United States Coast Guard Cutter facts for kids
A United States Coast Guard Cutter is a special type of ship used by the U.S. Coast Guard. These ships are at least 65 feet (about 20 meters) long. They have a crew that lives on board and works together to complete important missions. Each cutter has the special name USCGC before its official name.
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What is a Coast Guard Cutter?
The word "cutter" comes from a long time ago in England. It used to mean a specific type of small, fast sailing ship with one mast. These ships were often used by customs officers to stop smuggling. When the U.S. government started its own service to enforce customs laws, they called their ships "cutters" too. Even today, no matter what kind of ship it is, if it has a permanent crew living on board, the Coast Guard calls it a cutter.
The First Ten Cutters
In 1790, a very important person named Alexander Hamilton, who was in charge of the Treasury Department, was given permission to create a special group of ships. Their job was to make sure people followed customs laws. This group was first called the Revenue Marine or Revenue Service. Later, in 1863, it officially became the Revenue Cutter Service. These ships were the start of what we now know as the U.S. Coast Guard.
The first ten cutters were:
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- USRC Vigilant
- USRC Active
- USRC General Green
- USRC Massachusetts
- USRC Scammel
- USRC Argus
- USRC Virginia
- USRC Diligence
- USRC South Carolina
- USRC Eagle
Modern Coast Guard Cutters
Today, the U.S. Coast Guard uses many different types of cutters. Each type is designed for specific jobs, like breaking ice, patrolling the ocean, or maintaining buoys. Here are some of the main classes and types of cutters used today:
- 460' Polar Security Cutter (WMSP)
- 420' Icebreaker Healy (WAGB)
- 418' National Security Cutter (WMSL)
- 399' Polar-class icebreaker (WAGB)
- 360' Offshore Patrol Cutter (WMSM)
- 295' USCGC Eagle (WIX)
- 282' Edenton-class salvage and rescue ship, changed to Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
- 270' Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
- 240' USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB)
- 225' Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB)
- 210' Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
- 175' Coastal Buoy Tender (WLM)
- 160' Inland Construction Tender (WLIC)
- 154' Sentinel-class cutter (WPC)
- 140' Bay-class icebreaking tug (WTGB)
- 110' Island-class patrol boat (WPB)
- 100' Inland Buoy Tender (WLI)
- 100' Inland Construction Tender (WLIC)
- 87' Marine Protector-class 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)
Past Coast Guard Cutters
Over the years, the Coast Guard has used many different types of cutters. These older ships played important roles in protecting our waters and helping people. Here are some of the historic classes and types of cutters:
- 378' High endurance cutter (WHEC)
- 327' Treasury-class cutter (WPG)
- 311' Casco-class cutter (WAVP)
- 306' Edsall-class cutter (WDE)
- 269' Wind-class icebreaker (WAGB)
- 255' Owasco-class cutter
- 250' Lake-class cutter
- 240' Tampa-class cutter
- 230' Light Icebreaker, later called Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
- 213' Diver-class rescue and salvage ship
- 213' Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)
- 205' Cherokee-class fleet tug, changed to (WAT) cutter, later called (WMEC)
- 180' Seagoing buoy tender (WLB)
- 180' Oceanographic vessel (WAGO)
- 165' Thetis-class patrol boat
- 165' Algonquin-class patrol boat
- 165' Tallapoosa-class boat
- 157' Red-class coastal buoy tender (WLM)
- 133' White-class coastal buoy tender (WLM)
- 125' Active-class patrol boat (WSC)
- 123' Patrol boat (Deepwater Modified) (WPB)
- 110' Calumet-class harbor tug (WYTM)
- 110' Apalachee-class harbor tug (WYTM)
- 110' Manitou-class harbor tug (WYTM)
- 95' Cape-class cutter (WPB)
- 82' Point-class cutter (WPB)
See also
- United States Ship
