USCG commissions cutter Florence Finch

The US Coast Guard (USCG) commissioned 57^th Sentinel class FRC, Florence Finch (WPC-1157), on 24 October. It will be the second of its kind to operate out of Astoria, Washington state, and will eventually be joined by a third.

The cutter’s namesake, Florence Ebersole Smith Finch, was a Filipino-American and a member of the World War II resistance against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

The cutter will operate primarily in the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Columbia River. The Sentinel-class FRC was designed for multiple missions, including national defense, search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, and coastal security.

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FRCs feature advanced C4ISR equipment, over-the-horizon cutter-boat deployment to reach vessels of interest, and improved seaworthiness and sea-keeping. They will replace the 110ft patrol boats of the 1980s era.

Shephard Defense Insight noted that the vessel has a length of 47 m, a beam of 7.62 m, a draft of 3 m and a displacement of 353 t. It is capable of a maximum speed of 28 kt and a range of 2,500 nm,

It is powered by two MTU 4000 diesel engines with 20 cylinders developing a total power of 4,300 kW. The ships have an endurance of five days with a crew of 24.

In May of this year, the USCG exercised a contract option to award Bollinger Shipyards two additional FRCs, bringing the total number of FRCs awarded to the company to 67 vessels since the program began.

Related programs in Defense Insight

Rapid Response Cutters (USCG Internal Program) (55-58)

Quick Response Cutters (USCG Internal Program) (1-54)

Related equipment in Defense Insight

Sentinel Class (FRC)

Island Class