US Coast Guard Gets Firepower?

[Scooterman]

Been stewing on this one for about a week now but I need serious input since I'm a aircraft guy and I want to build something that floats.

Was reading about the Coast Guard Deep Water program and how it's being slowed down to the point that most USCG ships are in a piss-poor condition. My thought was what if after 9/11 they get all kinds of mad money for homeland defense. My first idea was either a USCG Tico or Burke. However after reading, the CG has never operated anything that large. So why not sticking a Tico superstructure on something smaller? Looking for a hull under 500' long and decent speed.

Of course the 5" gun would stay but the VL units wouldn't be required. But a big-ish hangar deck for a few helos would be cool. Maybe I could section out the vertical launch units and surrounding deck/hull area and shorten a Tico or Burke hull.

But upon further thinking, why not keep at least a small VLS cell to take out bad guys? (thinking drug smugglers and such in the Gulf Coast areas)  Is the USCG even permitted to have anything that offenisive?  Isn't there a law forbidding the CG for having anything more something for self defence?

Also thinking of doing this in 1/350.  1/700 is just too damn tiny to be wiffing a ship for the first time.  Anybody got a 1/350 Tico or Burke sitting in the stash or have easy access to one?

TIA for the input gang

[anthonyp]

I think a VLS Spruance would be more along what they'd use, as they wouldn't need the AEGIS system.  Keep the ASW capabilities in case some drug runner goes nuts and gets their hands on a Foxtrot or something.  Maybe expand the helo deck like the DDH concept from the '70's, and keep the Harpoons and guns.

The National Security Cutter of the Deepwater program look like mini-Burkes minus the AEGIS.  In the revised "US Destoyers:  An Illustrated Design History," there's some pics of preliminary design sketches for Flight IIA Burkes.  One of them looks like what was decided on for the National Security CUtter.  The first one is currently under construction down in Alabama (I think).

The Hamilton class high enduance cutters can carry Harpoons, and one (USCGC Hamilton) did in the 80's as a test, but they weren't carried on any other cruises.  As near as I can tell, there's no law forbigging the Coast Guard from having offensive weapons, just it's not practical to have anti-shipping and anti-aircraft missiles on what is essentially a police ship.  Plus, the budget for the Coast Guard wouldn't allow it.  But that doesn't mean a WiF couldn't have it.

I've been kicking around an idea for a USCG Sea Control Ship or an LHD (minus most weapons, but the integrated wet deck would come in handy for an armada of small boats) for drug and border enforcement.  Put a bunch of HH-60's, HH-65's, HV-22's, MH-68's, and a few armed helos of some sort (my MH-72 Mongoose variant for example).  I'm looking for another NH90 helo and more USCG decals so I can make it into the Deepwate MRR helicopter (supplementing the HH-60J's).  I wouldn't give the USCG any AV-8's.

[Bryan H.]

The USCG definitely needs A-10's!  Load them up with LOTS & LOTS of rockets (Zuni or Hydras).  A-4M's & F-8's might also look good in USCG colors!  B)

Bryan  

[Jschmus]

IIRC, the Hamilton-class cutters regularly ship with the OTO Melara 76mm gun.  They were built with provision for mounting Harpoon launchers, and can ship the Phalanx CIWS in the Y position.  I haven't seen it in years, but there was a photo of a Hamilton with all the trimmings in Polmar's Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet, circa 1990-91.  It was painted in the standard USCG colors.

I always thought the CG could do with some of the newer Perry-class FFGs.

my MH-72 Mongoose variant for example

Thanks, Anthony, for giving me a proper number for my US Army Mongoose.  I've been looking at doing up one as a replacement for the OH-58D (in lieu of the canceled Comanche).  OH-72 or RAH-72?

[Geoff_B]

The Problem is there are not a great deal of 1/350 plastic kits of modern warships on the market. The USN have the Spru/Cans and AB's by Dragon/Panda but thats it, Trumpeter do the Sovremeny and a few Chinese warships, after that the only choice is the rather expensive resin examples.

As a base kit how about doing something with the heller 1/400 La Fayette stealth Frigate. This could be re -evolved into a suitable stealthy corvette for the Coastguard by adding US Style weapons.

