Maritime SOF: Patrol Coastal Ships -- A Vital Asset to the Theater CINC

The Cyclone Class Patrol Coastal PC ship is a valuable asset that the Theater Commander-in-Chief CINC uses in his plan for engagement in his Area of Responsibility. These ships provide a capability needed for the conduct and support of Special Operations missions in the littoral waters of the world. Lessons learned as a result of escorting tankers during Operation Earnest Will and patrolling and interdicting ships along the coasts of Iraq during the Gulf War brought about the Cyclone Class PC ship. Since 1993, the PC has proven an important asset in the engagement strategy of Theater CINCs. As a Special Forces asset, they are capable of conducting or directly supporting the following Special Operations missions Unconventional Warfare, Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance, Foreign Internal Defense, and Counterterrorism. In addition to these operations, their inherent capabilities make them suitable for employment in additional missions Counterdrug, Security Assistance, Humanitarian Assistance, Personnel Recovery, and Support to Coalitions. The ability to conduct these missions makes the PC a viable and flexible asset for the CINC to use in creating and maintaining a common bond with countries within his region. There are currently not enough PCs to accommodate all of the CINCs requests. The present U.S. Special Operations Command USSOCOM plan calls for a force reduction to 6 PCs by the year 2005. Unless this trend is halted, the CINCs will lose a very important tool for conducting littoral operations. The author recommends allocating the funding needed to maintain the current PC force level in the fleet, continuing to look at options that will ensure all CINCs receive the PC availability they need to accomplish their missions, and look to the future for a replacement vessel once the service life of the PC has terminated.