Famous-class Medium Endurance Cutter

270-foot USCG Medium Endurance Cutter

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History

There are 13 members of this class of 270-foot medium endurance cutter. The USCGC Bear, the first of class, was laid down at the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company yard in August of 1979, launched in September of 1980, and entered commissioned service in February of 1983. The next three ships of this class were also constructed at the TBC yard until a lawsuit filed by the Robert E. Derecktor Corporation of Middletown, RI. resulted in the Tacoma contract being invalidated and the remaining 9 ships of the class being built at the RED yards. The final ship of the class, the USCGC Mohawk was commissioned in March of 1991. The Famous class cutters are the only WMEC cutters in service equipped with a helicopter hanger (telescopic) which can accommodate either a single HH-65 Dolphin, or HH-60J Jayhawk. The Famous cutters were also the first to be equipped with automated command and control information management system. All thirteen cutters of this class are assigned to the Atlantic Ocean, where their primary missions are maritime law enforcement and search and rescue.

Description

General Characteristics:
The Famous-class cutters are 270 feet long, have a beam of 38 feet, and draw 14 feet of water. Their displacement is 1,825 tons at full load and their compliment is 14 officers, 86 enlisted, and 5 aircrew. They have a top speed of 19.5 knots, and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Their operational range at top speed is 3,850 miles while their maximum cruising range is 10,250 miles.

Propulsion:
The Famous-class cutters are powered by two Alco 18V-251 diesel engines, producing 7,290 horsepower combined. Propulsion is provided by two shafts fitted with 9-foot diameter controllable pitch screws.

Electronics:
In addition to UHF/VHF communications, the Famous-class cutters are equipped with a SCCS-270 multi-sensor shipboard command and control system, the OTCIXS (Officer-in-Tactical-Command Information Exchange System) satellite link, AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Surveillance Receiver, SPS-73 short-range I-band surface search and navigation radar.

Armament:
Each Famous-class cutter is armed with a single Mk 75 3"/62 compact gun system as well as two M2 .50 caliber machine guns. Defensively, the cutters are equipped with two Mk 36 6-barreled SRBOC chaff launchers.