USCGC Bertholf
{{Short description|Legend-class U.S. Coast Guard cutter}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=USCG National Security Cutter BERTHOLF (WMSL-750).jpeg |Ship caption=USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750) }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United States |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|coast guard}} |Ship name= |Ship namesake=Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf, USCG |Ship owner= |Ship operator= |Ship registry= |Ship route= |Ship ordered=January 2001 |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Pascagoula, Mississippi |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down=March 29, 2005 |Ship launched=September 29, 2006 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened=November 11, 2006 |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=August 4, 2008 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport=Integrated Support Command Alameda |Ship identification=*{{MMSI Number|369980000}}
|Ship motto="Legends Begin Here" |Ship nickname= |Ship honors= |Ship captured= |Ship fate= |Ship status= In active service |Ship notes= |Ship badge=Image:USCGCBertholfCrest.jpg }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship tonnage= |Ship displacement=4500 LT |Ship length={{convert|418|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} |Ship beam={{convert|54|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} |Ship height= |Ship draft={{convert|22.5|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=*Combined diesel and gas
|Ship sail plan= |Ship speed=28+ knots |Ship range=12,000 nm |Ship endurance= |Ship test depth= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity= |Ship troops= |Ship complement=113 (14 officers + 99 enlisted) and can carry up to 167 depending on mission{{cite web |title=National Security Cutter: Program Profile |url=https://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/nsc/features.asp |website=U.S. Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate |access-date=12 February 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214101540/https://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/nsc/features.asp |archive-date=14 February 2017}} |Ship crew= |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors=*EADS 3D TRS-16 AN/SPS-75 Air Search Radar
|Ship EW=*AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System |Ship armament= * 1 x MK 110 57mm gun a variant of the Bofors 57 mm gun and Gunfire Control System
|Ship armor=*Ballistic protection for main gun |Ship aircraft=2 x MH-65C Dolphin MCH, or 4 x VUAV or 1 x MH-65C Dolphin MCH and 2 x VUAV |Ship aircraft facilities={{convert|50|x|80|ft|adj=on}} flight deck, hangar for all aircraft |Ship notes= }} |
USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750) is the first {{sclass2|Legend|cutter|0}} maritime security cutter of the United States Coast Guard. She is named for Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf, fourth commandant of both the Revenue Cutter Service and Coast Guard.
In 2005, construction began at Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was launched on September 29, 2006,{{cite web |url=http://www.icgsdeepwater.com/newsflash/092906.php |title=CGC Bertholf Is Launched |date=29 September 2006 |website=Integrated Coast Guard Systems |access-date=17 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928121135/http://www.icgsdeepwater.com/newsflash/092906.php |archive-date=28 September 2007}} christened November 11, 2006,{{cite web |url=https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/photo-release-bertholf-christening-honors-u-s-coast-guard-s-first-national-security-cutter-and-celebrates-recovery-milestone |title=Photo Release – Bertholf Christening Honors U.S. Coast Guard's First National Security Cutter and Celebrates Recovery Milestone |date=11 November 2006 |website=Huntington Ingalls Industries |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021434/https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/photo-release-bertholf-christening-honors-u-s-coast-guard-s-first-national-security-cutter-and-celebrates-recovery-milestone |archive-date=18 February 2019 |url-status=live }} and commissioned on August 4, 2008. The cutter's home port is Alameda, California. Bertholf was the first to fire the Bofors 57 mm gun aboard a U.S. vessel on 11 February 2008.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcjRzByQ-9A |title=Full length feature of the USCGC Bertholf |author=U.S. Coast Guard |date=1 July 2008 |website=YouTube |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527155256/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcjRzByQ-9A |archive-date=27 May 2016 |url-status=live }}
Operational history
On March 3, 2016, Bertholf responded to a sighting off the Pacific Coast of Panama of a semi-submersible narco-submarine, reported by a P-3 Orion.{{cite web |url=http://www.marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=10761:video-coast-guard-intercepts-narco-submarine&Itemid=230 |title=Video: Coast Guard intercepts narco submarine |date=28 March 2016 |website=Marine Log |access-date=17 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427120231/http://www.marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=10761:video-coast-guard-intercepts-narco-submarine&Itemid=230 |archive-date=27 April 2016}} The semi-submersible surrendered to a boarding party launched from Bertholf, and four suspects were captured along with 6 tons of cocaine.{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/video-of-coast-guards-200-million-cocaine-bust-off-panama-released |title=Video of Coast Guard's $200 million cocaine bust off Panama released |agency=Associated Press |date=29 March 2016 |website=Fox News |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021338/https://www.foxnews.com/us/video-of-coast-guards-200-million-cocaine-bust-off-panama-released |archive-date=18 February 2019 |url-status=live }} The boarding party then sank the semi-submersible.