USCG receives Benjamin Bottoms
The US Coast Guard (USCG) received its 32nd Fast Response Cutter (FRC), Benjamin Bottoms, in Key West, Florida, on 8 January.
Benjamin Bottoms will be the fourth FRC stationed in San Pedro, California, and is scheduled to be commissioned in May.
The 154ft Sentinel-class FRCs feature advanced C4ISR equipment to perform a wide range of missions including SAR; national defence; ports, waterways and coastal security; drug and migrant interdiction; and fisheries patrols.
The cutters have improved habitability and seakeeping and over-the-horizon cutter boat launch and recovery capabilities. The vessels can reach a maximum speed of 28kt and have an endurance of at least five days.
To date, the USCG has ordered 50 FRCs of which 29 are in service: 12 in Florida, six in Puerto Rico, one in California and two each in Alaska, New Jersey, Mississippi, Hawaii and North Carolina.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement]()
What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
-
![Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration]()
Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
-
![HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment]()
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
-
![How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China]()
How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China
The offensive against Iran could impact training and maintenance cycles and accelerate the degradation of the US arsenal on top of depleting Washington’s stockpiles.
-
![UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet]()
UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.
