Reliance-class Cutter
The Reliance-class medium endurance cutters are a class of vessel in service in the United States Coast Guard. They entered service between 1964 and 1969 as a replacement for the Prohibition-era 165-foot (50.29 meter) cutters and were the first major cutter replacement project since the 255-foot (77.72 meter) Owasco-class cutters from World War II.
The 210s (210-foot cutters) received upgrades and modifications (in a program named "Midlife Maintenance Availability" or MMA) during the 1986 through 1990 time period. The "A"-class cutters had their gas turbines removed, and all 210s had their stern transom exhaust systems replaced with a traditional stack. While this modification reduced the size of the flight deck, they were still more than capable of carrying out helicopter operations. Other modifications included enlarging the superstructure area, replacing the main armament, and increasing the fire-fighting capability of the cutters. The modifications cost approximately $20 million per cutter, well above their original cost of about $3.5 million each.
Unit Run[edit | edit source]
- USCGC Reliance (WMEC-615)
- USCGC Diligence (WMEC-616)
- USCGC Vigilant (WMEC-617)
- USCGC Active (WMEC-618)
- USCGC Confidence (WMEC-619)
- USCGC Resolute (WMEC-620)
- USCGC Valiant (WMEC-621)
- USCGC Courageous (WMEC-622) - sold to Sri Lankan Navy, renamed SLNS Samudura (P-621)
- USCGC Steadfast (WMEC-623)
- USCGC Dauntless (WMEC-624)
- USCGC Venturous (WMEC-625)
- USCGC Dependable (WMEC-626)
- USCGC Vigorous (WMEC-627)
- USCGC Durable (WMEC-628) - sold to Colombian Navy, renamed ARC Valle de Cauca (PO-44)
- USCGC Decisive (WMEC-629)
- USCGC Alert (WMEC-630)
