USCGC Sea Dragon
 A grey tarpaulin covers the Sea Dragon's advanced remote control mount for its extra machine gun. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USCGC Sea Dragon |
| Builder | Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana |
| Commissioned | January 2008 |
| Decommissioned | May 29, 2024 |
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boat |
| Displacement | 91 long tons (92 t) |
| Length | 87 ft 0 in (26.5 m) |
| Beam | 19 ft 5 in (5.9 m) |
| Draft | 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × MTU diesels |
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Range | 900 nmi (1,700 km) |
| Endurance | 3 days |
| Complement | 10 |
| Armament | 3 × .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns |
USCGC Sea Dragon (WPB-87367) is a decommissioned Marine Protector-class cutter that was assigned to one of two special Maritime Force Protection Units.[1][2][3] Each Maritime Force Protection Unit escorts nuclear submarines from one of the United States Navy's two main submarine bases. Sea Dragon was assigned to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. The other Maritime Force Protection Unit escorts submarines near Bangor, Washington.[4]
Sea Dragon was commissioned in January 2008.[3] She was joined by a sister ship, USCGC Sea Dog, in May, 2009.[5]
Sea Dragon and Sea Dog were decommissioned on May 29, 2024 and transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. They were replaced by USCGC Sea Devil and USCGC Sea Fox, which had been carrying out the same duties in Washington.[6]
Design
[edit]Marine Protector-class cutters are 87 feet (27 m) long.[7][8] Their maximum speed is 25 knots (46 km/h). All the cutters carry a water-jet propelled fast pursuit boat. The boats can be launched or retrieved without bringing the mothership to a complete halt. The standard Marine Protector is armed with a pair of fifty caliber Browning M2 machine gun, that mount on pintles, on the port and starboard rail of the foredeck. But for the four vessels ordered for the Navy (Sea Dragon, Sea Dog, Sea Devil and Sea Fox) a third machine gun was added, mounted on a pedestal, in the middle of the foredeck. The third machine gun is equipped with advanced optics, is gyro stabilized, and its gunner uses remote controls–making it much more accurate, at long range, when fired from a heaving deck, at night, or in a fog.[4][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Coast Guard commissions Sea Dragon: Cutter designed to protect submarines coming into or out of Kings Bay" (PDF). Periscope magazine. 2008-01-24. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
- ^ "Kings Bay Now..." (PDF). Periscope magazine. 2008-07-31. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
- ^ a b "Coast Guard to Commission Cutter Sea Dragon". Coast Guard News. 2008-01-11. Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
- ^ a b Ed Friedrich (2008-06-20). "Enlisting a Coast Guard Cutter to Protect Navy Subs". Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on 2016-10-02. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ^ "Coast Guard Cutter Sea Dog to arrive in Kings Bay". Coast Guard News. 2009-05-22. Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
- ^ "PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard cutters Sea Dog, Sea Dragon decommissioned in St. Marys, Georgia" (Press release). Jacksonville, Florida: PADET Jacksonville, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^
Chuck Hill (2012-10-29). "Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Units". Chuck Hill's blog. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
The units are perhaps unique in that they have only a single mission, and they are funded by the Navy. They protect Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines while they transit on the surface, to and from their homeports. The possibility of a USS Cole style attack motivated their creation. Each unit consist of approximately 200 Coasties and is commanded by an O-5. Having CG crews and carrying CG colors and markings allows them to enforce a security zone around the subs. Both units stood up in July 2007.
- ^
HMC James T. Flynn Jr., USNR(ret) (2014-06-23). "U. S. Coast Guard: Small Cutters and Patrol Boats 1915 - 2012" (PDF). US Coast Guard. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
The four boats which are stationed at Kitsap, WA and Kings Bay, GA submarine bases have an extra remotely operated 50 cal. m.g.
- ^
"Bollinger Shipyards delivers final Marine Protector-class CPB". Industry News. 2009-05-13. Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
We're very sad to see the Sea Fox leave. This contract was supposed to end at 51 vessels, and now we're at 75," said Christopher Bollinger, executive vice president of new construction. "We're excited to see the workmanship continue as we start the next contract for 36 boats.
