COAST GUARD ASSETS AND EQUIPMENT

We are proud of our fleet of aircraft, boats and cutters. They are among the best, most versatile and powerful in the world. In these pages, you'll see the equipment we use daily to protect lives and our country. This is the equipment you'll serve on if you are ready to be in the United States Coast Guard.

AIRCRAFT

We use our 211 aircraft to make our missions fast and efficient. These aircraft are used for major missions such as Search/Rescue, Law Enforcement, Environmental Response, Ice Operations and Air Interdiction. Our fixed-wing aircraft, includes the HC-130 Hercules and HC-144 Ocean Sentrty. They can operate from both large and small Air Stations. Rotary-wing aircraft, such as the HH-65 Dolphin and HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters, operate from flight-deck equipped cutters, air stations and air facilities.

	HC-130 Hercules		HH-65 Dolphin
	HC-144 Ocean Sentry		HH-60 Jayhawk

BOATS

We operate approximately 1,400 boats. All vessels under 65 feet in length are classified as boats, and they usually operate near the shore and inland waterways. These crafts include: Motor Life Boats, Motor Surf Boats, Large Utility Boats, Port Security Boats, Aids to Navigation Boats, and a variety of smaller, non-standard boats including Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats. All our boats are built to withstand the most severe conditions at sea. For instance, the 47-foot Motor Life Boats are self-bailing, self-righting, and are almost unsinkable, making them more than ready to execute a sea rescue under the worst of circumstances.

	21'- 64' Aids to Navigation Boats		41' Utility Boats
	25' Defender Class Boats		47' Motor Life Boat
	Transportable Port Security Boats

CUTTERS

Any vessel of ours that is 65 feet in length or longer and that has adequate living accommodations for a crew is known as a cutter. Larger cutters that are over 179 feet in length are under control of Area Commands (Atlantic Area or Pacific Area). Any cutters that are 175 feet or less are under the control of District Commands. Our cutters usually are equipped with a motor surfboat and/or a Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat on board. Polar Class Icebreakers also carry an Arctic Survey Boat (ASB) and a Landing Craft.

	65' River Buoy Tender		175' Coastal Buoy Tender
	65' Inland Buoy Tender		179' Coastal Patrol Cutter
	65' Small Harbor Tug		210' Medium Endurance Cutter
	75' River Buoy Tender		213' Medium Endurance Cutter
	75' Inland Construction Tender		225' Seagoing Buoy Tender
	87' Coastal Patrol Boat		240' Seagoing Buoy Tender/Ice Breaker
	100' Inland Buoy Tender		270' Medium Endurance Cutter
	100' Inland Construction Tender		282' Medium Endurance Cutter
	110' Patrol Boat		295' Training Barque Eagle
	140' Icebreaking Tug		378' High Endurance Cutter
	160' Inland Construction Tender		399' Polar Class Icebreaker
	418' National Security Cutter		420' Icebreaker