Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters
The Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) is a class of coastal patrol vessels designed to replace the aging Island-class patrol boats. Named after enlisted Coast Guard heroes, these 154-foot cutters represent a significant improvement in capability for coastal patrol operations.
Class Specifications
| Hull Number: | WPC-1101 series |
| Length: | 154 feet (47 m) |
| Beam: | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Draft: | 9.5 feet (2.9 m) |
| Displacement: | 353 tons |
| Speed: | 28+ knots |
| Range: | 2,500 nautical miles |
| Endurance: | 5 days |
| Crew: | 24 |
| Builder: | Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, LA |
Design Features
The Sentinel-class is based on the proven Damen Stan Patrol 4708 design, modified to meet Coast Guard requirements:
- Weapons: Stabilized Mk 38 25mm autocannon, four .50 caliber machine guns
- Small Boat: Stern-launched Over-The-Horizon (OTH) small boat
- C4ISR: Advanced electronics and communication suite
- Habitability: Improved crew quarters for multi-day patrols
- Seakeeping: Designed for operations in Sea State 5
Mission Areas
- Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security: Primary mission
- Drug Interdiction: Go-fast vessel pursuit
- Migrant Interdiction: Coastal patrol
- Search and Rescue: Rapid response
- Living Marine Resources: Fisheries enforcement
- Other Law Enforcement: General maritime law enforcement
Naming Convention
Sentinel-class cutters are named after enlisted Coast Guard members who distinguished themselves in service. This is the first class of cutters specifically honoring enlisted personnel.
Selected Vessels
| Hull Number | Name | Commissioned | Homeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPC-1101 | Bernard C. Webber | April 14, 2012 | Miami Beach, FL |
| WPC-1102 | Richard Etheridge | August 18, 2012 | Cape May, NJ |
| WPC-1103 | William Flores | November 10, 2012 | Key West, FL |
| WPC-1104 | Robert Yered | February 9, 2013 | Miami Beach, FL |
| WPC-1105 | Margaret Norvell | June 8, 2013 | Galveston, TX |
| WPC-1106 | Paul Clark | August 24, 2013 | San Juan, PR |
| WPC-1107 | Charles Moulthrope | October 26, 2013 | San Juan, PR |
| WPC-1108 | Kathleen Moore | December 14, 2013 | Key West, FL |
| WPC-1109 | Raymond Evans | February 15, 2014 | Key West, FL |
| WPC-1110 | Lawrence Lawson | May 17, 2014 | Boston, MA |
Note: Over 50 vessels are now in service, with additional units under construction.
Notable Namesakes
Bernard C. Webber (WPC-1101)
BM1 Bernard C. Webber led the dramatic 1952 rescue of 32 crewmen from the tanker SS Pendleton, which had split in half during a nor'easter off Cape Cod. The crew of the 36-foot motor lifeboat CG 36500 received the Gold Lifesaving Medal for this extraordinary rescue.
Richard Etheridge (WPC-1102)
Surfman Richard Etheridge was the first African American to command a U.S. lifesaving station. He led the Pea Island Life-Saving Station crew, who were awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal in 1996 (posthumously) for the 1896 rescue of the E.S. Newman.
Douglas Denman (WPC-1149)
Coast Guard cutters continue to be named for heroes, with recent vessels honoring servicemembers who demonstrated courage in various operations.
Foreign Deployments
Several FRCs have been forward-deployed to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) in Bahrain, conducting maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf. FRCs have also deployed to the Western Pacific as part of the Coast Guard's strategic presence in that region.