Coast Guard Launches First National Security Cutter (418', $640m. Bertholf )

Fox News / Various ^ | July 4, 2008

[Stoat]

The Coast Guard just rolled out the most sophisticated ship it’s ever commissioned, packed with new technology to help in the hunt for drug smugglers and terrorists.

The cutter Bertholf — 418 feet from stem to stern — is set to patrol the Pacific from California to Ecuador — a patch of ocean as large as the United States.

“The bubble that’s around this ship that we can see and hear and respond to is much larger than any cutter we've ever built,” said Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard, referring to the range of the guns, fast boats, and helicopter aboard the Bertholf.

The helicopter has guns and sniper rifles mounted on its sides and infrared equipment under its belly. The infrared allows pilots to scope out boats from miles away.

“We can count how many people are on board, we can determine how many engines based on the heat signatures," said Lt. Steve McCullough. "If we're lucky, we can determine if there's contraband on board prior to even getting over the vessel.”

That should be a boon for the Coast Guard, as speedy craft have sometimes evaded its grasp.

“For many years we [were chasing] these fast boats that were much faster than our cutters that were basically running away from us,” Allen said. “But they can’t run away from a helicopter that's armed.

"In fact, it's actually caused the smugglers to change their behavior ... so we think its been very effective.”

(edit)

 

[Stoat]

My apologies for the severe editing of this article....this was done in order to remain in compliance with Free Republic's posting rules for articles from Fox News.  Please click on the original article link to read the full story.  Given that I had to cut away over half of the article in order to post anything at all from it here, you'll be missing quite a bit of the story if you don't.

************************************************************************

U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard's new National Security cutter, Bertholf, is packed with new technology to help in the hunt for drug smugglers and terrorists.

U.S. Coast Guard

Petty Officer 1st Class B. Ryan Bradley keeps an eye out over the Coast Guard's newest cutter, Bertholf, as it makes way towards the Port of Miami.

 U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard's new National Security cutter, Bertholf, moors to the pier during a scheduled port call in Baltimore.

 U.S. Coast Guard
The Bertholf will cover an area in the Pacific Ocean the size of the United States.

 

Foxnews video highlighting weapons systems

Foxnews video highlighting crew berthing accommodations

Newest Coast Guard ship in port -- baltimoresun.com

Longer than a football field, highly automated cutter Bertholf docks in Fells Point

 

The newest and largest Coast Guard cutter, the Bertholf, pays a visit to Baltimore, docking at Broadway Pier in Fells Point. (Sun photo by Julie A. Ferguson / June 27, 2008)

CGC Bertholf Transiting Chesapeake Bay

"It's fantastic, it's a first class ship. Being the first commanding officer of the Bertholf is the biggest honor of my career," said Stadt.

"This ship is capable of worldwide deployment in support of Department of Defense missions, as well as Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security missions," said Stadt.

New cutter struts at Inner Harbor - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times

SignOnSanDiego.com News Military -- Coast Guard looks to become more vital part of military

USCGC BERTHOLF - Home

wepsphotogallery

Shipyard workers supervise the install of the new deck gun

[Travis McGee]

Fells Point eh? Great party place, back in the day.

[wastedyears]

Where’s the Letters of Marque?

Private ships can augment the Coast Guard and Navy with an immense net.

[xDGx]

If they are really worried about drug smugglers and such, $640 mill would pay for a LOT of fence.

Seriously, we have a Navy, what are these guys going to do that the Navy can’t? Guard the 12 mile limit with one ship?

Nice looking boat and all, but strikes me as a boondoggle.

[SandRat]

She’s a Real Beauty Tonk. You’d be proud.

Lord God above watch over and keep safe all who sail her.

[John Jorsett]

The cutter Bertholf — 418 feet from stem to stern — is set to patrol the Pacific from California to Ecuador — a patch of ocean as large as the United States.

I always thought the coast they were guarding was the US, not Central and South America's.

[Cementjungle]

I always thought the coast they were guarding was the US, not Central and South America's.

We're still in a "the only threat to the US is drugs" kind of mindset.

[calex59]

Navy doesn't guard out coast, the coastguard does. Navy is for deep water coast guards the coast, as I said. They are a great outfit and up until a few years ago they were one of the 4 branches of the service. That would be the Navy, army, airforce and coast guard. A few years back they finally made the Marines a separate branch of the armed forces instead of being attached to the Navy. Now there are 5 branches.

