Hamilton-class Cutter

The Hamilton-class cutter was the largest class of vessel in the United States Coast Guard until replaced by the National Security Cutter, aside from the Polar-class icebreakers. The hull classification symbol is prefixed WHEC. The cutters are called the Hamilton-class after their lead ship, or "Secretary class" because most of the vessels in the class were named for former Secretaries of the Treasury (with the exception of "Hero-class cutters" Jarvis, Munro and Midgett,).

They are powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) system consisting of two diesel engines and two gas turbines, and have controllable-pitch propellers. Equipped with a helicopter flight deck, retractable hangar, and the facilities to support helicopter deployment, these twelve cutters were introduced to the Coast Guard inventory in the 1960s.

Beginning in the 1980s and ending in 1992, the entire class was modernized through the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program. The program included the replacement of the original Mk.30 Mod 0 5"/38-caliber gun with a much more modern 76mm/62-caliber Mk.75 naval gun. The refit also included the installation of a 20mm/70-caliber Phalanx CIWS, and a retractable hangar bay. The primary mission of these vessels is enforcement of laws and treaties and search and rescue (SAR) on the high seas, including the U.S. exclusive economic zone.

Unit Run

• USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715) - transferred to Philippine Navy on May 13^th 2011 as BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15)
• USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716) - transferred to Philippine Navy on May 22^nd 2012 as BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16)
• USCGC Mellon (WHEC-717) - transferred to Vietnam Coast Guard as CSB 8022
• USCGC Chase (WHEC-718) - transferred to Nigerian Navy on May 13^th 2011 as NNS Thunder (F90)
• USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) - transferred to Philippine Navy on July 21^st 2016 as BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17)
• USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) - transferred to Sri Lankan Navy on August 27^th 2018 as SLNS Gajabahu (P626)
• USCGC Gallatin (WHEC-721) - transferred to Nigerian Navy on May 7^th 2014 as NNS Okpabana (F93)
• USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722) - transferred to Vietnam Coast Guard on April 18^th 2017 as CSB 8020.
• USCGC Rush (WHEC-723) - transferred to Bangladesh Navy on May 6^th 2015 as BNS Somudra Avijan
• USCGC Munro (WHEC-724) - transferred to Sri Lankan Navy on October 26^th 2021 as SLNS Vijayabahu (P627)
• USCGC Jarvis (WHEC-725) - transferred to Bangladesh Navy on May 23^rd 2013 as BNS Somudra Joy
• USCGC Midgett (WHEC-726) - transferred to Vietnam Cost Guard on June 1^st 2021 as CSB 8021