US Coast Guard commissions 63rd Sentinel-class cutter

The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned its 63rd Sentinel-class fast response cutter, continuing replacement of older patrol craft. Sentinel-class vessels are about 46.8 metres long, exceed 28 knots and carry a 25 mm remote weapon station, crew-served machine guns and a stern-launched over-the-horizon boat. Their missions include search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, port security and partner engagement, with a range of roughly 2,500 nautical miles. The new cutter adds a modern hull to the fleet, although operational impact depends on home-porting, crew readiness and maintenance availability.