AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS

Sea Power, Jan 2007

Mount Whitney underwent a Military Sealift Command (MSC) conversion in fiscal 2005 and was transferred to MSC on Dec. 31, 2004. On Feb. 28, 2005, Mount Whitney relieved La Salle as Sixth Fleet flagship under MSC operation as a commissioned ship with a U.S. Navy commanding officer. La Salle was decommissioned in May 2005.

Coronado, converted from an Austin-class LPD in 1980, served as flagship of the Sixth Fleet for three years, and in a variety of other command ship roles. Coronado, decommissioned Feb. 25, 2005, and transferred to MSC as USNS Coronado, was removed from service on Sept. 30, 2006.

Blue Ridge Class (LCC)

DISPLACEMENT: ..................18,874 tons, full load 19,7OO tons

LENGTH:..................634feet

BEAM:..................1O8 feet

SPEED:..................23 knots

POWER PLANT: ..................1 geared turbine, 2 boilers, 1 shaft, 22,000 shp

ARMAMENT: ..................2 Phalanx CIWSs, 2 25mm Mk38 guns

AIRCRAFT:...................none (helicopter landing area only)

COMPLEMENT: ..................crew/flag staff: LCC 19, 786/637; LCC 2O, 819/562

BUILDERS:..................LCC 19, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia; LCC 2O, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va.

Homeport

LCC 19 Blue Ridge ..................Yokosuka, Japan (AP 96628-3300)

LCC 2O Mount Whitney..................Gaeta, Italy (AE 09517-3310)

COASTAL PATROL SHIPS (PC)

BRIEFING: PCs were procured to perform coastal patrol, surveillance and interdiction missions, and to support Naval Special Warfare missions as a secondary role. Twelve of the 13 originally programmed Cyclone-class PCs - funded in fiscal years 1990 and 1991 - are in U.S. military service. A 14th Cyclone-class PC, Tornado, was commissioned in June 2000. Tornado differed from the original Cyclone-class PCs by the addition of an extended stern, which incorporates a ramp for the launch and recovery of naval special warfare boats. Tornado also features self-defense improvements, including the installation of radar-absorption material and shaping to reduce the radar cross-section of the ship.

In October 1999, Naval Sea Systems Command awarded a contract modification to Bollinger Shipyards for stern-ramp conversions on four PCs. Conversions were completed in fiscal 2000 on Shamal, Zephyr, Tempest and Monsoon. In fiscal 2005, conversions were completed by other shipyards on Hurricane, Squall, Whirlwind and Thunderbolt.

In 1998, Naval Special Warfare Command agreed to transfer seven Cyclone-class PCs to the U.S. Coast Guard. The ex-USS Cyclone was transferred to the Coast Guard in February 2000. InJuIy 2001, the Coast Guard - citing the nonavailability of funds to convert and operate the ships - advised U.S. Special Operations Command that the service could no longer accept the six additional PCs slated for transfer.

In early September 2001, Special Operations Command directed the decommissioning of the remainder of the class. However, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks the PCs were put to immediate use in coastal waterway patrols. In November 2001, tactical control of six PCs (with Navy crews) was transferred to the Coast Guard for use in homeland security, Operation Noble Eagle. In January 2002, the remaining seven ships were assigned to the Coast Guard to further support this operation.