R 110029Z FEB 12

ALCOAST 068/12
COMDTNOTE 3100
SUBJ: DELIVERY OF FIRST SENTINEL CLASS FAST RESPONSE CUTTER
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE COAST GUARD TODAY ACCEPTED THE FIRST
SENTINEL CLASS FAST RESPONSE CUTTER, BERNARD C. WEBBER, AT SECTOR
MIAMI.
2. THE SENTINEL CLASS FAST RESPONSE CUTTERS ARE THE COAST GUARDS NEXT
GENERATION OF PATROL BOATS AND WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE THE VENERABLE
110-FOOT ISLAND CLASS FLEET.  THIS CUTTER WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR
OUR SERVICE, PROVIDING THE SUPERIOR SPEED AND FLEXIBILITY NEEDED TO
SAVE LIVES AND ENSURE MARITIME SECURITY AND STEWARDSHIP.  A MODERN,
RELIABLE FLEET OF FAST RESPONSE CUTTERS WILL PUT VALUABLE LAW
ENFORCEMENT, SEARCH AND RESCUE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE
CAPABILITIES IN THE HANDS OF OUR COAST GUARDSMEN.
3. THE SENTINEL CLASS WILL BE NAMED FOR ENLISTED COAST GUARD HEROES
WHO DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES THROUGH ACTS OF COURAGE AND SELFLESSNESS
IN SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES.
4. THE FAST RESPONSE CUTTER IS 154 FEET IN LENGTH, DISPLACES 353 LONG
TONS, DRAWS 9.5 FEET OF WATER, AND IS ARMED WITH ONE STABILIZED
REMOTELY-OPERATED 25MM CHAIN GUN AND FOUR CREW-SERVED .50-CALIBER
MACHINE GUNS.  THE FAST RESPONSE CUTTER ALSO FEATURES A MIDSHIPS
PILOT HOUSE, BOW THRUSTER, TWIN FIXED PITCH PROPELLERS POWERED BY TWO
20 CYLINDER MTU DIESEL ENGINES, ACTIVE FIN STABILIZATION, BERTHING
AREAS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MIXED GENDER CREWS, A COMMON STERN LAUNCHED
OVER THE HORIZON SMALL BOAT CB-OTH, AND MODERN C4ISR EQUIPMENT
FEATURING THE LATEST COAST GUARD COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS.  THE
COAST GUARD PLANS TO ACQUIRE 58 FRCS.
5. THE FAST RESPONSE CUTTER WILL CONDUCT MULTI-DAY PATROLS AND HAS A
2,500 HOURS PER YEAR OPERATIONAL EMPLOYMENT TARGET.  IT WILL BE
CAPABLE OF OPERATIONS UP TO AND INCLUDING SEA STATE 4 (UP TO 7FT
SEAS), WITH LIMITED OPERATIONS UP TO SEA STATE 6 (UP TO 20FT SEAS).
IT WILL BE CAPABLE OF SPEEDS OF 28 PLUS KNOTS AND HAVE A COMPLEMENT
OF 24 CREW MEMBERS (3 OFFICERS AND 21 ENLISTED).
6. THE SENTINEL CLASS IS ONE OF MANY CRITICAL RECAPITALIZATION
EFFORTS THE COAST GUARD IS MANAGING TO REBUILD THE CAPABILITIES THAT
MAKE US THE NATIONS MARITIME GUARDIAN.  THE FAST RESPONSE CUTTER
REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN CAPABILITY AND WILL PROVIDE
CONSIDERABLE VALUE TO THE NATION FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
7. RADM JAKE KORN, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR ACQUISITION AND CHIEF
ACQUISITION OFFICER, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.