In the congested littorals, where the coastal belts of the Western Pacific are teeming with activities that determine economic, political, and social dynamism, the changing maritime landscape means that navies have to rethink strategy. As enunciated, the Webber class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) play a critically important role in this regard to experts who say they should be used more in the maritime strategy of the United States.
And on this issue, James Holmes, again, the J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College, adds his voice to the fact that the U.S. The Sentinel-Class Cutters should be integrated into the Navy’s Missile Patrol Craft. The vessels were built for crowded East Asian maritime geography so that they could blend in with merchant traffic to obfuscate their positions, and hence make it harder to attack. As Holmes explains, “swarms of small, cheap, lethal surface and subsurface warships working with aircraft overhead and troops on the islands can close the straits along the first island chain,” thereby curtailing, containing, and keeping Chinese naval forces at bay.
Lt. Chan finally offered that, if we were to keep some production lines open for the Fast Response and national security cutters and then pass the early hulls off to regional allies, this might rise further in terms of deterrence and interoperability. Such an approach would also aid in fulfilling one of the State Department’s goals of retaining U.S. influence over friendly nations lacking the resources to carry out their effective maritime patrols. Chan writes that Coast Guard officials might squirm at the idea initially, but “money pots” from other budgets might make the notion more palatable.
Cdr. Hulse believes that the replacement of the Mk IV over-the-horizon cutter boat in use by the Navy with a box launcher for the Naval Strike Missile would add enormously to the vessel’s surface combatant. In the estimation of Hulse, “a Navy FRC could mount a Naval Strike Missile box launcher with four tubes 8,600 pounds at the stern,” which will make it add much to its combat effectiveness. Additionally, the foredeck space with the pilothouse removed might be utilized for UAV take-off and recovery, to provide essential airborne surveillance and targeting capabilities.
The U.S. Navy has traditionally relied on the small craft for enforcing blockades, countering covert operations, countering kamikaze UAS, countering kamikaze USV, and supporting amphibious landings relative to seagoing opponents. The seakeeping and greater ranges of the Webber-class FRCs fit well into these roles. They can also perform blockade enforcement, counter kamikaze UAS, counter kamikaze USV, and support UUVs.
The move, according to military analyst Chuck Hill, would integrate high-end warfighting capabilities with the Coast Guard that would complement Navy force structure and provide a force multiplier in times of conflict. He says the fleet is large, with more than 40 patrol ships and 110 patrol craft, which could substantially extend Navy operational reach. Long-range in this connection means that Coast Guard vessel deployments can operate in remote theatres and areas where the Navy has no substantial presence, such as the Arctic or the Gulf of Mexico.
The NSC and OPC are examples of a way that Coast Guard cutters can be up-gunned and incorporated into naval operations. Many of the capabilities necessary to turn NSCs into missile-armed combatants are already aboard these ships in the preliminary form of their advanced technology sensors and weapons systems. Moreover, both OPCs have ice-strengthened hulls and long-staying power, which could be configured with long-range cruise missiles along with a variety of other advanced weaponry.
In conclusion, the upgrades in capability for the Webber class FRCs and the integration of the Coast Guard into the Navy’s force structure would strengthen U.S. maritime strategy. The ships represent the need for affordability and versatility to better the prospect of U.S. success in many of the complicated problems of modern naval warfare, thereby making sure the nation maintains a key strategic advantage in the key maritime regions.