Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | May 19 – Russian and Qatari corvettes plus US Navy and Coast Guard surface vessels

It’s an all-delivery roundup with new corvettes for the Qatari and Russian navies, a littoral combat ship for the US Navy, and a fast cutter for the US Coast Guard.

Littoral combat ship Augusta delivered to US Navy

Austal USA has delivered the future USS Augusta, a new Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) ordered by the US Navy.

The 418-foot (127-metre) ship is scheduled to be commissioned in the fall of 2023. After commissioning, it will be homeported in San Diego, California.

The LCS is the second US Navy ship to be named after Augusta, the capital city of the state of Maine. The ship’s armament includes a BAE Systems naval gun, four 12.7-millimetre machine guns, and Evolved SeaRAM surface-to-air missiles.

US Coast Guard acquires 53rd Sentinel-class cutter

The US Coast Guard has taken delivery of the future USCGC John Patterson, a Sentinel-class fast response cutter built by Bollinger Shipyards of Louisiana.

The vessel will be the fourth of six FRCs to be homeported in Sector Boston, which is responsible for coastal safety, security, and environmental protection from the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border southward to Plymouth, Massachusetts out to 200 nautical miles offshore.

The FRC can reach speeds of up to 28 knots and is fitted with a C4ISR suite and a stern launch and recovery ramp for an over-the-horizon interceptor cutter boat.

New corvette handed over to Russian Navy

Russian shipyard Severnaya Verf recently delivered the Russian Navy’s newest corvette, the 104-metre Merkury (“Mercury”).

As with its Project 20380 sisters, the corvette will be used for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and protection of amphibious forces. A flight deck and a hangar are available for use by a Ka-27 helicopter.

Design work on Merkury was provided by Almaz Central Design Bureau.

Italian yard completes fourth Al Zubarah-class corvette for Qatar

Italian shipyard Fincantieri has delivered the final one of four Al Zubarah-class corvettes slated for the Qatari Emiri Navy.

The future QENS Sumaysimah has an LOA of 107 metres, a beam of 14.7 metres, a depth of 8.6 metres, and a displacement of 3,250 tonnes at full load. There is also space for 112 crewmembers and other personnel, a helicopter deck with hangar, and cranes and a stern ramp for the launch and recovery of rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) for use in boardings and interceptions.

Missions will include surface combat, sea surveillance, escort, general patrol, interdiction, and search and rescue.