210 Ft Medium Endurance Cutters

The U. S. Coast Guard has recently put into service new 210 ft cutters designed for search and rescue work, law enforcement, oceanographic work, and possible future ASW. This paper outlines the structure and capabilities of the vessel.

An important feature of the cutter is its helicopter handling facilities, which have greatly increased the cutter's search and rescue capability by extending the area it can cover.

The cutter is the first in Coast Guard service to be powered by a combination diesel engine and gas turbine installation. The combination gives a top speed of 18 knots and a cruising range of 5000 miles.