Our small combatant force in the Persian Gulf is up to eight Cyclone class coastal patrol craft:
Coastal Patrol (PC) ships USS Tempest (PC 2), USS Squall (PC 7) and USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) arrived pierside in Bahrain July 3, as part of a realignment that will see a total of eight PCs permanently stationed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).
USS Hurricane (PC 3) and USS Monsoon (PC 4) will complete the Navy's plan to station 10 PCs in Bahrain by spring of 2014.
"Having additional PCs here in Bahrain will give us incredible flexibility in the 5th Fleet area of operations since they are uniquely capable of operating in this dynamic environment," said Vice Adm. John W. Miller, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces. "They will allow for continued maritime security operations and theater security cooperation in the 5th Fleet."
PCs provide the U.S. Navy with a fast, reliable platform that can respond to emergent requirements in a shallow water environment.
This is good. They join USS Ponce as an asset appropriate for the Gulf while allowing our carriers to remain a safe distance away to send aircraft in support of the smaller (and more expendable) assets.