They did a great job guarding our coast during WWII and they still do even though their job is mostly watching out for drug smugglers now they still have the duty of watching out for enemy subs etc.

In short the job of the Navy is far different than the coast guard. If you ever have the experience of being on a sinking boat in a bad storm you will be eternally grateful to the coast guard for pulling your tail out of there, which they do people several times a year.

Oh, and before you ask, no I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of the coast guard, but I know what they do, along with the rest of the armed forces, and greatly appreciate their contribution to the security of this country.

[raybbr]

bfl

[Stoat]

NUMEROUS videos featuring the USCGC Bertholf are available at YouTube

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[NY Attitude]

I believe that this is part of the (Deepwater) program.

[Stoat]

I believe that this is part of the (Deepwater) program.

Indeed it is.  From the Fox News article:

The first of eight similar cutters to be rolled out over the next several years, its acquisition is part of the Coast Guard’s Deepwater program, a plan to modernize an aging fleet and keep up with its expanded Homeland Security role.

Integrated Coast Guard Systems - Deepwater Program Official Website

Video webcast of the Berholf's Christening Ceremony, November 11, 2006:

Team Deepwater - Bertholf Webcast

USCG Acquisition Programs & Projects

Deepwater Program

The Deepwater program is the largest of the Acquisition Directorate's major acquisition programs, and as such cuts across each of the other product lines, including aviation, surface, C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) and logistics. Deepwater is a 25-year, $24 billion effort that will deliver many assets and systems, including: 91 cutters; 195 aircraft; C4ISR equipment; and integrated logistics capabilities.

Additionally, the Coast Guard is modernizing many of its technologically obsolescent aviation and surface platforms, and shore facilities. For example, 39 of the service’s larger cutters have received the first phase of the Deepwater program C4ISR upgrade –including 14 210ft., 13 270ft., and 12 378ft. cutters. The Coast Guard, as part of the Deepwater program, also will upgrade its fleet of 16 HC-130H long range surveillance aircraft, and “missionize” six HC-130J aircraft. Upgrades on legacy cutters already have improved performance by increasing the operating forces’ maritime domain awareness. The Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate has the lead role in IDS design and systems integration, with support from Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Lockheed Martin and other industry partners.

[NY Attitude]

It looks like the program has been downsized somewhat from the original requirement.

[Harold Shea]

Did not know a 57mm gun could fire that fast.

Bet those sailors are proud of their new ship.

[Stoat]

It looks like the program has been downsized somewhat from the original requirement.

You're probably right.  Sadly, according to some of the linked articles, the Deepwater program has had some difficulties lately, centering mainly around costs, performance and management.

Yet even as the Coast Guard expands its personnel, a recent report by Congress’ watchdog agency, the Government Accountability Office, noted that the Deepwater program “has experienced serious performance and management problems.”

The report cites a $100 million contract the Coast Guard awarded in 2002 to Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture put together by Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

The contract work was meant to modernize and lengthen eight patrol boats, but after the work was done, the vessels began to show severe structural damage and had to be pulled out of service. Six years later, they remain as scrap in Baltimore’s Coast Guard Yard.

“When it appeared that the hulls weren’t performing, one of the first decisions I made as a commandant, I said, ‘Take the boats out of commission,’” Allen said.

The Department of Justice is now investigating what went wrong and whether the government can get some of its money back.

 

[Stoat]

Did not know a 57mm gun could fire that fast.

Neither did I  :-)

YouTube - USCGC BERTHOLF is the First to Fire the 57-mm

Bet those sailors are proud of their new ship.

I'm sure they are, and they have every reason to be, as do we all  :-)

Did not know a 57mm gun could fire that fast.

Neither did I  :-)

YouTube - USCGC BERTHOLF is the First to Fire the 57-mm

Bet those sailors are proud of their new ship.

[NY Attitude]

SOmewhere I seem to remember that ther were 35 aircraft (C-130’s) 8 NSC’s, 6 helos, 26 cutters, drones and the like to be purchased under the program. I also think that $8B was the price tag.

[rawhide]

Is that rust I see?

[Stoat]

Is that rust I see?
 

Probably just the golden rays of the rising sun or a photographic anomaly.

[mamelukesabre]

I think you left out a few branches.

National guard
Air national guard
merchant marines

...probably others I’m forgetting too.