The fourth ship in the Legend Class of the United States Coast Guard USCGC HAMILTON WMSL 753 called for the first time at Grand Harbour, Malta on Monday 17th May, 2021 making her the first of the class to call here too. She passed breakwaters around 1505 hrs with 2 tugs ready to assist coming from the Black Sea. The last U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea, was the USCGC Dallas WHEC 716, that sailed to the Black Sea twice, in 2008 and 1995.
She is the fifth cutter named after Alexander Hamilton, who was the first United States Secretary of the Treasury and in that position requested the formation of the United States Coast Guard (as the United States Revenue Cutter Service).
Building started in September 2011 by Northrop Grumman’s Ship System Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The keel was laid on September 5, 2012. The cutter’s sponsor is Linda Kapral Papp, the wife of Coast Guard Commandant Robert J. Papp, Jr. USCGC HAMILTON was floated on 10th August 2013 and she was christened on 26th October 2013. She was delivered to the Coast Guard in September 2014 and is homeported in the City of North Charleston, SC, at the old Charleston Naval Base.
In January 2020 USCGC HAMILTON became the first NSC to participate in a Navy Composite Training Unit Exercise, for 3 weeks with the cutter integrating with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) of the aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CVN 69. After operating with the CSG the cutter patrolled the Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) South. The cutter returned in April after the 80-day patrol throughout the Eastern Pacific Ocean and offloaded $324 million worth of cocaine and marijuana.
She was secured at Pinto 4 and 5 wharves, part of Valletta Cruise Port.
During USCGC HAMILTON’s visit, officers and crew engaged in training exercises with the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM). The AFM’s Maritime Safety and Security Training Centre is modelled on the United States Coast Guard’s own search and rescue (SAR) school, which is widely regarded as the world’s premier source for SAR training. Second Lieutenant Miguel Cauchi is the first Armed Forces of Malta soldier to graduate from the United States Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.
She had 1 x Aerospatiale HH-65D Dolphin helicopter embarked – 6531
Then on Thursday 20th May, 2021 she left Grand Harbour, Malta at 0910 hrs.
Upon her departure she conducted engagements at sea with the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) including the Protector Class Patrol Craft P 51 and P 52.
Once completed she made a brief logistics stop in Rota, Spain, on May 23rd and transited out of the Mediterranean Sea, concluding the crew’s recent operations in 6th Fleet’s area of responsibility, May 24th returning to her homeport on June 4th ending her 97 Day Deployment to Europe.
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Published – Friday 2nd July, 2021.