Coast Guard Cutter Christened
More than 1,000 guests attended the christening of the Northrop Grumman Corporation-built U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) on July 26. Waesche is named for Adm. Russell R. Waesche, who was the first Coast Guard commandant to achieve the rank of admiral. He led the Coast Guard from 1936 to 1946, which is the longest tenure of any USCG commandant. Adm. Waesche's granddaughter Marilla Waesche Pivonka broke a bottle across the ship's bow to a rousing ovation, and also performed a song to honor the ship and her grandfather.
Waesche is the second ship in the new Legend-class of highly capable, technologically advanced, multi-mission cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security.
The National Security Cutter (NSC) is a 418-ft. ship with a 4,300-ton displacement at full load. Powered by a twin screw combined diesel and gas turbine power propulsion plant, the NSC is designed to travel at 28 knots maximum speed. The cutter includes an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats, a flight deck to accommodate a range of manned and unmanned rotary wing aircrafts, and state-of-the-art command and control electronics.
Production of the second National Security Cutter at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding represents a new approach to the design and construction of surface ships. In partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, the joint venture partners of Integrated Coast Guard Systems, have been working side-by-side to build a class of ships that is not only capable and flexible, but also an economical and enduring platform.
