Jul 03, 2014 16:30 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
USCG on NSC
#8 Midgett long-lead contract; #5 launched – but who is Hamilton named after?; Additional Readings sections updated & upgraded.
June 14/14: #8 long-lead. HII announces a 76.5 million fixed-price contract from the U.S. Coast Guard to purchase long-lead materials for WMSL 757 Midgett, the company’s 8th NSC ship. Materials will include steel, the main propulsion systems, generators, electrical switchboards and major castings.
With respect to the rest of the program, WMSL 753 Hamilton will have builder’s sea trials later this summer, WMSL 754 James will be christened in August, and the keel for WMSL 755 Munro will be officially laid later in 2014. Sources: USCG, “Acquisition Update: Option Exercised for Long Lead Time Materials for Construction of Eighth National Security Cutter” | HII, “Ingalls Shipbuilding Awarded $76.5 Million Advance Procurement Contract for Eighth NSC”.
May 6/14: #5 launched. WMSL 754 James is launched at HII’s Pascagoula, MS shipyard. Note that “launch” doesn’t mean what it does in some movies. It just means that the ship can be moved out of the building on rails to a drydock, then floated to a berth while construction finishes. James is expected to deliver in 2015. So, who is the ship named after?
“Joshua James… was born in Hull, Mass., Nov. 22, 1826. He conducted his first rescue in 1841, at age 15, when he joined volunteers from the Massachusetts Humane Society, then a maritime rescue organization…. By 1886, he had been involved in countless rescue operations and was estimated to have saved over 100 lives.
In 1889, at age 62, James was appointed keeper of the U.S. Lifesaving Service’s newly established Point Allerton Lifesaving Station in Hull, Mass. Despite being 17 years beyond retirement age, his record of lives saved was so impressive that Congress granted him a special dispensation to serve as keeper. He and his crews saved 540 lives during his 13-year tenure at the station. James passed away in 1902, suffering a heart attack following a training exercise at the station. “
Sources: USCG, “Acquisition Update: Fifth National Security Cutter Launched” | HII, “Ingalls Shipbuilding Launches Fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter”.
WMSL-750 Bertholf
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The US Coast Guard’s massive $25 billion Deepwater meta-program (really Deepwater-II given post-9/11 changes) has endured more than its share of ups and downs. Nevertheless, Congressional support has remained strong, and efforts are being made to restructure the program and get it back on track. Yet the USCG’s Island Class cutter modification program, and the Deepwater Fast Response Cutter supposed to replace it, have faced many difficulties.
The Legend Class National Security Cutters are the largest ships in the Deepwater program, and represent the program’s flagship in more ways than one. The 418 foot, 4,400 ton ships will be frigate-sized vessels with a 21 foot draughts, and are rather larger than the 379 foot, 3,250 ton Hamilton Class High Endurance Cutters (HECs) they will replace. Controversies regarding durability and potential hull fatigue, as well as significant cost overruns, have shadowed the new cutter’s construction. The program has survived, and is pushing toward its end in a few years – but will the number of ships bought be enough to help the USCG? This DID FOCUS Article covers the Legend Class cutters’ specifications, program history, and key events.
Displaying 528 of 10,879 words (about 28 pages)Quick Background: The Deepwater Program
The Legend Class National Security Cutters
The Legend Class Program: Contracts & Key Events
FY 2014
FY 2013
FY 2012
FY 2011
FY 2010
FY 2009
FY 2008
FY 2007
FY 2006
Footnotes
Appendix A: The Pitfalls of Being a Legend – NSC
Issues & Action
Appendix B: Additional Readings
Program and Ships
News & Views
Official Reports & Testimony
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WMSL 750 Bertholf,
Sea trials
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Mk 110 MOD 0 concept
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Waesche, Java Sea
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Bertholf & Waesche
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Stratton sea trials
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Bertholf & HC-144
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WMSL 751 Waesche, trials
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Bertholf & HH-65, Miami
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WMSL-750 Bertholf,
final fitting
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Turbine Light-Off
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Bertholf construction
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Boutwell HEC in
Iraqi waters, OIF
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WMSL-751 Waesche
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