๐๐ ๐พ๐ค๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฃ๐๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐จ๐๐๐ช๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง
The US Coast Guard has welcomed its newest cutter into the fleet, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759).
USCG
Calhoun is the tenth Legend-class national security cutter (NSC) to join the Coast Guard and is the fourth NSC to be homeported in North Charleston alongside Coast Guard Cutters Hamilton (WMSL 753), James (WMSL 754) and Stone (WMSL 758).
Calhounโs namesake comes from the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the US Coast Guard, Charles L. Calhoun. Calhoun led a distinguished career, serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II prior to enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1946. ย The commissioning ceremonyโs date of April 20 is in honor of Calhounโs birthday.
Construction of Calhoun began in 2019 and the cutter was officially delivered to the US Coast Guard in October 2023 from Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
After deploying in support of oil spill response and counter migration, Calhoun arrived at its homeport in North Charleston on December 3, 2023.
The commissioning of Calhoun officially places the cutter in service for the US Coast Guard and marks the most significant milestone of the cutterโs life to date.
The 127.4-meter Legend-class national security cutters are equipped with command and control equipment, the ability to launch and house multiple small boats and aircraft, and an advanced engineering plant capable of reaching speeds of roughly 30 mph.
The cutterโs primary missions will include counterdrug operations, migrant interdiction, living marine resources and defense readiness in support of Coast Guard operations.