U.S. Coast Guard accepts 50th fast response cutter

U.S. Coast Guard accepts 50th fast response cutter
The 50th fast response cutter, William Chadwick, was delivered to the Coast Guard Aug. 4 2022, in Key West, Florida. It will be homeported in Boston. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
The U.S. Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 50th fast response cutter (FRC), William Chadwick, Aug. 4 in Key West, Florida.
Share

U.S. Coast Guard press release

William Chadwick will be homeported in Boston.

Born in Dover, New Jersey, the cutter’s namesake was a keeper of the Green Island Lifeboat Station in New Jersey and recipient of the Congressional Gold Lifesaving Medal for his rescue of the crew of the schooner George Taulane on Feb. 3, 1880. Chadwick remained keeper of Green Island Station until his retirement in August 1886.

The Coast Guard has ordered 64 FRCs to date. Forty-eight are in service: 13 in Florida; seven in Puerto Rico; four each in California and Bahrain; three each in Guam, Hawaii, Texas and New Jersey; two each in Alaska, Mississippi and North Carolina; and Clarence Sutphin Jr and John Scheuerman, which are currently underway to Bahrain. Future FRC homeports include Astoria, Oregon; and Kodiak, Seward and Sitka, Alaska.

About Fast Response Cutter program

Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered, the U.S. Coast Guard’s fourth Sentinel Class patrol boat (USCG photo)

The Sentinel-class fast response cutter is a key component of the U.S. Coast Guard’s offshore fleet that is capable of deploying independently to conduct missions that include port, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense.

Named after Coast Guard enlisted heroes, the FRCs are replacing the aging Island-class 110-foot patrol boats. The Sentinel-class cutter project delivers vital capability to the U.S. Coast Guard, helping to meet the service’s need in the coastal zone and adjacent waters.

Characteristics

  • Number Planned: 64
  • Length: 154 feet
  • Beam: 25 feet
  • Draft: 9 feet 6 inches
  • Displacement: 353 long tons
  • Maximum Speed: 28+ knots
  • Range: 2,500 nautical miles
  • Endurance: Five days
  • Crew: 24

Features

  • Enhanced response time with a minimum top speed of 28 knots
  • Ability to conduct missions on moderate seas up to transit speed for eight hours in all directions
  • Ability to survive on very rough seas up to loiter speed for eight hours in all directions
  • Armed with a stabilized 25-mm machine gun mount and four crew-served .50-caliber machine guns
  • Fully interoperable command and control systems with Coast Guard existing and future assets and with the departments of Homeland Security and Defense

Advertisement

Advertisement