US Navy to use weapon systems from decommissioned ships on USCG vessels

The US Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station (NAVSSES), Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division engineers are gathering weapon system components from decommissioned US Navy frigates (FFGs) for re-use on Coast Guard vessels.

The components gathered from four US Navy’s decommissioned frigates are expected to reduce more than $24m in cost, with a few more reusable items expected to be collected from a fifth ship.

NAVSSES Auxiliary Ships/Acquisition Support Branch Abe Boughner said: "The navy’s FFGs will all be decommissioned by the end of fiscal year 2015, but the Coast Guard cutters have the same gun weapons systems."

NAVSSES engineers Alan Karpovitch said: "Many of the pieces of hardware on these ships are still serviceable and can be recycled."

The US Coast Guard will re-use all of the equipment including MK 75, 76mm/62 calibre gun mounts, gun control panels, barrels, launchers, junction boxes and other components, on cutters during the its operational life, which spans into the 2030s.

A team has also been provided by the US Coast Guard to assist with removal of components from the FFGs.

The Coast Guard Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC) equipment specialist Timothy Wallace said: "The final cost avoidance figure will not be known until harvesting of the fifth FFG is complete."