The Island-class patrol boat is a class of cutters of the United States Coast Guard. 49 cutters of the class were built, of which 37 remain in commission. Their hull numbers are WPB-1301 through WPB-1349.[3]

Overview

The 110 ft (34 m) Island-class patrol boats are a U.S. Coast Guard modification of a highly successful British-designed Vosper Thornycroft patrol boat built for Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore.[2] With excellent range and seakeeping capabilities, the Island class, all named after U.S. islands, replaced the older 95 ft (29 m) Cape-class cutters. These cutters are equipped with advanced electronics and navigation equipment and are used in support of the Coast Guard's maritime homeland security, migrant interdiction, drug interdiction, defense operations, fisheries enforcement, and search and rescue missions.[4]

The 58 ordered Sentinel-class cutters, selected under the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) program, are slated to replace the Island class. Six Island class cutters are currently stationed in Manama, Bahrain as a part of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia to provide the Navy's Fifth Fleet with combat ready assets.[5] The cutters have 10 tons worth of space and weight reservations for additional weapons.[6]

Conversion problems

As built, these vessels were all 110 feet (34 m) in length. In 2002 as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program, the Coast Guard began refitting some of these vessels, adding 13 feet (4.0 m) to the stern to make room for a high-speed stern launching ramp, and replacing the superstructure so that these vessels had enough room to accommodate mixed-gender crews. The refit added about 15 tons to the vessel's displacement, and reduced its maximum speed by approximately one knot. The eight cutters[7] modified were;

USCGC Matagorda (WPB-1303)

USCGC Attu (WPB-1317)

USCGC Metompkin (WPB-1325)

USCGC Padre (WPB-1328)

USCGC Manitou (WPB-1302)

USCGC Monhegan (WPB-1305)

USCGC Nunivak (WPB-1306)

USCGC Vashon (WPB-1308)

In 2005, then-Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thomas H. Collins made the decision to stop the contractor's conversion at eight hulls when sea trials revealed intractable structural flaws.[8][9]

In August 2006, a Lockheed Martin engineer went public with allegations that the company and the Coast Guard were ignoring serious security flaws in the refitting project, and that they were likely to repeat the same mistakes on similar projects. The flaws included blind spots in watch cameras, FLIR equipment not suitable for operating under extreme temperatures, and the use of non-shielded cables in secure communications systems, a violation of TEMPEST standards.[10]

In late November 2006 all eight of the 123 ft (37 m) WPBs were taken out of service due to debilitating problems with their lengthened hulls – all eight hulls were cracking when driven at high speed in heavy seas. These as well as other issues – such as C4ISR problems – drove the program $60 million over budget, triple the original bid for the eight boats converted. The 41 unmodified 110s are now being pressed harder to take up the slack.[11] The eight modified were moved to the United States Coast Guard Yard and moored in Arundel Cove.[12]

Transfers to foreign operators

Unloading of P191 "Starobilsk" of the Ukrainian Navy

The U.S. Coast Guard has transferred several ships to foreign navies and coast guards via the Defense Security Cooperation Agency's Office of International Acquisition's Excess Defense Articles Program (EDA).[13]

In May 2023, the United States government pledged to provide the Philippines at least two Island-class patrol vessels which was agreed by both sides, as it was offered alongside two Marine Protector-class patrol boats and three Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft during President Bongbong Marcos' visit to Washington D.C.[14][15] The recipient of the transferred vessels will be the Philippine Navy. [16][17]

Operators

United States Coast Guard

Georgian Coast Guard – two ships via EDA in September 2016[18]

Pakistan Maritime Security Agency – two ships via EDA in 2016[19]

Costa Rican Coast Guard – two ships via EDA in 2017[19][20]

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society – purchased former USCGC Block Island and Pea Island, June 2015,[21] and Bainbridge Island, November 2017.[22]

Ukrainian Navy – five acquired from the USCG[23]

Hellenic Navy – four ships via EDA in 2023[24]

Future Operators

Hellenic Navy

Greece will receive a total of three Island-class patrol boats from the United States Coast Guard under the EDA agreement.[24]

Dispositions

disposition of Island class cutters

image name commissioned decommissioned notes

Farallon (WPB-1301)

Manitou (WPB-1302) Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006

Matagorda (WPB-1303) Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006

Maui (WPB-1304) 22 March 2022 in Manama, Bahrain

Monhegan (WPB-1305) Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006

Nunivak (WPB-1306) Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006

Ocracoke (WPB-1307) transferred to Ukraine, renamed P192 Sumy

Vashon (WPB-1308) Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006

Aquidneck (WPB-1309) 15 June 2021 in Manama, Bahrain

Mustang (WPB-1310)

Naushon (WPB-1311)

Sanibel (WPB-1312)

Edisto (WPB-1313)

Sapelo (WPB-1314) transferred to Greece

Mantinicus (WPB-1315)

Nantucket (WPB-1316) Mar 2017

Attu (WPB-1317) Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006

Baranof (WPB-1318)

Chandeleur (WPB-1319)

Chincoteague (WPB-1320)

Cushing (WPB-1321) transferred to Ukraine, renamed P190 Sloviansk, sunk due to Russian action 3 March 22

Cuttyhunk (WPB-1322)

Drummond (WPB-1323) transferred to Ukraine, renamed P191 Starobilsk

Key Largo (WPB-1324) 01 December 1988 27 February 2023

Metompkin (WPB-1325) Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006

Monomoy (WPB-1326) 19 May 1989 22 March 2022 Transferred to Greece

Orcas (WPB-1327)

Padre (WPB-1328) Directed to be removed from operational service November 2006

Sitkanak Island (WPB-1329)

Tybee (WPB-1330)

Washington (WPB-1331) transferred to Ukraine, renamed P193 Fastiv

Wrangell (WPB-1332) 22 March 2022 in Manama, Bahrain Transferred to Greece

Adak (WPB-1333) 15 June 2021 in Manama, Bahrain

Liberty (WPB-1334)

Anacapa (WPB-1335)

Kiska (WPB-1336) transferred to Ukraine, renamed P194 Vyacheslav Kubrak

Assateague (WPB-1337)

Grand Isle (WPB-1338) transferred to Pakistan

Key Biscayne (WPB-1339) transferred to Pakistan

Jefferson Island (WPB-1340) Decommissioned in Portland, Maine on September 19, 2014. transferred to Georgia (country)

Kodiak Island (WPB-1341)

Long Island (WPB-1342) transferred to Costa Rica, renamed Juan Rafael Mora Porras

Bainbridge Island (WPB-1343) purchased by Sea Shepherd, renamed MV Sharpie

Block Island (WPB-1344) purchased by Sea Shepherd, renamed MY Jules Verne

Staten Island (WPB-1345) transferred to Georgia

Roanoke Island (WPB-1346) transferred to Costa Rica, renamed Gen. Jose M. Canas Escamilla

Pea Island (WPB-1347) purchased by Sea Shepherd, renamed MY Farley Mowat

Knight Island (WPB-1348)

Galveston Island (WPB-1349)