USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC-1141)
USCGC[1] Charles Moulthrope (WPC-1141) is the United States Coast Guard's 41st Sentinel class cutter cutter, and the first of six to be homeported in Manama, Bahrain.[2]
Like her sister ships she was built in the Bollinger Shipyards, in Lockport, Louisiana.[2]
Design
Like her sister ships, Charles Moulthrope is designed to perform search and rescue missions, port security, and the interception of smugglers.[3] She is armed with a remotely-controlled, gyro-stabilized 25 mm autocannon, four crew served M2 Browning machine guns, and light arms. She is equipped with a stern launching ramp, that allows her to launch or retrieve a water-jet propelled high-speed auxiliary boat, without first coming to a stop. Her high-speed boat has over-the-horizon capability, and is useful for inspecting other vessels, and deploying boarding parties.
The crew's drinking water needs are met through a desalination unit.[4] The crew mess is equipped with a television with satellite reception.
Operational career
The vessel was delivered to the Coast Guard base in Key West for her acceptance trials on October 22, 2020.[5][2]
On April 2, 2021, the Charles Moulthrope, and her sister ship USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC-1142), set out to cross the Altantic Ocean, escorted by the National Security Cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753).[6] Sentinel class cutters must always be accompanied by a longer range vessel on any voyage longer than their maximum range of 3,000 nautical miles. Once the Charles Moulthrope and Robert Goldman arrive in Europe they will make their way to their homeport of Manama, Bahrain, where they will join U.S. Patrol Forces Southwest Asia. The total length of this journey is 9,000 nautical miles. The two vessels will stop for liaison with allies, on their way to Bahrain.
Namesake
In 2010, Charles "Skip" W. Bowen, who was then the United States Coast Guard's most senior non-commissioned officer, proposed that all 58 cutters in the Sentinel class should be named after enlisted sailors in the Coast Guard, or one of its precursor services, who were recognized for their heroism.[7][8] The Coast Guard chose Charles Moulthrope as the namesake of the 41st cutter.[2] Moulthorpe was serving on the Revenue Service cutter USRC Commodore Perry, exploring Alaska, in 1896, when he died after a fall to its deck.[9]
References
- ↑ USCGC stands for United States Coast Guard Cutter.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Keith Magill. Lockport shipyard's latest Coast Guard cutter to serve overseas, Houma Today, 2020-10-22. Retrieved on 2020-10-23. “The Charles Moulthrope will be based in Manama, Bahrain, replacing a 110-foot Island Class Patrol Boat built by Bollinger 30 years ago. The new ship will support U.S. defense missions in southwest Asia, the Coast Guard’s largest overseas presence.”
- ↑ FRC Plan B: The Sentinel Class, Defense Industry Daily, May 2, 2014. Retrieved on 2014-04-03. “All of these boats will be named after enlisted Coast Guard heroes, who distinguished themselves in USCG or military service. The first 25 have been named, but only 8 have been commissioned...”
- ↑ Jacqueline L. Urgo. Coast Guard to get 'game changer' cutter to save lives and catch criminals, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 19, 2016. Retrieved on 2016-11-19. “Although the cutter is far from luxurious, its crew quarters provide slightly more room and comfort than earlier models, with larger staterooms, more toilets and sinks, greater storage space, and DirecTV access in the mess areas.”
- ↑ United States Coast Guard (2020-10-22). Coast Guard accepts 41st fast response cutter. Press release.
- ↑ U.S. Coast Guard Ships Depart Puerto Rico on Mission to Strengthen Trans-Atlantic Ties, Seapower magazine, 2021-04-03. Retrieved on 2021-04-03. “The Moulthrope and Goldman crews will continue to their new homeport of Manama, Bahrain, with brief stops for logistics and relationship building.”
- ↑ Susan Schept. Enlisted heroes honored, United States Coast Guard, March 22, 2010. Retrieved on 2013-02-01. “After the passing of several well-known Coast Guard heroes last year, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles "Skip" Bowen mentioned in his blog that the Coast Guard does not do enough to honor its fallen heroes.”
- ↑ U.S. Coast Guard announces name for first Sentinel-class cutter, March 22, 2010. Retrieved on 2013-02-01. “Previously designated to be named the Coast Guard Cutter Sentinel, the cutter Bernard C. Webber will be the first of the service's new 153-foot patrol cutters. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen approved the change of the cutter's name to allow this class of vessels to be named after outstanding enlisted members who demonstrated exceptional heroism in the line of duty. This will be the first class of cutters to be named exclusively for enlisted members of the Coast Guard and its predecessor services.”
- ↑ Dennis L. Noble. The Long Blue Line: Unalaska’s lost cutterman Charles Moulthrope and the Commodore Perry, United States Coard Guard. Retrieved on 2019-10-13.