)

USCGC "Bear" (WMEC-901) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. She was laid down August 23, 1979 and launched September 25, 1980 by the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company of Tacoma, Washington. She was commissioned February 4, 1983. She was named for USRC "Bear" (AG-29), a steam barquentine that was built in Scotland and served the United States Treasury Department in the United States Revenue Cutter Service's Alaskan Patrol. [http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/cutter/bear/files/history.html U.S. Coast Guard: USCGC "Bear" History] ]

In 1986, "Bear" responded to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster by searching over 1900 square nautical miles (6,500 km²). [http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/cutter/bear/files/ops.html U.S. Coast Guard: USCGC "Bear" Previous Operations] ] During any given patrol, "Bear" conducts a wide-spectrum of missions such as search and rescue, alien migrant interdiction operations, counter-drug patrols, fisheries enforcement, and international engagement—illustrating the versatile, multi-mission character of the Coast Guard and the cutter fleet. Since her commissioning she has made 18 significant drug seizures involving 12 marijuana and 6 cocaine busts.

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External links

* [http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/cutter/bear/ "Bear" home page]