USCGC Calhoun (WMSL-759) is the tenth Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard.[4] She is the first ship to be named after 1st Master Chief Petty Officer Charles L. Calhoun.

USCGC Calhoun (WMSL-759)
History
United States
NameCalhoun
NamesakeCharles L. Calhoun
Awarded21 December 2018
BuilderHuntington Ingalls Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Cost$499.76 million[1]
Laid down23 July 2021
Launched2 April 2022
Sponsored byChristina Calhoun Zubowicz
Christened4 June 2022
Commissioned20 April 2024
IdentificationPennant number: WMSL-759
Motto"Never Give Up"[2]
StatusSea trials
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeLegend-class cutter
Displacement4,500 long tons (4,600 t)
Length418 ft (127 m)
Beam54 ft (16 m)
Draft22.5 ft (6.9 m)
PropulsionCombined diesel and gas
Speed28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi)
Endurance60 to 90-day patrol cycles
Complement120
Sensors and
processing systems
  • AN/SPS-75 air search radar
  • SPQ-9B fire control radar
  • AN/SPS-79 surface search radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare system
  • 2 x Mk-36 SRBOC/ 2 x Mk-53 NULKA countermeasures chaff/rapid decoy launcher
Armament
ArmorBallistic protection for main gun
Aircraft carried2 x MH-65C Dolphin MCH, or 1 x MH-65C Dolphin MCH and 2 x sUAS[3]

Development and design

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All of Legend-class cutters were constructed by Huntington Ingalls Industries and were part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program.[5] They are of the high endurance cutter roles with additional upgrades to make it more of an asset to the Department of Defense during declared national emergency contingencies.[6] The cutters are armed mainly to take on lightly-armed hostiles in low-threat environments.

Construction and career

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Calhoun and her sister ship Friedman were ordered on 21 December 2018. On 12 November 2019, 100 tons of her steel had been cut.[7] As of July 2021, she was more than halfway through her construction schedule. After the planned ceremony was delayed in 2020, her keel was formally authenticated on 23 July 2021.[8][9] Calhoun was launched on 2 April 2022 and christened on 4 June 2022.[10][11] Ingalls Shipbuilding announced on August 2, 2023 that Calhoun completed its acceptance sea trials.[12] The Calhoun was delivered to Coast Guard Base Charleston and commissioned on April 20, 2024. [13]

References

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  1. ^ "Production Awarded For Eighth National Security Cutter" (PDF). USCG.mil. US Coast Guard. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "USCGC Calhoun (WMSL 759)". tioh.army.mil. The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Coast Guard Selects Small UAS For NSC" (PDF). USCG.mil. US Coast Guard. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Vanderhaden, Jason M. (25 October 2019). "Admiral Karl Schultz selects name for Coast Guard's 10th National Security Cutter". Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  5. ^ "National Security Cutter (NSC)". Integrated Deepwater System Program. Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  6. ^ John Pike. "Maritime Security Cutter, Large (WMSL) / National Security Cutter (NSC)". Archived from the original on 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  7. ^ "USCGC Calhoun (WMSL-759) | Modern weapons". Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  8. ^ "Huntington Ingalls Industries Authenticates Keel of National Security Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759)" (Press release). 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  9. ^ "HII Authenticates Keel of National Security Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759)". MarineLink. 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  10. ^ Felton, Benjamin (2022-04-04). "Huntington Ingalls Launches 10th NSC for the Coast Guard". Overt Defense. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  11. ^ Kulo, Warren (2022-06-06). "Ingalls christens National Security Cutter Calhoun". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  12. ^ "Future US Coast Guard's Legend class cutter Calhoun completes sea trials". NavyRecognition. 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  13. ^ "US Coast Guard commissions newest national security cutter named for first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard". WXXV News 25. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
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