Patrol Coastal Ships - PC
Description: The primary
mission of these ships is coastal patrol and interdiction
surveillance, an important aspect of littoral operations
outlined in the Navy's strategy, Forward...From the
Sea. The Cyclone class PCs are particularly suited
for the maritime homeland security mission and have been
employed jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard to help
protect our nation's coastline, ports and waterways from
terrorist attack.
Background: The Cyclone
class ships are assigned to Commander, Naval Special
Forces. Of the thirteen ships, nine operate out of the
Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Va., and four
operate from the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Calif.
These ships provide the U.S. Navy with a fast, reliable
platform that can respond to emergent requirements in a
shallow water environment. The lead ship of the class, Cyclone
(PC 1), was decommissioned and turned over to the U.S.
Coast Guard 28 February 2000.
General Characteristics, Cyclone Class
Builders: Bollinger
Shipyards, Inc.
Power Plant: Four Paxman diesels; four shafts;
3,350 shaft horsepower
Length: 170 feet (51.82 meters)
Beam: 25 feet (7.62 meters)
Displacement: 331 tons (336.31 metric tons) full
load
Speed: 35 knots (40 miles per hour; 65
kilometers/hr.)
Ships:
USS Tempest (PC 2), Little Creek, Va.
USS Hurricane (PC 3), San Diego, Calif.
USS Monsoon (PC 4), San Diego, Calif.
USS Typhoon (PC 5), Little Creek, Va.
USS Sirocco (PC 6), Little Creek, Va.
USS Squall (PC 7), San Diego, Calif.
USS Zephyr (PC 8), San Diego, Calif.
USS Chinook (PC 9), Little Creek, Va.
USS Firebolt (PC 10) , Little Creek, Va.
USS Whirlwind (PC 11), Little Creek, Va.
USS Thunderbolt (PC 12), Little Creek, Va.
USS Shamal (PC 13), Little Creek, Va.
USS Tornado (PC 14), Little Creek, Va.
Crew: Four officers, 24 enlisted personnel
Armament: One MK 96 and one MK 38 25mm machine
guns; Five .50 caliber machine guns; two MK 19 40mm
automatic grenade launchers; Two M-60 machine guns.
Credits: US Navy
Credits: US Navy