Wednesday, December 03, 2008

OPC

IOC: 2012
Total Production: 25

Also Known As
Offshore Patrol Cutter

Origin
United States of America

Program Status:
Under Development

Contractor/s
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems

Guns & Missile Launchers:
Mk 110 Mod 0

Description: The Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) is a highly capable, cutting-edge, medium endurance cutter designed to replace aging medium endurance cutters owned by the US Coast Guard under the Integrated Deepwater Systems program. The new vessels with a mission endurance of 45 days will complement the larger National Security Cutters which can perform 90-day missions. Northrop-Grumman Ship Systems along with partners from Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) team are responsible for OPC vessels design and construction. Up to 25 OPCs are planned for procurement by the Coast Guard.

The key design elements of this new medium endurance cutter are adaptability, multi-mission capability with a C4ISR electronics package and suitability for sustained, intensive small boat and flight operations in support of law enforcement, defense and search & rescue missions. OPCs will provide air surveillance with helicopters and unmanned air vehicles; increased situational awareness through an integrated C4ISR capability; improved force protection and automated armament such as an Mk 110 57mm deck gun; and improved defenses for operating in chemical, biological, or radiological contaminated environments. The propulsion system will consist of four diesel engines.

The go ahead decision for the OPC cutter was announced in June 2004 with an entry into date service for the first vessel several years before 2012, estimated by 2007. The 360-foot (120 meters) OPC vessel will share equipment and capabilities with the National Security Cutter (NSC). As of January 2008, the US Coast Guard was still re-evaluating the mission requirements for the OPC with the entire program to remain on hold.

Specifications
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 57 mm

Dimensions: Length 360 ft

Performance: Endurance 45 day, Max Range 9,000 nautical mile (), Top Speed 25 kt (46 kph)

News
Northrop-Grumman Begins Work On Maritime Security Cutter

Operators

United States of America / 25 / Planned

Ships

915 / Unknown

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

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