Posted especially for LITS et. al.

Ha, thanks. It it breaks down, it would be the best thing for the Coast Guard, but not so hot for the folks trapped in the ice.
 
Ha, thanks. It it breaks down, it would be the best thing for the Coast Guard, but not so hot for the folks trapped in the ice.

I was actually surprised to read that it was preparing to leave Melbourne. Thinking about it I decided it spends it's time in whichever hemisphere is in summer (because who would venture into an Arctic region in winter!). Do you know if this is the case? Or did it just happen to be in Melbourne for some reason?
 
I was actually surprised to read that it was preparing to leave Melbourne. Thinking about it I decided it spends it's time in whichever hemisphere is in summer (because who would venture into an Arctic region in winter!). Do you know if this is the case? Or did it just happen to be in Melbourne for some reason?

I understand it was detailed to the Antarctic anyway to assist in summer resupply.
Lits: I'm not understanding your thought about 'if it breaks down..."
I know the two big red polar-class boats have not run very well in the past, but I read Polar Star is recently out of the yards after a thorough overhaul, so I'm thinking it should be in better shape.
 
Lits: I'm not understanding your thought about 'if it breaks down..."
I know the two big red polar-class boats have not run very well in the past, but I read Polar Star is recently out of the yards after a thorough overhaul, so I'm thinking it should be in better shape.


Yeah, I'll try to explain myself a little better. The Polar Rollers weren't run well in the past, as in only one is now an option (unless that has change) while the other is "done."

Healy, while it's bigger, isn't has capable of breaking thick ice.

So that's the entirety of the options. The Mac on the Great Lakes isn't an option, but is the other member of the red hull fleet.

There are two Polar class ice breakers, only one works. There is one Healy class, but it's not as capable. There is one Mac, but it's much smaller and only working the lakes.



Why failure?

A number of years ago, there was an earthquake in Haiti. The first U.S. asset on scene was a Coast Guard cutter (a 270' white hull). At the end of the day, a number of Coast Guard units responded. What got SOME press was the fact that, due to the aging fleet, a number of those cutters has emergencies that either required them to return to their home ports, or in two cases, have emergency dry docks.

The commandant used the issue in the "State of the Coast Guard" to high light the poor condition of the fleet.

But in the end, it only received passing attention.

The red hull fleet isn't much better. While the Polar Star is ready, now, the Polar Sea is scraps.

Want to make a very convincing argument to Congress and the President that the Coast Guard cannot continue to operate with the kind of funding it has? A last hope cutter from the United States, going to save Russia and China, and breaking down in the process would be a very easy highlight of the true issues. It would be front and center and our leaders in Washington would be PAINFULLY aware of it.
 
All I can do about the US Coast Guard is explain my admiration because they have been kicking Mother Nature's ass since 1790!
 
All I can do about the US Coast Guard is explain my admiration because they have been kicking Mother Nature's ass since 1790!

There's a commercial in there somewhere. Maybe we can get the video of the USCG kicking some serious ass during the war of 1812? That would be awesome! :biggrin:
 
There's a commercial in there somewhere. Maybe we can get the video of the USCG kicking some serious ass during the war of 1812? That would be awesome! :biggrin:

Yes, or the fighting they did during World War 2. What really makes me think of the Coast Guard is a CG helicopter pilot I saw on the news in New Orleans during Katrina after 72 straight hours of rescueing people from the roofs of their homes saying. "Let me get a quick cup of coffee and we will go out again."

Katrina-RooftopOfYourGardenApt-StormMon-Friday2Sept1stCoastGdCopter-Reuters-DavidJPhillip.jpg


Katrina-pic.png
 
Last edited:
I must say, I'm glad we got a little attention as we were headed south... even if they got free of their own accord! The storms we hit on our way to their aid were no laughing matter though...
 
I must say, I'm glad we got a little attention as we were headed south... even if they got free of their own accord! The storms we hit on our way to their aid were no laughing matter though...

Glad you were there for them, although I think a dramatic rescue would have been more fun at our end, not yours, provided all went safely.
 
USCG:thumb: Always there but never recognised. Trying to talk last one for CGA. Would have one USNA Marine, One Navy from Mass Maritime and one Coast Guard. AFA is a stretch but still trying.:biggrin:
 
My brother is a Coastie and he says "Marines love us because Navy drops them off, but we have to pick them up" :thumb:

Marines like Coasties (when they understand what a Coastie is) because they know if they're on a Southwest flight and there's an emergency, the Coastie will put his oxygen mask on before assisting the Marine with putting on his.
 
Back
Top