The USCG's first new National Security Cutter of the Legend class, Bertholf, was launched on September 29, 2006 at Northup-Grumman's Ingall's Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Several links to pictures of the launching and building of the first Legend are posted at the USCG's website:
http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/gallery/nscgallery.htm
Some information:
Number Planned: 8
Length: 418 FT
Displacement: 4,300 LT
Speed: 28 KTS
Endurance: 60 Days
Range: 12,000 NM
Propulsion: CODAG (Combined Diesel and Gas),
1 Gas Turbine, 2 Diesels
Aircraft: (2) MCH, or (4) VUAVs or (1) MCH and (2) VUAVs
Boats: (2) LRI and (1) SRP
Armament: 57mm gun and Gunfire Control System Close-In Weapons System, SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System, SRBOC/NULKA countermeasures chaff/rapid decoy launcher
Features
Automated weapon systems
Medium caliber deck gun (57MM) capable of stopping rogue merchant vessels far from shore
State-of-the-art C4ISR enhancing interoperability between Coast Guard and DoD
Detection and defense capabilities against chemical, biological, or radiological attack
Advanced sensors for intelligence collection and sharing
Real-time tracking and seamless Common Operational Picture/Maritime Domain Awareness via integration with RESCUE 21
Weight and space reserved for SeaRam SAMs
The first ship was ordered for US$ 140 million. The fourth NSC was included into the FY 2007 budget. Since this will be a ten year plus building program, considering inflation the price of the more expensive NSC will probably be matched by the cheaper OPCs at a later date.
The OPCs are slightly smaller, and built after the NSCs. While the NSCs are being built to replace the 12 Hamilitons, the OPCs are being built to replace the Reliance class and then later the Bear class. A comparison chart of the NSCs, OPCs, and the Hamilton class can be found at:
http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/system/cuttercomparison.htm
Because of their extended range, I suspect the NSCs will be mostly based in the Pacific, with more than half, possibly 70 percent of the OPCs will be based in the Atlantic.
http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/gallery/nscgallery.htm
Some information:
Number Planned: 8
Length: 418 FT
Displacement: 4,300 LT
Speed: 28 KTS
Endurance: 60 Days
Range: 12,000 NM
Propulsion: CODAG (Combined Diesel and Gas),
1 Gas Turbine, 2 Diesels
Aircraft: (2) MCH, or (4) VUAVs or (1) MCH and (2) VUAVs
Boats: (2) LRI and (1) SRP
Armament: 57mm gun and Gunfire Control System Close-In Weapons System, SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System, SRBOC/NULKA countermeasures chaff/rapid decoy launcher
Features
Automated weapon systems
Medium caliber deck gun (57MM) capable of stopping rogue merchant vessels far from shore
State-of-the-art C4ISR enhancing interoperability between Coast Guard and DoD
Detection and defense capabilities against chemical, biological, or radiological attack
Advanced sensors for intelligence collection and sharing
Real-time tracking and seamless Common Operational Picture/Maritime Domain Awareness via integration with RESCUE 21
Weight and space reserved for SeaRam SAMs
The first ship was ordered for US$ 140 million. The fourth NSC was included into the FY 2007 budget. Since this will be a ten year plus building program, considering inflation the price of the more expensive NSC will probably be matched by the cheaper OPCs at a later date.
The OPCs are slightly smaller, and built after the NSCs. While the NSCs are being built to replace the 12 Hamilitons, the OPCs are being built to replace the Reliance class and then later the Bear class. A comparison chart of the NSCs, OPCs, and the Hamilton class can be found at:
http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/system/cuttercomparison.htm
Because of their extended range, I suspect the NSCs will be mostly based in the Pacific, with more than half, possibly 70 percent of the OPCs will be based in the Atlantic.
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