By Geoff Fein
The Navy has ordered all of its Cyclone-class Patrol Coastal (PC) ships deployed in the Persian Gulf to be removed from service following the discovery of structural damage to the vessels, the service reported.
Inspections determined that the five ships in the Persian Gulf (PC-5, -6, -9, -10 and -11), had experienced frame buckling and damage to their hulls. “Corrosion is also evident,” the Navy said in a statement.
The five coastal patrol craft deployed are undergoing detailed inspections, the Navy added.
The plan is to repair and restore the PCs to designed capability over the next couple of months, the service said.
According to a Navy source, the 5th Fleet will use other platforms to support operations in the Persian Gulf.
There are 14 PCs in service with the Navy and Coast Guard as well as one vessel that was transferred to the Philippines in 2004, according to the Navy.
All but one of the 14 Cyclone PCs built has exceeded its 15-year service life, the Navy noted.
The USS Cyclone was commissioned Aug. 21, 1993. All 14 of the vessels were built by Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards.
The PCs have a lightweight structure designed for high performance. The condition of the hull structure is the cumulative result of a full service life of operation including the effects of corrosion and severe operating conditions, the Navy said.
“It is not generally possible to identify one event or single root cause of the damage,” the service, added.
Five PCs (-2, -3, -4, -7, -12) assigned to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk, Va., are also undergoing inspection. The Navy said it intends to develop a plan, based on completed inspections, to expeditiously complete any necessary repairs on those vessels.
“Those vessels remaining in operation during the inspections will be used to maintain crew proficiency and will be subject to sea state and speed restrictions until repairs are completed,” the Navy said.
The Navy is also coordinating with the Coast Guard to begin inspections this week on the three vessels (PC-8, -13, -14) currently on loan from the service.
In August 2004, the two services signed an agreement that allowed five ships to be under the operational command of the Coast Guard beginning in October 2004. Two of five ships were returned to the Navy in 2008. In 2009, the ships began a sustainment program to update communication, engineering and support systems, according to the Navy.
The Coast Guard had planned in 2008 to return the five 179-foot Cyclone-class ships (Defense Daily, June 19, 2006). However, the vessels have helped the Coast Guard fill a gap in patrol boat hours while the service either halted operations of some vessels or repaired the hulls of others (Defense Daily, April 9, 2007).
The Navy is also working with the Philippines to share technical data and enable inspection of the vessel transferred to that country in 2004.
The former USS Cyclone was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on February 28, 2000, and was given to the Coast Guard the following day. The Cyclone was re-commissioned as USCGC Cyclone (WPC-1). Four years later, on March 8, 2004, the ship was finally transferred to the Philippines, where it entered service as BRP Mariano Alvarez (PS-38), according to the Navy.
The Navy had planned to decommission the Cyclone-class. However, after the attacks of 9/11, the service decided to keep them around (Defense Daily, Dec. 1, 2006).
Each of the Cyclone-class ships has a crew of approximately 27, and can reach speeds in excess of 35 knots.
The ships are equipped with one MK 96 and one MK 38 25mm machine guns; five .50 caliber machine guns; two MK 19 40mm automatic grenade launchers; and two M-60 machine guns, according to the Navy.
The primary mission of the PCs is coastal patrol, interdiction, and surveillance.
“The Cyclone-class PCs are particularly suited for maritime security missions and have been employed jointly with the Coast Guard to help protect our nation’s coastline, ports and waterways from terrorist attack,” the service said.