USCGC Melvin Bell
 | |
| Class overview | |
| Name | Melvin Bell |
|---|---|
| Builders | Bollinger Shipyards |
| Operators | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Cost | $65 million |
| History | |
| Completed | November 17, 2023 |
| Commissioned | March 28, 2024 |
| Homeport | Coast Guard Station Boston |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Sentinel-class cutter |
| Displacement | 353 long tons |
| Length | 154ft |
| Beam | 25ft |
| Installed power | 2x MTU diesel engines |
| Range | 2,500 nautical miles |
| Crew | 24 personnel |
| Armament | 1x Mk. 38 Mod. 2 25mm autocannon & 4x .50 caliber M2 machineguns |
USCGC Melvin Bell (WPC-1155) is a 154-foot U.S. Coast Guard Fast Response Craft in the Sentinel class, stationed at U.S. Coast Guard Station Boston.[1] She is the 55th vessel of her class and is named for Master Chief Electronics Technician Melvin Kealoha Bell Sr., the first soldier to raise alarm of the Attack on Pearl Harbor and first Pacific Islander to reach rank of Chief Petty Officer.[2]
Construction
[edit]The vessel, as well as all others in her class, was constructed by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana and delivered to the Coast Guard November 17, 2023, at a cost of $65 million.[3] She has an overall length of 154 feet, a beam of 25 feet, a draft of 9 feet and 6 inches. She displaces roughly 353 long tons with a maximum speed of 28 knots. She has a service range of nearly 2,500 nautical miles. She is crewed by 24 service personnel. Her propulsion comes from twin MTU diesel engines, each turning fixed-pitch propellers for 5,800 standard horsepower each. She features a stern-launch ramp for the vessel's Short-Range Prosecutor RHIB.[4] She is armed with a single Mk 38 Mod 2 25mm autocannon and four .50 caliber M2 machinegun.[5] All vessels of the class incorporate advanced C4ISR Systems (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance).[6]
Service (2024-present)
[edit]After accepting delivery of the vessel, she would arrive at her homeport (Coast Guard Station Boston) on January 3, 2024, after sea trials in Key West.[7] Lieutenant Patrick Kelly would assume first command of the vessel, with Rita Mayer serving as its sponsor.[7] The Melvin Bell is the sixth and final cutter to join Station Boston.[3] Her and her sister vessels are responsible for patrolling the North Atlantic region, participating in narcotic/migrant interdictions, fisheries law enforcement, port defense, and search-and-rescue (SAR).[8] Her duty zone stretches along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "USCGC Melvin Bell (WPC 1155) arrives to homeport after being delivered to Coast Guard". DVIDS. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ "US Coast Guard Receives 55th Sentinel-Class Cutter". Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ a b Prias, Emmanuel (2023-12-07). "BOLLINGER SHIPYARDS DELIVERS 6TH AND FINAL BOSTON-BOUND FAST RESPONSE CUTTER TO U.S. COAST GUARD". Bollinger Shipyards. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ "Bollinger Hands 59th Sentinel Cutter to US Coast Guard". Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ a b Maritime, Baird (2024-03-29). "US Coast Guard commissions fast response cutter Melvin Bell". Baird Maritime / Work Boat World. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ "C4ISR". Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ a b "Welcome to the Fleet, Cutter Melvin Bell". Coast Guard Foundation. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ "Sentinel Class Fast Response Cutter B (FRC-B)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2025-07-18.