U.S. COAST GUARD PHOTOGRAPHS
operations, as well as provide search and rescue assistance
should the need arise.
The 225-foot Juniper’s twin diesel engine propulsion sys-
tem supplies the speed and maneuverability necessary to
tend coastal and offshore buoys in exposed locations. Perhaps
the most important advance is the use of a new Dynamic
Positioning System (DPS). DPS uses a differential GPS to fix
positions. Using this technology, the crews are able to main-
tain the vessel’s position within a 10-meter circle in winds
of up to 30 knots and waves of up to 8 feet. The Juniper-
class cutters are to undergo mid-life renovation under the
In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) project.
• Length: 225 feet
• Beam: 46 feet
• Displacement: 2,000 tons
• Buoy deck area: 2,875 square feet
• Power plant: Two Caterpillar 3608 diesels, one shaft,
6,200 bhp
• Speed: 15 knots
• Range: 6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots
• Armament: Two .50-caliber machine guns
Vessels in this class:
• Juniper (WLB 201), Newport, Rhode Island
• Willow (WLB 202), Newport, Rhode Island
• Kukui (WLB 203), Honolulu, Hawaii
• Elm (WLB 204), Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
• Walnut (WLB 205), Honolulu, Hawaii
• Spar (WLB 206), Kodiak, Alaska
• Maple (WLB 207), Sitka, Alaska
• Aspen (WLB 208), San Francisco, California
• Sycamore (WLB 209), Cordova, Alaska
• Cypress (WLB 210), Pensacola, Florida
• Oak (WLB 211), Charleston, South Carolina
• Hickory (WLB 212) Homer, Alaska
• Fir (WLB 213), Astoria, Oregon
• Hollyhock (WLB 214), Port Huron, Michigan
• Sequoia (WLB 215), Apra Harbor, Guam
• Alder (WLB 216), Duluth, Minnesota
Medium Endurance Cutter, 210-foot Reliance class
(WMEC)
The 14 Reliance-class cutters work alongside the Famous-
class ships, carrying out primarily law enforcement and search
CGC Spar
CGC Diligence
and rescue missions. The 210-foot ships were the first true
post-World War II Coast Guard cutters. Outwardly, these ships
reflect evolving Coast Guard operations during the latter part
of the 20th century – sleek lines, flight decks, and a high pilot-
house giving the bridge crew excellent all-around visibility.
They do not have a helicopter hangar but can operate a single
H-65 Dolphin on deck. It has a crew complement of 77.
Although lightly armed, these cutters were designed to
carry additional armament including a 3-inch gun, a total of
six .50-caliber machine guns, an SQS-17 sonar (later sugges-
tions included using an SQS-36), an anti-submarine projec-
tor (Hedgehog), and/or two torpedo launchers. None of this
armament was ever actually installed.
From 1986 to 1996, ships of this class underwent a midlife
maintenance availability to upgrade machinery and equip-
ment. There were 16 Reliance-class cutters, but budget cuts
prompted the decommissioning of the Courageous (WMEC
622) and the Durable (WMEC 628) in 2001.
To prolong the longevity of the remaining cutters, the
Coast Guard began the MEP in 2005 to increase operational
availability by installing capability enhancements, perform-
ing major maintenance, and replacing obsolete, unsupport-
able, or maintenance-intensive equipment. The successful
conclusion of the MEP in September 2014 ensures the opera-
tional reliability of these cutters until replacement by the off-
shore patrol cutter.
• Length: 210 feet
• Beam: 34 feet
• Displacement: 1,000 tons
• Power plant: Two Alco 16V-251 diesel engines,
two shafts, 5,000 bhp
• Speed: 18 knots
• Range: 6,100 nautical miles at 12 knots
• Armament: One Mk. 38 25 mm cannon and two
.50-caliber machine guns
Vessels in this class:
• Reliance (WMEC 615), Kittery, Maine
• Diligence (WMEC 616), Wilmington, North Carolina
• Vigilant (WMEC 617), Patrick Air Force Base, Florida
• Active (WMEC 618), Port Angeles, Washington
• Confidence (WMEC 619), Port Canaveral, Florida
• Resolute (WMEC 620), St. Petersburg, Florida
• Valiant (WMEC 621), Miami Beach, Florida
• Steadfast (WMEC 623), Warrenton, Oregon 137