USCG Medium Endurance Cutter

USCG Storis (WMEC 38)

USCG Cutter Acushnet (WMEC 167)

The United States Coast Guard's cutter fleet contains numerous smaller vessels, and about three dozen large icebreakers, High endurance cutters, Medium Endurance cutters, and three National Security Cutters. There are two legacy vessels, the Alex Haley and the Acushnet. There are 13 vessels in the Famous class, and 14 vessels in the Reliance class. The Coast Guard plans to eventually phase out both of these cutters and replace them with the Offshore Patrol Cutter as part of the Deepwater Program.

Famous class cutter

Famous class cutter USCGC Thetis (WMEC 910)

The Famous class vessels have pennant numbers in the range WMEC 901 through WMEC 913.

Length	270 feet (82 m)
Beam	38 feet (12 m)
Draft	14.5 feet (4.4 m)
Displacement	1,800 tons
Propulsion	Twin turbo-charged ALCO V-18 diesel engines with twin 9-foot-diameter (2.7 m) controllable pitch propellers
Power	Two Caterpillar V12 diesel generators
Maximum Range	9,900 miles
Maximum Speed	19.5 knots
Typical Crew	100 personnel (14 officers, 86 enlisted)
Armaments	1 OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun, 2 x .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine gun

Ships in class

USCGC Harriet Lane WMEC 903 moored at NS Guantanamo Bay.

Pennant Number	Name	Status
WMEC-901	Bear	Active
WMEC-902	Tampa	Active
WMEC-903	Harriet Lane	Active
WMEC-904	Northland	Active
WMEC-905	Spencer	Active
WMEC-906	Seneca	Active
WMEC-907	Escanaba	Active
WMEC-908	Tahoma	Active
WMEC-909	Campbell	Active
WMEC-910	Thetis	Active
WMEC-911	Forward	Active
WMEC-912	Legare	Active
WMEC-913	Mohawk	Active

References

• A HDTV documentary called A Day in the Life of the Mohawk shows the Famous class cutter patrolling the United States south coastal region in February and March 1999.
• GlobalSecurity.org - Famous Cutter Class 270-Foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
• US Coast Guard 270' article

36°52.905′N 76°21.101′W / 36.88175°N 76.351683°W / 36.88175; -76.351683

Reliance class cutters

Reliance class cutter USCGC Reliance (WMEC 615)

The Reliance class vessels have pennant numbers in the range WMEC 615 through WMEC 630.

Length overall	210 ft 6 in (64.16 m)
Length of design waterline	200 ft 0 in (60.96 m)
Beam	34 feet 0 inches (10.36 m)
Full load draft	10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Displacement	1127.2 tons (full load)
Total power	5,000 horsepower (3.7 MW)
Sustained sea speed (Full)	18 knots (33 km/h)
Cruising speed (standard)	12 knots (22 km/h)
Range at standard speed	8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km)
Personnel allowance:	75
Armaments	25 mm chain gun, 2 x .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine gun

Ships in class

USCGC Diligence (WMEC-616), 1965. Note the lack of exhaust stacks and the exhaust ports on the transom on the original design. Reliance class cutters would have the stack added during future overhauls, see above photo.^[1]

Pennant Number	Name	Status
WMEC 615	Reliance	Active
WMEC 616	Diligence	Active
WMEC 617	Vigilant	Active
WMEC 618	Active	Active
WMEC 619	Confidence	Active
WMEC 620	Resolute	Active
WMEC 621	Valiant	Active
WMEC 622	Courageous	Decommissioned
WMEC 623	Steadfast	Active
WMEC 624	Dauntless	Active
WMEC 625	Venturous	Active
WMEC 626	Dependable	Active
WMEC 627	Vigorous	Active
WMEC 628	Durable	Decommissioned
WMEC 629	Decisive	Active
WMEC 630	Alert	Active

References

• GlobalSecurity.org - Reliance Class 210-Foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
• US Coast Guard 210' article

Notes

1. ^ http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/WMEC_Photo_Index.html