USCGC Argus (WMSM-915) is the lead ship of the Heritage-class cutters of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and a part of the OPC (Offshore Patrol Cutter) Ship Type. She is the second ship to be named after Argus Panoptes, the first being USRC Argus, a Revenue Cutter Service ship which was decommissioned and sold in 1804.
 Argus prior to her launch, October 2023
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Argus |
| Namesake | USRC Argus |
| Awarded | 15 October 2016 |
| Builder | Eastern Shipbuilding, Panama City |
| Laid down | 28 April 2020 |
| Homeport | San Pedro |
| Identification | Hull Classification Symbol:[1] WMSM-915 |
| Status | Under construction |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Heritage-class cutter |
| Displacement | 3,700 long tons (3,800 t) (full load) |
| Length | 360 ft (110 m) |
| Beam | 54 ft (16 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Installed power | 4 × 940 eKW diesel generators |
| Propulsion | 2 × 7,280 kW (9,760 hp) MAN 16V28/33D STC diesel engines at 1,000 rpm[2] |
| Speed | 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) |
| Range | 10,200 nmi (18,900 km; 11,700 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Endurance | 60 days |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 3 × Over-the-horizon boats |
| Complement | 126 |
| Sensors and processing systems | |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Armor | Ballistic protection over critical areas and main gun |
| Aircraft carried | One MH-60 or MH-65, plus sUAS |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar and helipad |
Development and design
editHeritage-class cutters are the newest class of cutter in the USCG, bridging the capabilities of the Legend and Sentinel classes. 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
editThe construction of Argus was planned to begin in the late summer of 2018, with delivery in August 2021.[10] On September 28, 2018, the USCG exercised the contract option to begin construction of the lead Offshore Patrol Cutter, along with long-lead materials for OPC #2. The total value of the options exercised is $317.5 million.[11] Delayed by the impact of Hurricane Michael in October 2018, steel cutting for USCGC Argus began on January 7, 2019.[12] She was laid down on 28 April 2020.[13]
In August 2023, the Coast Guard estimated that the Argus won't be delivered until around September 30, 2024, over three years later than its original projected delivery date of August 2021, and nearly six years after Eastern Shipbuilding first cut steel for the Argus in January 2019.[14]
USCGC Argus was launched on October 27, 2023.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Hull Classification Symbols". Naval Vessel Register.
- ^ Petersen, Peter Dan (January 16, 2017). "Eastern Shipbuilding Selects MAN 28/33D STC Engines for US Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Programme". MAN Diesel & Turbo. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ "Saab to Provide Multi-Mode Radar for US Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter". Saab Group. October 3, 2017. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017.
- ^ "Exhibit P-40, Budget Line Item Justification: PB 2020 Navy" (PDF). Defence & Aerospace Competitive Intelligence Service. InfoBase Publishers, Inc. March 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (February 14, 2014). "3 Firms Win Design Contracts for New US Coast Guard Cutter". Defense News. Gannett Government Media. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
- ^ "GAO denies protest over Coast Guard patrol cutters". The Washington Times. Associated Press. July 1, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
- ^ LaGrone, Sam (September 15, 2016). "Eastern Shipbuilding Wins Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter Award; Bests BIW, Bollinger". USNI News.
- ^ LaGrone, Sam (September 21, 2016). "Coast Guard Ready for Possible Offshore Patrol Cutter Protest". USNI News. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
- ^ "Offshore Patrol Cutter". U.S. Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "Eastern Shipbuilding Group Awarded Long Lead Time Material (LLTM) Contract For United States Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter Program" (PDF). Eastern Shipbuilding. September 15, 2017.
- ^ "Coast Guard Exercises Option to Construct First Offshore Patrol Cutter". U.S. Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate. September 28, 2018.
- ^ "Construction starts on first US Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter". Naval Today. January 30, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Keel authenticated for first offshore patrol cutter". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ "While Eastern Shipbuilding Thrives, New Coast Guard Cutter Lags Behind". Forbes.com. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Eastern Launches First Offshore Patrol Cutter USCGC Argus". MarineLink. October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
Offshore Patrol Cutter christened, launched at Eastern Shipbuilding Group on Oct. 27, 2023
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