USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750)

USCGC "Bertholf" (WMSL 750) is the name of the first "Legend"-class maritime security cutter of the United States Coast Guard. It is named for Ellsworth P. Bertholf, former Commandant of both the Revenue Cutter Service and Coast Guard.

Construction began in 2005 by Northrop Grumman's Ship System Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship was launched on September 29, 2006, [ [http://www.icgsdeepwater.com/newsflash/092906.php Integrated Coast Guard Systems - Deepwater Program Official Website ] ] and christened November 11, 2006. [ [http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/media/nov06/newsletter_nov06-01.htm USCG: Acquisition Directorate (CG-9) ] ] The vessel's home port is Alameda, California.

National Security Cutter

The USCGC "Bertholf" is the first-in-class ship of the design termed the National Security Cutter. The NSCs are designed to replace the aging 378′ "Hamilton"-class cutters currently in the fleet. The "Bertholf" is the first large ship to begin construction in the Coast Guard's multi-year "Deepwater" acquisitions project.

Features

*Automated weapon systems
*Medium caliber deck gun (57 mm) capable of stopping rogue merchant vessels far from shore
*Helicopter launch and recovery pad with rail-based aircraft retrieval system and pair of aircraft hangars
*Stern boat well for small boat launch and recovery
*bow thruster
*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

Deepwater Controversy

The Deepwater program was subjected to public scrutiny in late 2006 and early 2007 following reports of overspending and design flaws. Specifically, the issues with the "Bertholf" relate to the projected life of the ship. Originally the US Coast Guard had expected the cutter to be a single-crew vessel, and spend a normal amount of time in port and underway. However, the US Coast Guard decided to implement a multi-crew system, similar but distinct to what the US Navy uses on its ballistic missile submarines. Rather than the Navy's system of two crews sharing a single hull, the CG multi-crew concept involve both multiple crews and multiple hulls. The addition of the multi-crewing enables the ship to spend more time at sea each year, but also decreases the expected lifespan of the vessel from 30 years to 20 years.

Milestones

*The USCGC "Bertholf" was the first to fire the Bofors 57 mm gun aboard a U.S. vessel on the 11th of February 2008.

References

ee also

*USCG Maritime Security Cutter, Large
*USCGC "Waesche" (WMSL-751)
*Equipment of the United States Coast Guard

External links

* [http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/bertholf/ "Bertholf" home page]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/gallery/nscgallery.htm Deepwater Official site about USCGS Bertholf]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/system/nsc.htm National Security Cutter Home]
* [http://www.teamdeepwater.com/objectives/cutters/NSC.php Team Deepwater NSC Home]