Two United States Coast Guard quick response cutters arrived in Bahrain, August 23, marking the arrival to their final vacation spot after departing Key West, Florida in June. USCGC John Scheuerman (WPC 1146) and USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. (WPC 1147) are two of the Coast Guard’s six latest Sentinel-class quick response cutters (FRC) now stationed in Bahrain the place U.S. fifth Fleet is headquartered. John Scheuerman and Clarence Sutphin Jr. had been commissioned in February and April 2022 respectively. The Sentinel-class cutters in Bahrain are overseen by PATFORSWA, the Coast Guard’s largest unit exterior of america.
“This arrival represents the fruits of years of tireless effort and distinctive teamwork. These latest FRCs deliver us to our full complement of six ships and mark the start of a brand new period of extraordinary maritime functionality supporting U.S. fifth Fleet,” stated Capt. Eric Helgeb, commander of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA).
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“We’re extraordinarily excited to be right here and look ahead persevering with to work with worldwide companions within the area. Finishing this greater than 10,000-nautical-mile transit to Bahrain has been a once-in-a-lifetime alternative,” stated Lt. David Anderson, commanding officer of Clarence Stuphin Jr.
The Sentinel-class cutter, also referred to as Quick Response Cutter because of its program title, is a part of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deepwater program. At 154 toes (46.8 m) it’s much like, however bigger than the 123-foot (37 m) lengthened Eighties-era Island-class patrol boats that it replaces. The vessels are armed with a remote-control 25 mm Bushmaster autocannon and 4 crew-served .50-caliber (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine weapons. Additionally they have small underwater fins, for dealing with the rolling and pitching attributable to giant waves. They’re geared up with a stern launching ramp, just like the Marine Protector-class and the eight failed expanded Island-class cutters.
The ships are forward-deployed to U.S. fifth Fleet to assist guarantee maritime safety and stability throughout the Center East. As much as 58 vessels are to be constructed by the Louisiana-based agency Bollinger Shipyards, utilizing a design from the Netherlands-based Damen Group, with the Sentinel design based mostly on the corporate’s Damen Stan 4708 patrol vessel. The Division of Homeland Safety’s price range proposal to Congress, for the Coast Guard, for 2021, said that, along with 58 vessels to serve the Continental US, they requested a further six vessels for its portion of Patrol Forces South West Asia.
