![]() USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715), lead ship of the Hamilton class
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Class overview | |
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Name | Hamilton class |
Builders | Avondale Shipyards |
Operators | See Operators |
Preceded by | Treasury-class cutter |
Succeeded by | Legend-class cutter[1] |
Built | 1965–1972 |
In commission | 1967–present |
Planned | 12 |
Completed | 12 |
Active |
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Retired | 12 ![]() |
General characteristics | |
Type | High endurance cutter / Large patrol vessel |
Displacement | 3,250 metric tons |
Length | 378 ft (115 m) |
Beam | 43 ft (13 m) |
Draft | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed | 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph) |
Range | 14,000 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) |
Endurance | 45 days |
Complement | 167 and can carry up to 186 |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Electronic warfare & decoys | 2 × MK 36 SRBOC launcher system |
Armament |
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Aircraft carried | 1 × MH-65 Helicopter |
Aviation facilities | Flight deck and Hangar |
The Hamilton-class cutter was the largest class of vessel in the United States Coast Guard until replaced by the Legend-class cutter, aside from the Polar-class icebreaker. The hull classification symbol is prefixed WHEC. The cutters are called the Hamilton class after their lead ship, or the "Secretary class" because most of the vessels in the class were named for former Secretaries of the Treasury, with the exception of the "Hero-class cutters" Jarvis, Munro and Midgett.