Getting it Done, While Missing Some Names on the Watch Bill

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Check out this great moto shot of the 270-foot Bear (Legend) class USCGC Escanaba (WMEC 907) as she offloaded more than 3,400 pounds of cocaine and 4,410 pounds of marijuana with a combined assessed street value of approximately $50 million in Port Everglades (Miami) last week after an East Pac patrol under JIATF-South tasking.

USCG Photo 240823-G-FH885-1001 by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez

Taking a closer look, you see the six camouflaged gents minus nametapes which would be hardlegs of Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 107 from Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team – Pacific (PAC TACLET).

Going further, you see the six Nomex-clad Airedales of Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Jacksonville in front of their MH-65 Dolphin.

Then, counting heads in blue smurf suits and caps, you have about 80 officers and ratings of Escanaba’s crew, including the two wearing LE belts and plate carriers which are probably MEs (Maritime Enforcement Specialists).

The problem is, every journal and spec sheet on the 270s says it rates a 100-member crew and can add extra ship riders and a heli/UAV det on top of that.

Sure, somebody had to take the picture (although it was likely a District PAO from ashore) and there may be a couple of engineering guys down below but it still seems like Escanba was sailing about 15-20 percent light– on an operational deployment from Charleston SC to the Eastern Pacific and back.

No bueno. 

Meanwhile, in the Pacific…

 
At the same time, Bear-class sister USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) last week returned to Honolulu following a 68-day patrol in support of Coast Guard District 14th Operation Blue Pacific in Oceania. The 13,400 nm patrol saw the cutter make port calls in Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and French Polynesia. While at anchor on 4 July following the Royal Tongan Navy’s International Fleet Review to celebrate King Tupou VI’s 65th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the Tongan Navy, her crew got in a good moto shot, complete with crisp Tropical Blues, glad rags flying, and lots of shades. 
 
All 72 of them. 
 

Notice Harriet Lane has landed her 76mm OTO MK 75 in favor of a Mk 38 25mm mount, which can account for a GMG rate or two, but she is still running a little light. (U.S. Coast Guard photo 240704-G-G0214-1001, courtesy Cutter Harriet Lane)

Compare the above to crew-only shots of sisters USCGC Tampa (WMEC-902) and Forward (WMEC-911) in 2019 while at Port Everglades doing drug offloads after patrols. In each of these, well over 90 personnel can be seen.

While the USCG has a well-advertised personnel shortage– which it has addressed by laying up cutters that otherwise should still be in service– sailing this light is probably going to catch up in a bad way.

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One comment

  • Puddlejumper629
    September 1, 2024 07:45

    Unfortunately, this does not surprise me. This has been a trend for the last ten years or so and has become progressively worse. As always, I appreciate you shining a light on this and other issues that the Coast Guard is dealing with.

    Reply

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