Unique/Coolest Cutters to go on?

SamAca10

SamAca10

10-Year Member
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Jul 19, 2009
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What are some of the unique or most fun individual cutters in the fleet? A couple that I'm thinking of are Healy and Mackinaw, but I'd love to hear what the rest of you have to say.
 
Well, certainly because they are each one-of-a-kind, I would say they are unique.

Any polar-roller is impressive, not just because of the size, but the scale of everything onboard, and the reinforced hulls.


Of course, the National Security Cutters would be cool to see. At 418', they aren't small and they share a deck gun that only the Navy's LCS Freedom has.

225' are impressive, especially on the bridge, with their Nav. equipment.

I was a 210' guy. 210's are very basic, give you a good taste of the last generation of medium endurance cutters, while a 270' would be a taste of this generation and an FRC (not yet out, but soon!) would be a taste of the next generation.

I absolutely LOVE 140's. They're not pretty to look at, but most Coast Guard cutters aren't. They a small part of the fleet, well kept secret, great crew size, neat "bubbler" system, and cool ice breaking missions. I spent some time TAD on a 140'....100% loved it. I would take it over any ship in the fleet any day of the week.
 
My cadet was on the Healy this past summer and is now seriously considering requesting it as a top billet choice. Seattle, Hawaii, Alaska, Arctic Circle - NASA research - what a great experience!

Mom of a USCGA Cadet, class of 2011
 
Just about ever cutter out there is unique and awesome. Now, I'm graduating in just over a year, so this has been on my mind quite a lot. I haven't seen all the different types, but I can give perception on a few.

What will make the most of any ship though, is the crew. The crew will make or break your opinion about a ship. I don't care if you have the most advance/coolest ship out there, if you have a crappy crew that you don't get along with, you will not enjoy it. Luckily, just about every crew in the CG is awesome.

Most of my experiences have either been on small boats(summer at station Annapolis on 25s and 41s) as well as one day visits (210 Mohawk, 110 Kodiak island), and even a week on a retired ship (USCGC INGHAM, 327). Out of designs, the 327 was a really cool ship, and I heard the best stories of them.... and I guess that wouldn't really count since we don't use them anymore. So, with some prejudice, I would say that the most unique ship is the Eagle.
Although, I didn't like the trip across the Atlantic on it, it is a unique ship. Once you are on Eagle, you won't forget it.


Remember though, they are designing some new ones soon.
 
FYI -

Cutters

A "Cutter" is basically any CG vessel 65 feet in length or greater, having adequate accommodations for crew to live on board.

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)
 
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