USCGC Angela McShan (WPC-1135) is the United States Coast Guard's 35th Sentinel-class cutter.[1]
 Angela McShan in Cape May, September 28, 2019
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Angela McShan |
| Namesake | Angela McShan |
| Operator | United States Coast Guard |
| Builder | Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana |
| Acquired | August 1, 2019[1] |
| Commissioned | October 26, 2019[2] |
| Homeport | Cape May, New Jersey |
| Identification | Hull number: WPC-1135 |
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Sentinel-class cutter |
| Displacement | 353 long tons (359 t) |
| Length | 46.8 m (154 ft) |
| Beam | 8.11 m (26.6 ft) |
| Depth | 2.9 m (9.5 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Range | 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) |
| Endurance | 5 days |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 1 × Cutter Boat - Over the Horizon Interceptor |
| Complement | 4 officers, 20 crew |
| Sensors and processing systems | L-3 C4ISR suite |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | First Commanding Officer LT Brian Field[2] |
Like her sister ships she was built in the Bollinger Shipyards, in Lockport, Louisiana.
Design
editLike her sister ships, Angela McShan is designed to perform search and rescue missions, port security, and the interception of smugglers.[3] She is armed with a remotely-controlled, gyro-stabilized 25 mm autocannon, four crew served M2 Browning machine guns, and light arms. She is equipped with a stern launching ramp, that allows her to launch or retrieve a water-jet propelled high-speed auxiliary boat, without first coming to a stop. Her high-speed boat has over-the-horizon capability, and is useful for inspecting other vessels, and deploying boarding parties.
The crew's drinking water needs are met through a desalination unit.[4] The crew mess is equipped with a television with satellite reception.
Operational career
editThe vessel was delivered to the Coast Guard base in Key West for her acceptance trials on August 1, 2019.[1] She was commissioned in her home port of Cape May, New Jersey, in October 2019.[5]
In April 2020, two canoeists went missing 10 miles south of Annapolis, near Herring Bay.[6] They were Maeve McKean and Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean, the daughter and grandson of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend of the Kennedy clan. The Angela McShan was dispatched to help search for the missing boaters.
Namesake
editIn 2010, Charles "Skip" W. Bowen, who was then the United States Coast Guard's most senior non-commissioned officer, proposed that all 58 cutters in the Sentinel class should be named after enlisted sailors in the Coast Guard, or one of its precursor services, who were recognized for their heroism.[7][8] The Coast Guard chose Angela McShan, their first African-American woman to be promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer to be the ship's namesake.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Coast Guard Accepts Delivery of 35th Fast Response Cutter, USCGC Angela McShan". Defense Media Network. 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ a b Barlow, Bill (2019-10-28). "CG Cutter McShan Commissioned". Cape May County Herald. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^
"FRC Plan B: The Sentinel Class". Defense Industry Daily. May 2, 2014. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
All of these boats will be named after enlisted Coast Guard heroes, who distinguished themselves in USCG or military service. The first 25 have been named, but only 8 have been commissioned...
- ^
Jacqueline L. Urgo (November 19, 2016). "Coast Guard to get 'game changer' cutter to save lives and catch criminals". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
Although the cutter is far from luxurious, its crew quarters provide slightly more room and comfort than earlier models, with larger staterooms, more toilets and sinks, greater storage space, and DirecTV access in the mess areas.
- ^ Ken Roberts (2019-11-11). "Coast Guard ship posthumously named for Angela McShan of Northport". Gadsden Times. Archived from the original on 2019-11-12.
- ^ "Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's daughter, grandson are missing Maryland canoeists".
- ^
Susan Schept (March 22, 2010). "Enlisted heroes honored". United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
After the passing of several well-known Coast Guard heroes last year, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles "Skip" Bowen mentioned in his blog that the Coast Guard does not do enough to honor its fallen heroes.
- ^
"U.S. Coast Guard announces name for first Sentinel-class cutter". March 22, 2010. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
Previously designated to be named the Coast Guard Cutter Sentinel, the cutter Bernard C. Webber will be the first of the service's new 153-foot patrol cutters. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen approved the change of the cutter's name to allow this class of vessels to be named after outstanding enlisted members who demonstrated exceptional heroism in the line of duty. This will be the first class of cutters to be named exclusively for enlisted members of the Coast Guard and its predecessor services.
- ^
"African-Americans in Coast Guard History" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
The YNCM Angela McShan Inspirational Leadership Award was named in Master Chief Angela McShan's honor.