US Coast Guard Legend class Hamilton visits Latvia amid tensions with Russia


According to information published by the US DoD on November 17, 2022, the Legend-class national security cutter (NSC) USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) arrived in Riga, Latvia for a port visit.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Legend-class cutter USCGC Hamilton. (Picture source: US DoD)


Prior to arriving in Riga, Hamilton conducted multiple operations with allies and partners in the Baltic Sea, including a series of at-sea engagements with Swedish, Finnish, Estonian, and Lithuanian maritime and naval forces.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been, and remains, a welcome presence and key contributor to maintaining maritime safety, security and stability in the Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea.

About the USCGC Hamilton

USCGC Hamilton (WMSL-753) is the fourth Legend-class cutter, also known as the National Security Cutter (NSC), of the United States Coast Guard. 

Construction began in September 2011 by Northrop Grumman's Ship System Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, with the keel was laid on 5 September 2012. Hamilton was launched on 10 August 2013, and her christening was on 26 October 2013.

USCGC Hamilton has a length of 127 m, a beam of 16 m, and a draft of 6.9m. The ship has a Combined Diesel and (CODAG) propulsion system consisting of two 7,400 kW (9,900 hp) MTU 20V 1163 diesel engines and one 22 MW (30,000 hp) LM2500 gas turbine engine.

She can reach a top speed of 28 knots/32 mph/52 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 12,000 NM/13,809 miles/22,224 km. The ship has an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 120 sailors.

The Legend-class cutter is armed with one MK 110 57mm gun a variant of the Bofors 57 mm gun and Gunfire Control System, one 20 mm Block 1B Baseline 2 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, four crew-served .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns and two crew-served M240B 7.62 mm machine guns.