{{cite web |url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2016/03/28/coast-guard-cutter-busts-fifth-cocaine-sub-in-less-than-a-year/ |title=Coast Guard cutter busts fifth cocaine sub in less than a year |first=Meghann |last=Myers |date=7 August 2017 |website=Navy Times |access-date=17 February 2019}} During the 2012 RIMPAC exercises Bertholf detected and tracked missile threats and also provided naval gunfire support for troops ashore during the training exercise, demonstrating the capability of moving with other naval forces and being able to perform other defense operations.{{cite web |url=https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/national-security-cutters-demonstrate-capabilities/3/ |title=National Security Cutters Demonstrate Capabilities |first=Mark |last=Faram |date=1 May 2013 |website=Defense Media Network |access-date=12 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213001533/https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/national-security-cutters-demonstrate-capabilities/3/ |archive-date=13 February 2017 |url-status=live }}
On 25 March 2019, USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), in concert with Bertholf transited the contested Taiwan Strait.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-navy-coast-guard-ships-pass-through-strategic-taiwan-strait/ar-BBVb9Pt?li=BBnbfcL|title=US Navy and Coast Guard Ships pass through strategic Taiwan Strait|access-date=25 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325092300/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-navy-coast-guard-ships-pass-through-strategic-taiwan-strait/ar-BBVb9Pt%3Fli%3DBBnbfcL|archive-date=25 March 2019|url-status=live}} On 15 April of same year, the ship visited Hong Kong, the first Coast Guard vessel to do so in seventeen years.{{Cite web|url=https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20190416/20657261|title=隔牆有耳： 美防衞隊海巡艦17年來首訪港 - 李八方|website=Apple Daily 蘋果日報|access-date=2019-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416022113/https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20190416/20657261|archive-date=2019-04-16|url-status=live}}
Legend-class cutter
Bertholf is the lead ship of the {{sclass2|Legend|cutter|1}} design and the first large ship to be built under the Coast Guard's multi-year Deepwater acquisitions project. The NSCs replaced the fleet's aging 1960s-era 378-foot {{sclass|Hamilton|cutter|2}}s.
Features
- Automated weapon systems
- Medium-caliber deck gun (57 mm) capable of stopping rogue merchant vessels far from shore{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/nsc.htm |title=Maritime Security Cutter, Large (WMSL) |website=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=25 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203042152/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/nsc.htm |archive-date=3 December 2016 |url-status=live }}
- Helicopter launch and recovery pad with rail-based aircraft retrieval system and two aircraft hangars
- Stern launching ramp for small boat launch and recovery
- Bow thruster
- State-of-the-art C4ISR improving interoperability between Coast Guard and Department of Defense assets{{cite web |url=https://www.govexec.com/defense/2009/05/national-security-cutter-approved-for-classified-operations/29266/ |title=National security cutter approved for classified operations |first=Katherine McIntire |last=Peters |date=29 May 2009 |website=Government Executive |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081901/https://www.govexec.com/defense/2009/05/national-security-cutter-approved-for-classified-operations/29266/ |archive-date=18 February 2019 |url-status=live }}
- 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
- Advanced state-of-the-art Ships Integrated Control System (machinery control, steering, navigation) for reduced manpower requirements and improved automation
- Cassidian (EADS) TRS-3D/16-ES air search radar for area surveillance{{cite web |url=http://www.cassidian.com/cassidian/int/en/business-activities/naval-systems/sensors/TRS-3D-MSSR-2000I.html |title=TRS 3D - MSSR 2000I |website=Cassidian.com |access-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924044922/http://www.cassidian.com/cassidian/int/en/business-activities/naval-systems/sensors/TRS-3D-MSSR-2000I.html |archive-date=24 September 2010}}
- The cutter can have an anti-terrorism/force protection suite that will include underwater sonar that will allow the cutter to scan ports, approaches, facilities and high-value assets for underwater mines and mine-like devices and detect swimmers.
Gallery
File:USCGC Bertholf 57mm.JPG|Test firing of the MK110 57mm gun aboard USCGC Bertholf.
File:U.S. Coast Guard flight deck crew members aboard maritime security cutter USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750) tie down an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter arriving from Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles to the deck to secure it 120822-G-VS714-324.jpg|Flight deck crew members aboard Bertholf tie down an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.
File:USCG long range interceptor aboard Bertholf.jpg|USCG long range interceptor using the stern launching ramp of the USCGC Bertholf.
File:USCG Bertholf Clipperton Island.png| Approaching Clipperton Island
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750)}}
- [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]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070105220813/http://teamdeepwater.com/objectives/cutters/NSC.php Team Deepwater NSC Home]
- [http://warisboring.com/?p=2391 Bertholf intercepting drug boats in her first action (video)]
{{Legend-class cutter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bertholf (WMSL-750)}}