Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters
Information on USCG Resources
The U.S. Coast Guard uses a variety of platforms to conduct its daily business. Cutters and small boats are used on the water and fixed and rotary wing (helicopters) aircraft are used in the air.
Aircraft
There are a total of 211 aircraft in CG inventory. This figure fluctuates operationally due to maintenance schedules. Major Missions: Search/Rescue, Law Enforcement, Environmental Response, Ice Operations, and Air Interdiction. Fixed-wing aircraft (C-130 Hercules turboprops and HU-25 Falcon jets) operate from large and small Air Stations. Rotary wing aircraft (H-65 Dolphin and HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters) operate from flight-deck equipped Cutters, Air Stations and Air Facilities.
- HC-144A The Ocean Sentry*
- HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft*
- HC-130H Hercules
- HU-25 Guardian
- MCH-65 Multi-mission Cutter Helicopter*
- HH-60 Jayhawk
- H-65 Dolphin
- MH-68A Stingray
- MH-60T Medium Range Recovery Helicopter*
- High and Medium Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (HAEUAV)*
- Vertical take-off-and-landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VUAV)*
Boats
All vessels under 65 feet in length are classified as boats and usually operate near shore and on inland waterways. Craft include: Motor Lifeboats; Motor Surf Boats; Large Utility Boats; Surf Rescue Boats; Port Security Boats; Aids to Navigation Boats; and a variety of smaller, non-standard boats including Rigid Inflatable Boats. Sizes range from 64 feet in length down to 12 feet.
- 47' Motor Life Boat (MLB)
- 41' Utility Boat (UTB)
- 44' Response Boat Medium (RB-M)*
- 36' Long Range Interceptor (LRI)*
- 21'-64' Aids to Navigation Boats
- 25' Transportable Port Security Boat (TPSB)
- 25' Defender Class Boats (RB-HS/RB-S)
- 25' Short Range Prosecutor (SRP)*
Cutters
A "Cutter" is basically any CG vessel 65 feet in length or greater, having adequate accommodations for crew to live on board. Larger cutters (over 179 feet in length) are under control of Area Commands (Atlantic Area or Pacific Area). Cutters at or under 175 feet in length come under control of District Commands. Cutters, usually have a motor surf boat and/or a rigid hull inflatable boat on board. Polar Class icebreakers also carry an Arctic Survey Boat (ASB) and Landing Craft.
- 420' Icebreaker (WAGB)
- 418' National Security Cutter (WMSL)
- 399' Polar Class Icebreaker (WAGB)
- 378' High Endurance Cutter (WHEC)
- 320'-360' Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC)*
- 295' Training Barque Eagle (WIX)
- 282' Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
- 270' Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
- 240' Seagoing Buoy Tender/ Icebreaker (WLBB)
- 225' Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB)
- 213' Medium Endurance Cutter(WMEC)
- 210' Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
- 179' Patrol Coastal (WPC)
- 175' Coastal Buoy Tender (WLM)
- 160' Inland Construction Tender (WLIC)
- 120'-160' Fast Response Cutter - B Class (FRCB)*
- 140' Icebreaking Tug (WTGB)
- 110' Patrol Boat (WPB)
- 100' Inland Buoy Tender (WLI)
- 100' Inland Construction Tender (WLIC)
- 87' Coastal Patrol Boat (WPB)
- 75' River Buoy Tender (WLR)
- 75' Inland Construction Tender (WLIC)
- 65' River Buoy Tender (WLR)
- 65' Inland Buoy Tender (WLI)
- 65' Small Harbor Tug (WYTL)
* Resources still in development