The latest in a line of ships named after the founder of the United States Coast Guard was launched at Huntington Ingalls shipyard, Pascagoula on 10 August. The 4,500-tonne Legend class vessel Hamilton (WMSL 753) is the fourth of eight planned National Security Cutters, replacing Hamilton and Hero class high endurance cutters that date back to the 1960s. Designed to provide a national defence role in open ocean environments in addition to littoral law enforcement and search and rescue missions, the NSCs are more akin to frigates. With improved sea-keeping, greater endurance and range than their predecessors, they also have the ability to launch and recover small boats from astern, as well as aviation support facilities and a flight deck for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. Each comes with a 57mm Bofors gun, Phalanx CIWS and a sophisticated command, control and communications system.
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