Should the USCG be getting more bang for it's buck?

Bort · 01-29-06, 03:54 AM

For those unaware, the US Coast Guard is in the midst of a huge cutter/aircraft aquistion program called deepwater. The crown jewel of this effort is the new Bertholf class 418" National Security Cutters. These will be the largest non-icebreakers the Coast Guard has ever operated and should be capable of deploying with Carrier Strike Groups overseas or conducting long range independent patrols. They look to be nice ships with a semi stealthy design and excellent systems, but IMHO they are lacking in one crucial aspect-weapons. They are to be equipped with just 1 57mm bofors main gun and a CIWS (either a phalanx or SeaRam) plus the usual .50 cals and small arms. Thats it. The USCG up until the 90's operated cutters with torpedos, LAMPS data links, sonar, a three inch gun and a Phalanx plus, for a short time, Harpoons. These cutters were much shorter, less beamy and had less displacement than the new Bertholf class. Why not give the new cutters weapons to play a wider role in warfare and homeland security? A sonar of some sort, twin triple torpedo tubes and perhaps even an eight or even sixteen cell VLS aft of the gun capable of carrying the Evolved Sea Sparrow in quad packs or VLASROC and a Harpoon launcher with the required electronics would make this vessel a viable modern combatant in ASW, with limited ASUW and AAW capability, able both to supplement USN forces and be a more potent force in homeland security as well. What's your opinion?

http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/[/img]

View Poll Results: Should the USCG's new cutters be more heavily armed?
Yes, why not?	13	50.00%
No, the Coast Guard has no need for such a heavily armed cutter.	13	50.00%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

01-29-06, 03:54 AM	#1
Bort Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Studying in Atlanta Posts: 919 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	Should the USCG be getting more bang for it's buck? For those unaware, the US Coast Guard is in the midst of a huge cutter/aircraft aquistion program called deepwater. The crown jewel of this effort is the new Bertholf class 418" National Security Cutters. These will be the largest non-icebreakers the Coast Guard has ever operated and should be capable of deploying with Carrier Strike Groups overseas or conducting long range independent patrols. They look to be nice ships with a semi stealthy design and excellent systems, but IMHO they are lacking in one crucial aspect-weapons. They are to be equipped with just 1 57mm bofors main gun and a CIWS (either a phalanx or SeaRam) plus the usual .50 cals and small arms. Thats it. The USCG up until the 90's operated cutters with torpedos, LAMPS data links, sonar, a three inch gun and a Phalanx plus, for a short time, Harpoons. These cutters were much shorter, less beamy and had less displacement than the new Bertholf class. Why not give the new cutters weapons to play a wider role in warfare and homeland security? A sonar of some sort, twin triple torpedo tubes and perhaps even an eight or even sixteen cell VLS aft of the gun capable of carrying the Evolved Sea Sparrow in quad packs or VLASROC and a Harpoon launcher with the required electronics would make this vessel a viable modern combatant in ASW, with limited ASUW and AAW capability, able both to supplement USN forces and be a more potent force in homeland security as well. What's your opinion? http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/[/img] __________________ GT Aerospace