Medium endurance cutter

The Medium endurance cutter or WMEC is a type of United States Coast Guard cutter mainly consisting of the 270-foot Famous- and 210-foot Reliance-class cutters. These larger cutters are under control of Area Commands (Atlantic Area or Pacific Area). These cutters have adequate accommodations for crew to live on board and can do 6 to 8 week patrols. Other ships in the classification are the 282 ft USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC-39), 213 ft USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167), and the now-decommissioned 230 ft USCGC Storis (WMEC-38).

There are 13 vessels in the Famous class, and 14 vessels in the Reliance class. The Coast Guard plans to eventually phase out both of these cutters and replace them with the Offshore Patrol Cutter as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program.

History
After World War II, the Coast Guard used the US Navy hull classification system. The large, sea-going cutters were classified primarily as Coast Guard gunboats (WPG), destroyer escorts (WDE), and seaplane tenders (WAVP). In 1965 the Coast Guard adopted its own designation system and these large cutters were then referred to as Coast Guard High Endurance Cutters (WHEC). The coastal cutters once known as Cruising cutters, Second Class and then Coast Guard patrol craft (WPC) were now Coast Guard Medium Endurance Cutters (WMEC)."

Famous-class cutter
The Famous-class vessels have hull numbers in the range WMEC-901 through WMEC-913. Entering service in the 1980s, the Famous-class cutters, designed as replacements for the 327 ft Treasury-class cutters and their mission profile, emphasized law enforcement, particularly patrolling the newly established 200 mi exclusive economic zone.

Reliance-class cutter
The Reliance-class vessels have hull numbers in the range WMEC-615 through WMEC-630. Entering service between 1964 and 1969, the Reliance-class cutters were meant to replace the 165 ft cutters of the Prohibition era and were the first major cutter replacement project since the 255 ft Owasco-class cutters from World War II.

Ships in class


Courageous was decommissioned on 19 September 2001. She was transferred to the government of Sri Lanka on 24 June 2004 as SLNS Samudura (P-621).

Durable was decommissioned on 20 September 2001. In 2003 she was transferred to the Coast Guard of the Colombian Navy as ARC Valle del Cauca (PO-44).