USCGC Rush (WMSM-918) is the fourth Heritage-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard (USCG).[4]

USCGC Rush (WMSM-918)
History
United States
NameRush
Awarded15 October 2016
BuilderEastern Shipbuilding, Panama City, Florida
HomeportKodiak
IdentificationPennant number: WMSM-918
StatusOrdered
General characteristics
Class and typeHeritage-class cutter
Displacement4,520 long tons (full load)
Length360 ft (110 m)
Beam53 ft (16 m)
Draft16 ft (4.9 m)
Installed power4 x 940 ekW diesel generators
Propulsion2 × 7,280 kW (9,760 hp) MAN 16V28/33D STC diesel engines at 1,000 rpm [1]
Speed24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph)
Range10,200 nmi (18,900 km; 11,700 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Endurance60 days
Boats & landing
craft carried
3 x over-the-horizon boats
Complement126
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
  • 1 x MK 110 57mm gun a variant of the Bofors 57 mm gun and Gunfire Control System
  • 1 x BAE Systems Mk 38 Mod 3 25mm gun with 7.62 mm co-axial gun[3]
  • 2 x M2 Browning .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns mounted on a MK 50 Stabilized Small Arms Mount (SSAM)
  • 4 x Crew Served M2 Browning .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns
  • Designed For but not with additional weapons
ArmorBallistic protection over critical areas and main gun
Aircraft carriedOne MH-60 or MH-65, plus sUAS
Aviation facilitiesHangar and helipad

Development and design

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Heritage-class cutters are the newest class of cutter in the USCG, bridging the capabilities of the Legend-class cutters and the Sentinel-class cutters. They are tasked to go against lightly-armed hostiles in low-threat environments.

In February 2014, the USCG announced that Bollinger Shipyards, Eastern Shipbuilding, and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works had been awarded design contracts for the OPC.[5] The Government Accountability Office denied contract appeals by VT Halter Marine and Ingalls Shipbuilding.[6]

In September 2016, Eastern Shipbuilding of Panama City, Florida, was awarded a $110.3 million contract to build the first Offshore Patrol Cutter with an option to purchase eight additional cutters.[7][8] On October 15, 2016 the Coast Guard issued a notice to proceed with the detailed design of the Offshore Patrol Cutter to Eastern Shipbuilding.[9]

Construction and career

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On 18 October 2022, Eastern Shipbuilding commenced steel cutting for Rush in Panama City, Florida.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Eastern Shipbuilding Selects MAN 28/33D STC Engines for US Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Programme". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  2. ^ "Saab to Provide Multi-Mode Radar for US Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter". Saab Corporate.
  3. ^ "Exhibit P-40, Budget Line Item Justification: PB 2020 Navy" (PDF). www.dacis.com/. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  4. ^ "The offshore patrol cutter (OPC) is the Coast Guard's highest investment priority and will". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  5. ^ CAVAS, CHRISTOPHER P. (14 February 2014). "3 Firms Win Design Contracts for New US Coast Guard Cutter". www.defensenews.com. Gannett Government Media. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  6. ^ "GAO denies protest over Coast Guard patrol cutters". www.washingtontimes.com. The Associated Press. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  7. ^ LaGrone, Sam (15 September 2016). "Eastern Shipbuilding Wins Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter Award; Bests BIW, Bollinger". USNI News.
  8. ^ LaGrone, Sam (21 September 2016). "Coast Guard Ready for Possible Offshore Patrol Cutter Protest". USNI News. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  9. ^ "USCG: Offshore Patrol Cutter". www.uscg.mil. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  10. ^ "Steel cutting for fourth offshore patrol cutter begins". Acquisition Directorate, U.S. Coast Guard. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.