G B)  

[elmayerle]

Anthony, what's wrong with giving the USCG AV-8B's?  They'd look cool in their markings.  Granted, it'd be mostly their recce and sensor carrying capabilities that'd normally be used, but I can see one fitted out with some of those AvPro pods for quickly transporting folk.

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

USCG A-37 (with Zuni and Penguin anti-ship missiles)
USCG AH-1W (with 2 Penguin, 4 Hellfire, 1 Hydra pod)
USCG AH-68B Sting Ray (with Tow missiles, like Belgium's one...)
USCG AH-65C Attack Dolphin (with 2 Harpoon and 2 snipers)
USCG F-35E long range/endurance JSF (with no stealth capacities, just internal tanks, 2X2 Harpoon and 2 tanks underwings, 2 AIM-9X at wing's ends....)



This armed Coast Guard idea is a really good idea!!

[rallymodeller]

Hmm. A TAV-8B in Guard markings...  

[cthulhu77]

Great ideas !!  I have a few AB's gathering dust...and CG would be bright and cool...not that verdamnt gray !!!

           greg

[anthonyp]

No problem on the helo designation!  Originally, I had it as the MH-71, but that changed when I finished a Tiger PAH-2 as a navy helo and it got the H-71 designation.

Anthony, what's wrong with giving the USCG AV-8B's?  They'd look cool in their markings.  Granted, it'd be mostly their recce and sensor carrying capabilities that'd normally be used, but I can see one fitted out with some of those AvPro pods for quickly transporting folk.

Heh, because it's bordering on the insane idea I had a couple of years ago to do a 1/720 Revell USS Enterprise as a USCG carrier for EXTREME anti-drug enforcement.  After that idea, I realized I needed a vacation. :dum:

I just didn't want to give the USCG any fixed wing assets that couldn't be operated from a land base only (similar to what they have now).  USCG F-15E's, F-16's, and A-10's I can see with no problem, just carrier based aircraft I would think would be kept to the rotary wing variety for size's sake.  Of course, the USCG sea control ship would blow that out of the water, but still.

Now, I needs me more USCG markings!

 

[Scooterman]

Thanks for all the input guys.  Whatever kit I come across first in 1/350 will be my base.

Gee with all the great ideas, do we have (yet another) group build?  Armed USCG?

Have to get my Coastie HH-70A Merlin and HV-22B Osprey done.

[SinUnNombre]

This could make one helluva sweet group build. Planes and ships alike. And I have a Testors' F4U Corsair thats just waiting to be painted...

What about USCG:
R3Y Tradewinds?
T-2 Buckeyes?
T-45 Goshawks?
Ov-10 Broncos? (Of course with the .50s and Zunis)
O-2 Skymasters?
A-1 Skyraider AEW.Mk 1?
P-3 Orions?
Alouette IIs?

Just my $.02

Jon

[Gary]

In so far as CG Aviation


Looks nice in CG strips.

Now for a CG aircraft with a more sinister look


Both af course fitted with harpoons, and or the such along with sensor packages off the shelf.

Now in so far as shipping, howse this for speed and stealth, Norway's Visby class.


Sexy, fast, invisible, big gun and a helo pad, small boat launch and vert, missle tubes. Mmmmmmmm Visby.

[Scooterman]

This could make one helluva sweet group build. Planes and ships alike. And I have a Testors' F4U Corsair thats just waiting to be painted...

What about USCG:
R3Y Tradewinds?
T-2 Buckeyes?
T-45 Goshawks?
Ov-10 Broncos? (Of course with the .50s and Zunis)
O-2 Skymasters?
A-1 Skyraider AEW.Mk 1?
P-3 Orions?
Alouette IIs?

Just my $.02

Jon

All over the Bronco and Orion ideas!    

[Bryan H.]

Should'a thought of the Bronco & the CL-415.  Might should also add the Lake Seawolf & Beriev A-40's...

OK, so, I've got...
A-4M Skyhawks
A-10's
F-8 Crusaders
OV-10 Broncos
CL-415's
Beriev A-40's
Lake Seawolfs

plus all the afore mentioned helicopters...

Bryan