USCGC Waesche (WMSL-751) is the second Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard.

Waesche arriving in San Francisco Bay, February 28, 2010
History
United States
NamesakeAdmiral Russell R. Waesche
OrderedJanuary 2001
BuilderNorthrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Laid downSeptember 11, 2006
LaunchedJuly 12, 2008
Sponsored byMarilla Waesche Pivonka
CommissionedMay 7, 2010
Identification
Motto"Strength Endurance Service"
StatusIn service
Badge
General characteristics
Displacement4,306 long tons (4,375 t)
Length418 ft (127 m)
Beam54 ft (16 m)
Draft21 ft (6.4 m)
PropulsionCombined diesel and gas
Speed28+ knots
Range12,000 nm
Endurance60 days
Sensors and
processing systems
  • EADS 3D TRS-16 AN/SPS-75 Air Search Radar
  • SPQ-9B Fire Control Radar
  • AN/SPS-73 Surface Search Radar
  • AN/SLQ-32
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System
  • 2 SRBOC/ 2 x NULKA countermeasures chaff/rapid decoy launcher
Armament
ArmorBallistic protection for main gun
Aircraft carried2 x MH-65C Dolphin MCH, or 4 x VUAV or 1 x MH-65C Dolphin MCH and 2 x VUAV
Aviation facilities50-by-80-foot (15 m × 24 m) flight deck, hangar for all aircraft

Namesake

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Waesche is named for Coast Guard Admiral Russell R. Waesche (1886–1946). Waesche graduated from the United States Revenue Cutter Service School of Instruction in 1906, was commissioned an ensign, and then served with distinction in a succession of diverse and increasingly responsible Coast Guard assignments at sea and ashore.[1] He served as Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1936 to 1945 during a tumultuous and eventful period in the life of the service, and was the first Coast Guardsman to achieve the rank of admiral.[2]

History

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Construction began in 2006 by Northrop Grumman's Ship System Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

On November 6, 2009 the Coast Guard took delivery of the Waesche.[3] She arrived at her homeport at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California on February 28, 2010 [4] and was commissioned on May 7, 2010.[5] In 2012 Waesche became the 2nd U.S. surface combatant and the first Coast Guard cutter to use the Phalanx CIWS to defeat an unmanned aerial vehicle with a low, slow flying aircraft profile.[6]

On 19 September 2020, the cutter was in the western Pacific where she suffered a stack fire. The blaze was controlled in ninety minutes.[7] Five crewmen reported minor injuries and the vessel went to Yokosuka for inspection and repair at U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC). Repairs were completed in January 2021.[8]

In the period between November 7, 2023 and November 20, 2023 the crew of USCGC Waesche offloaded approximately 18,219 lb (8,264 kg) of cocaine, with an estimated street value of more than US$239 million.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "USCG: Acquisition Directorate (CG-9)". Uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  2. ^ "Russell R. Waesche, Sr., USCG". Uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  3. ^ "Coast Guard takes delivery of cutter Waesche". Navy Times. 2009-11-08. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  4. ^ USCG Celebration! - Coast Guard's newest cutter arrives this weekend to new homeport, here in San Francisco Bay - Welcome USCGC Waesche! Archived 2010-03-05 at the Wayback Machine, Sam Spade's San Francisco, February 27, 2010
  5. ^ She is currently home ported at Alameda, California. USCGC Waesche (WMSL 751) May 2010 Commissioning Ceremony Archived 2010-03-06 at the Wayback Machine - Navy League of the United States. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
  6. ^ "On patrol with Waesche: Firepower". USCG.mil. US Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  7. ^ "USCG Cutter Waesche Suffers Stack Fire at Sea". Maritime Executive. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  8. ^ "SRF-JRMC Completes Emergent Repairs to Help Coast Guard Cutter Waesche Return Home". Navy Seas Systems Command. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  9. ^ "MULTIMEDIA RELEASE: Coast Guard crew offloads more than $239 million worth of cocaine in S". United States Coast Guard News. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
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