USCGC White Sage

Naming

The cutter is named in honor of Joseph "White Sage" T. St. Hilaire, a Signalman First Class in the U.S. Coast Guard who was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. St. Hilaire displayed exceptional bravery and leadership under fire while assigned to Coast Guard Squadron One, Division 13, on patrol boat Point White. He received the commendation for his actions during an attack on the vessel by Viet Cong forces in March 1968.

Construction and Commissioning

USCGC ''White Sage'' was constructed by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana, as part of the extensive Fast Response Cutter program, which aims to replace the aging Island-class patrol boats. It was officially commissioned into service with the United States Coast Guard on April 26, 2024, becoming the 61st FRC to join the fleet.

Homeport and Operations

The cutter is homeported in Galveston, Texas, where it operates under the command of Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston. Its primary missions include search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, fisheries enforcement, defense readiness, and port, waterways, and coastal security. The FRCs are designed for operations in the coastal zones of the United States and within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as limited offshore patrols, providing a critical presence for maritime security.

Design and Capabilities

Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters are 154 feet (47 meters) in length with a beam of 25 feet (7.6 meters) and a draft of 9.5 feet (2.9 meters). They are powered by two MTU 20V 4000 M93L diesel engines, providing a top speed in excess of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) and a range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) with an endurance of five days. The vessel carries a crew of 24. Armament typically includes one stabilized 25 mm Bushmaster M242 chain gun and four crew-served .50 caliber M2HB machine guns. Each FRC also carries an Over the Horizon-IV (OTH-IV) inflatable rigid hull boat, which can be launched and recovered via a stern ramp, enhancing its interdiction and search and rescue capabilities. The design incorporates advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems.