Return to 1946 to 1999

Small Boats

Lifeboats
Lifeboats were the companions to the surfboats
They were self bailable and self rightable and much heavier
They were generally kept in the water so they were faster to launch
But they were not easily used on large sandy beaches where piers could not be built
The original boat was a borrowed British boat
Soon US designs evolved and the LSS quickly standardized them
Lifeboats are still in use today

Class Number Year Comments Pictures Model
52′ Wooden Hull Motor Lifeboat 2 1935 Stationed in the Pacific Northwest
Named Invincible and Triumph
Invincible was transferred to the Navy in 1967
Triumph was lost in a rescue attempt in 1961
CGH
CGAA
36′ Type TRS Motor Lifeboat 130 1937 Modified Type TR
TRS = Type T, Revised, Simplified
The last Type TRS was retired in 1987
CGH
CGP
Yes
52′ Steel Hull Motor Lifeboat 4 1956 Designed to replace the wooden hulled 52s
Victory, Invincible, Triumph II, and Intrepid
Still in service
CGH
CGP
44′ Motor Lifeboat 110 1963 Probably one of the most legendary boats to serve coastal SAR in the US
Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD
Capable of 14 knots with a 164 nautical mile range
Coast Guard crews speak of the 44 with reverence in their voice
Adopted by at least 10 other nations as their primary SAR boat
CG 44301 was the last 44 in service – Retired from Chatham in 2010
CGH
CGP
47′ Motor Lifeboat 100 1991 Designed to replace the venerable but aging 44
Current near shore SAR boat
Capable of 23 knots
Can operate in 20 foot seas and 20 foot surf
CGH
CGH
CGAA

Utility Boats
The Coast Guard has used a variety of small boats for a variety of missions
Originally called launches, they are now referred to as utility boats
One was an air cushion vehicle that was evaluated but not accepted for service
This is NOT a complete list of every UTB used by the Coast Guard
Considering all of the one-of-a-kind acquisitions, that list would be huge

Class Number Year Comments Pictures Model
30′ Utility Boat 1950 Replaced the aging 36′ Picket Boats in inland/near shore waters
Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD
Steel hulls
Served into the 70s – Replaced by the 41′ UTB
CGP Yes
40′ Utility Boat (40-Boats) 331 1950 Replaced the aging 38′ Picket Boats and 30′ Motor Rescue Boats
Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD
Early boats were wood, most were steel, the last ones were fiberglass
Capable of 20 knots with a range of 380 miles in moderate seas
The Mark IV was capable of carrying 20 survivors or 5,000 lbs. of cargo
Served into the late 1970s – Replaced by the 41′ UTB
CGH
CGP
Yes
38′ Air Cushion Vehicle 3 1970 Evaluated for use – not accepted into service CGH
CGP
CGAA
31′ Port Security Boat 28 1970 Built at the Coast Guard yard in Curtis Bay
Fiberglass construction
Equipped with a 250 gal/min fire pump
CGH
CGP
27′ Presidential Security Boat 1970 Built for speed and fire power CGP
41′ UTB 156 1973 Replaced the aging 30 and 40 boats
Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD
Capable of 26 knots and operating in heavy seas
Proved to be a rugged utility boat for all but fast law enforcement
Currently showing their age- limited to 8′ waves and 30 knot winds
Being replaced by the 25′
CGH
CGH
CGP
Yes
32′ Ports and Waterways Boat 50 1976 Built in response to the Port and Waterways Act of 1973
Fiberglass construction
Built for firefighting and pollution investigation
Out of service by 2000
CGP
43′ Coastal Interceptor 5 1987 Designed as a high speed law enforcement boat
Not very fuel efficient
Retired by 2000
CGH
25′ Transportable Port Security Boat 1997 Capable of 40 knots CGH

Surf Rescue Boats
Stationed ashore
Driven into surf for near shore rescues

Class Number Year Comments Pictures Model
38′ DUKW 1944 Built for the Army in WWII for amphibious warfare
Coast Guard used them in heavy surf and for flood relief
Additional units built in CG Yard
Suffered from high maintenance costs
All units disposed of by 1970
CGH
CGP
CGAA
Yes
35′ Land Amphibious
Rescue Craft (LARC)
27 1963 Designed for the Army as a replacement for the WWII era DUKWs
35 mph on land and 9 knots underway
Could handle 10 foot surf and climb a 60 percent grade
Extremely high maintenance limited their use
Out of service by the 1980s
CGH
CGP
CGAA
26′ Motor Surfboat 117 1969 Shore-stationed version of the 26′ shipboard MSB
Development of the 30′ Surf Rescue Boat was behind schedule
As a temporary measure, 17 cutter-based MSBs were modifies with cabins
They served until the SRBs were in service
CGH
30′ Surf Rescue Boat 20 1986 Designed for near shore SAR in heavy seas and surf CGH
CGAA

Cutter Boats
The Coast Guard has always carried small boats on cutters for rescues and boardings
Note that there are no “lifeboats” on Coast Guard Cutters
The Monomoy surfboat filled the role until the 60s
The 26′ Motor Surf Boat replaced it and stayed around until 2000

Class Number Year Comments Pictures Model
26′ Monomoy Type Pulling/Sailing Surfboat 26′ Monomoy shore side surfboat built with a carvel hull
and used as the standard cutter boat
26′ Motor Surfboat 206 1960 Standard cutter boat that replaced the 26′ pulling Monomoy surfboat CGAA Yes