USCGC Sherman to be transferred to Vietnam
Naval Today news site has just posted notable information about the "fate" of the large patrol ship USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) of the Hamilton class.
According to information from Naval Today, the US Coast Guard patrol ship USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) just completed its final 76-day voyage in the Bering Sea on January 23.
It is known that this is the last mission of the USCGC Sherman before it officially withdraws from the fleet after nearly 50 years of operation in the US Coast Guard.
However, the most notable detail is that the ship, after being decommissioned on March 29, will be transferred to the Vietnam Coast Guard, following the WHEC 722 ship named Morgenthau, which we have received and changed its registration number to CSB 8020.
|
| USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) patrol boat of the United States Coast Guard |
Thus, as previously predicted, USCGC Sherman is the next Hamilton-class patrol ship transferred by the US at the request of the Vietnam Coast Guard due to its stationing location right at Honolulu port, the same location as the USCGC Morgenthau.
If there are no major changes, the transfer of ownership will be carried out immediately on March 29. After the American flag is lowered, the Vietnamese flag will be raised to the top of the flagpole.
The ship is expected to then undergo overhaul, repair and training of Vietnamese crew before it makes a similar voyage home as the CSB 8020 did last year.
|
| The patrol boat USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) will accompany the CSB 8020 in law enforcement missions in Vietnam's waters. |
The WHEC 720 Sherman patrol ship has similar specifications to the CB 8020, including a full load displacement of 3,250 tons; length of 115 m; width of 13 m; draft of 4.6 m; crew of 160 (20 officers, 140 crew members); home port of USCGC Morgenthau in Honolulu, Hawaii.
WHEC 720 is equipped with a combined propulsion system of 2 diesel engines and 2 gas turbine engines, for a maximum speed of 29 knots (53.7 km/h), a range of 14,000 nautical miles (22,531 km), and a continuous sea stay of 45 days.
The ship's armament includes a 2D AN/SPS-40 air reconnaissance radar, a 76.2 mm Oto Breda naval gun, a 20 mm Phalanx CIWS close-in defense system, a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon, a 12.7 mm M2 Browning heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm M240 light machine gun.
Based on precedent when handing over, it is expected that the USCGC Sherman will only retain the Mk 92 fire radar and the 76mm Oto Breda naval gun, other equipment will be removed.
