At the Surface Navy Association’s 2nd Waterfront Symposium, held virtually 25–26 August 2021, I asked the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) Panel on if the U.S. Coast Guard intends to integrate the 25-mm Mark 38 MOD 3 autocannon with Mark 52 coaxial 7.62-mm chaingun and the MK-19 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher to the other FRCs not in the Coast Guard’s Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) Persian Gulf region. Possible up-armament of FRCs could be for the Indo-Pacific region to counter smaller boats, militia fishing fleet, missile and patrol boats, unmanned surface vessels, drone swarms, and heavier commercial traffic. I published an article on up-arming the PATFORSWA FRCs earlier this year.
The USCG’s Fast Response Cutters in the PATFORSWA Persian Gulf region will be upgraded to the Mk 38 MOD 3 and fitted with a 7.62-mm Mark 52 coaxial chaingun. Image: NAVSEA
The FRC Panel, seated on stage under an open tent, consisted of Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander David Zwirblis, commanding officer of the USCGC Benjamin Bottoms (WPC-1132), Lieutenant Steven Naylor, commanding officer of the USCGC Robert Ward (WPC-1130), Boatswain’s Mate Master Chief Jason Roberts, officer-in-charge fo the USCGC Petrel (WSES-4), and Boatswain’s Mate Senior Chief Jason Pata, officer-in-charge of the USCGC Sea Otter (WPB-87362). The panel was moderated by Coast Guard Command Master Chief Phadra Hooker, and retired Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Skip Bowen.
The answer from the Coast Guardsmen was that there are no major changes to the FRC’s armament outside those of PATFORSWA, citing that the 25-mm Mark 38 MOD 2 is remotely controlled from inside the FRC’s pilothouse. Based on the FRC’s mission sets, and going after current threats, the Coast Guard believes there is enough firepower with the current Mark 38 MOD 2 25mm autocannon of which the FRCs have one mounted on the bow and four .50-caliber M2HB heavy machine guns on pedestal mounts. The FRC Panel said that if more support is needed, the Coast Guard can call for reinforcements, stating that the Mk38 25-mm is enough firepower for 99 percent of the threats that the FRC might encounter. The moderator then stated that no guided missiles (such as Griffin Anti-Tank Guided Missile launcher racks as on the Navy’s Patrol Coastals) were planned for installation into the FRC fleet, which the FRC Panel acknowledged as true.
The Coastal patrol ship USS Firebolt (PC10) fires a Griffin Missile during a test and proficiency fire in the Arabian Gulf. Firebolt, assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 55, is supporting maritime security operations and theatre security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Photo: U.S. Navy
The 25-mm Mark 38 MOD 1 autocannon (on the Coast Guard WPB Island class) is unstabilized and manually aimed and fired whereas the MOD 2 version is stabilized and remotely controlled and fired using a mounted turret ball housing an electro-optic fire control system that includes infrared and auto-tracking capability. The Mk38 MOD 2 has 200 ready rounds in a dual-feed system with five rates-of-fire selectable from single shot up to 180 rpm max. Its effective range is 2,700 yards or greater (2,468 meters) and its weight is 1042 kilograms (2,300 pounds) without ammo. Weapon mount traverse is +/- 15 degrees to +/- 165 degrees and elevation is -20 degrees to +40 degrees.
25-mm ammunition types include M242 high-explosive incendiary tracer; armor-piercing discarding sabot tracer and semi-armor piercing high-explosive incendiary tracer. The Mk38 is manufactured by BAE Systems, USA, and Rafael Armament of Israel.
The Mark 38 MOD 2 25mm autocannon on board a Navy warship. The rotating and elevating electro-optical turret ball can be seen high on the mount. The Mk-38 is ideal for engaging small boats, slow aerial targets, and sea vessels and acts as the primary armament for many of the U.S. Coast Guard’s small cutters. Photo: Seaforces.org
The firing-control station of the Mk38 MOD 2 has two triggers and a monitor for remote-control and firing of the 25-mm autocannon. The 25-mm is stabilized and has an electro-optical ball that allows for nighttime firing and auto-tracking of the target. Photo: Seaforces.org
