NAVYPEDIA

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  Courageous 1980

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
WPC615, 5.1966- WMEC615	Reliance		Todd, Houston		25.5.1963	20.6.1964	in service (2019)
WPC616, 5.1966- WMEC616	Diligence		Todd, Houston		20.7.1963	26.8.1964	in service (2019)
WPC617, 5.1966- WMEC617	Vigilant		Todd, Houston		24.12.1963	3.10.1964	in service (2019)
WMEC618	Active	420	Christy Corp., Sturgeon Bay		31.7.1965	17.9.1966	in service (2019)
WPC619, 5.1966- WMEC619	Confidence		USCG Yard, Baltimore		8.5.1965	19.2.1966	in service (2019)
WMEC620	Resolute	881	American SB, Lorain		30.4.1966	8.12.1966	in service (2019)
WMEC621	Valiant	882	American SB, Lorain		14.1.1967	28.10.1967	in service (2019)
WMEC622	Courageous	883	American SB, Lorain		18.3.1967	10.4.1968	stricken 9.2001, to Sri Lanka 6.2004 (සමුදුර [Samudura])
WMEC623	Steadfast	884	American SB, Lorain		24.6.1967	25.9.1968	in service (2019)
WMEC624	Dauntless	885	American SB, Lorain		21.10.1967	10.6.1968	in service (2019)
WMEC625	Venturous		USCG Yard, Baltimore		11.11.1967	16.8.1968	in service (2019)
WMEC626	Dependable	886	American SB, Lorain		16.3.1968	22.11.1968	in service (2019)
WMEC627	Vigorous	887	American SB, Lorain		4.5.1968	2.5.1969	in service (2019)
WMEC628	Durable		USCG Yard, Baltimore		29.4.1967	8.12.1967	stricken 9.2001, to Colombia 9.2003 (Valle del Cauca)
WMEC629	Decisive		USCG Yard, Baltimore		14.12.1967	23.8.1968	in service (2019)
WMEC630	Alert	888	American SB, Lorain		19.10.1968	4.8.1969	in service (2019)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	950
Displacement full, t	WMEC615-619: 970 WMEC620-630: 1007
Length, m	64.2
Breadth, m	10.4
Draught, m	3.20
No of shafts	2
Machinery	WMEC615-619: CODAG: 2 Cooper Bessemer diesels + 2 Solar gas turbines WMEC620-630: 2 Alco diesels
Power, h. p.	WMEC615-619: 3000+2000=5000 WMEC620-630: 5000
Max speed, kts	18
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	WMEC615-619: 6100(13) WMEC620-630: 6100(14)
Armament	1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 34, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, provision for 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 TT, helicopter deck for HH-52
Electronic equipment	SPS-64(v)1 radar, provision for SQS-36/38 sonar
Complement	61

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

These small cutters were designed to operate within about 500 miles of the US coast, with a fifteen day endurance. The first five have CODAG propulsion. There was no stack, the diesels exhausted aft. They can tow a 10000t ship. Although they are too small for a hangar or maintenance facilities, they accommodate a landing pad large enough for the standard Coast Guard HH-52 or HH-3 helicopter. From a wartime point of view their armament was extremely limited, only one 76mm/50 gun and two machine-guns; presumably the standard torpedo tubes would be added in wartime. There is no hull sonar in peacetime, but the design makes provision for a wartime installation of SQS-36/38.

Orignul plans called for the construction of thirty units, but only sixteen were built.

Modernizations

1987, Active; 1988, Confidence; 1989, Reliance, Durable; 1990, Vigilant, Courageous; 1991, Diligence; 1992, Vigorous; 1993, Valiant; 1994, Steadfast, Alert; 1995, Dauntless, Venturous; 1996, Resolute; 1997, Dependable; 1998, Decisive: MMA modernization: new funnel was installed, superstructure was enlarged, crew was enlarged to 86, full displacement rose to 1050t, WMEC615-619 were re-engined as later ships; - 1 x 1 - 76/50; + 1 x 1 - 25/75 Mk 38 Bushmaster, 1x SPS-64(v)1 radar (2nd), helicopter deck was reduced in area and can receive HH-65 helicopter

1992-1999, all: - 1x SPS-64(v)1 radar; + SPS-73 radars, SCCS CCS

Naval service

No significant events.