Endurance involves more than just fuel, food and supplies are also involved. The US Navy has bases abroad, and uses bases of allies as well. Furthermore, the Navy has replenishment groups deployed alongside our carrier battle groups and amphibious groups which are deployed. On the other hand the USCG doesn't have replenishment groups, much less very many cutters deployed abroad. No wonder why, the coasties are too busy patrolling our own EEZs. The CG does have bases in Alaska and around the United States, but the big one on Kodiak Island isn't all that close to Bering Sea operations. Of course, that doesn't mean the CG won't deploy a cutter abroad, but when it does so it taps the Navy's replenishment assets In the Indian Ocean for example. And sadly, the Navy does not deploy replenishment groups to the Bering Sea very often.
To understand Bering Sea operations, one might get a clue a little bit if they watch the Discovery Channel's The Deadliest Catch reality series. Dutch Harbor is key, not Kodiak.
The Coast Guard was wanting 8 NSCs, but have been trimmed to 6. The Coast Guard will need all 6 for far flung Pacific and Alaskan operations just to patrol our EEZs. 2 had been planned to be based on the east coast, but they have been cut, and all 6 will be based on the west coast.
The point is a cutter isn't replenished every seven days alike a navy warship.
Endurance involves more than just fuel, food and supplies are also involved. The US Navy has bases abroad, and uses bases of allies as well. Furthermore, the Navy has replenishment groups deployed alongside our carrier battle groups and amphibious groups which are deployed. On the other hand the USCG doesn't have replenishment groups, much less very many cutters deployed abroad. No wonder why, the coasties are too busy patrolling our own EEZs. The CG does have bases in Alaska and around the United States, but the big one on Kodiak Island isn't all that close to Bering Sea operations. Of course, that doesn't mean the CG won't deploy a cutter abroad, but when it does so it taps the Navy's replenishment assets In the Indian Ocean for example. And sadly, the Navy does not deploy replenishment groups to the Bering Sea very often.
To understand Bering Sea operations, one might get a clue a little bit if they watch the Discovery Channel's The Deadliest Catch reality series. Dutch Harbor is key, not Kodiak.
The Coast Guard was wanting 8 NSCs, but have been trimmed to 6. The Coast Guard will need all 6 for far flung Pacific and Alaskan operations just to patrol our EEZs. 2 had been planned to be based on the east coast, but they have been cut, and all 6 will be based on the west coast.
The point is a cutter isn't replenished every seven days alike a navy warship.
That is well put. The conditions of the open ocean and requirement of operation at sea for long periods without resupply or refueling is essential to task.
True - the protection of economic zone and the approaches to it by foreign vessels, are now, alongside life-saving rescue, the priority of (the strategic and tactical goal) the USCG. These two entries of higher priority among the several other jobs it is tasked with. The I.D. and handling of potential terrorism by ship as vehicle figures prominently is this new era of tasks faced by USCG. The protection of the economic zone (including the rightful seizure of violating ships) emerges as the great area of requirement in this new era. One of the areas requiring more attention is the protection of the fisheries. Alaska is vital. This is also becoming an alarming problem in the Pacific (U.S. Territories, and assistance to Federation of Micronesia).
The requirements of USCG vessel is unlike naval warship. This type must operate on it's own without being dependent on other ships or aircraft to be near and ready to serve it, in time and proximity to immediately replenish.
It does not need modular change-out features; it's weaponry does not require it to counter naval warships or be an deterrent offensive weapon (job of USN), yet be equipped to either severely disable or render inoperable (not destroy) non-military vessels.
A pair of conventional, single-barrel cannons (bow and stern) that can disable or wreck (without sinking) a large ship, including mega-ships.
Equipped with suppressive-fire machine-gun, should the use of cannon not be used.
It cannot, by obvious reason, possess or be equipped to fire torpedoes or missiles (only USN reserves such armament).
A vessel of this kind and role must have endurance. Nine days is obviously insufficient. (Twice that would be insufficient)
Fast cruising speed.
Designed for minimal crew but not robotic.
Hull built to withstand running in (up against) sea ice.
Personnel trained to board large, even mega-vessels.
The same personnel must be trained to possibly remove and detain the violating crew.
One helicopter pad.
One helicopter.
It must not, by obvious reason, be equipped with an armed helicopter.
Sufficient steel armor to withstand possibility of rockets, machine-gun fire or even light to medium cannon fire.
It's cannons must be smaller-caliber, high-velocity, armor-piercing, flat-trajectory, fast-firing type. The barrel must be able to withstand sustained firing.
State of the art navigation and communications, as well as signalling.
Two fast launches.
It must have aboard fluent speakers of various languages (as applicable) as interpreters/intake specialists (not interrogators).
Infirmary with surgeon.
Equipped sufficiently with lifeboat craft that is efficient to release and operate.
Simple, spartan, yet comfortable and useful in accommodation of crew.
