Could Coast Guard ships be called to war?

I was just wondering if Coast Guards ships could be called to war and if they could perform in wartime sircumstances. Any input would be greatful.

The Coast gaurd is a American water vessel in general purposes, although they work with various navies to intercept and hunt pirates.

Dude,
They're the "Coast" Gaurd... They're duty is to protect the domestic waters of the United States, not assault other nations. This is impossible. If we ever needed Coast Caurd cutters over our Aegis Cruisers, Ares Destoyers, Nulclear Submarines, and Aircraft Carriers... we're already dead, so it wouldn't matter...

Again, no.
Tassadar

I agree with Tassadar. Especially if we tried to attack anyone with the rusting piles that are called "cutters" which are used in the Great Lakes.

think of it this way.
If a navy seal team boards a ship in the gulf in international waters, it's an act of war. if there is a coast guard member in thier ranks, it's a safety inspection.

The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Transportation. During peacetime, it acts as a law enforcement agency with similar rights and jurisdiction as the Border Patrol. Its primary duties are to enforce martime law, conduct safety patrols, search and rescue missions, enforce US customs laws, and to prosecute illegal activities within US coastal waters.

The Coast Guard has a long history of interaction with the US Navy. During peacetime, it is not unusual for CG personnel to be assigned temporarily to US Navy vessels. In the Navy, this is called LEO (law enforcement ops). Typically, a small detachment of CG personnel (8-10 persons) led by a junior officer are assigned to a Navy frigate or destroyer in the Carribean or other high-crime area. The Navy, working with CG law enforcement activities on shore, receives intelligence about the movement of suspected drug runners. The Navy vessel uses it vast arsenal of sensors and its on-board LAMPS MK III helicopter to find these drug runners.

When a suspect vessel is detected, the ship approaches at full speed until in visual range. At that point the Navy CO will formally pass command of the destroyer over to the CG junior officer. The JO accepts command, and the Navy ensign (flag) is brought down from the yardarm, and a US Coast Guard flag is run up. At this point the Navy destroyer is now considered an official US Coast Guard vessel, and can stop and search and vessel for any reason.

During times of official war, the USCG is transferred to the War Department (DoD) and command falls under the Chief of Naval Operations. And yes, USCG vessels can fight in war. Many cutters fought German U-boats and Luftwaffe A/C during the Battle of the Atlantic and performed bravely.

ALthough us Navy vets still love to refer to the "Coasties" as "Puddle Pirates"........

Heheheh

I'm a former Army/Coast Guard brat myself....

(father was in both services..albeit at different times, of course...)

I am a former "Coastie" and I assure you the USCG can and actually has performed in this manner in the past.

Pyros is SPOT ON with his post. The landings at Normandy had USCG personnel involvement.

They used Coast Guard Coxswains to pilot the landing craft due to their superior boat handling training...

PEACE...
m...

Just look at the new Coast Guard systems.








[Edited on 14-8-2003 by jetsetter]

Here is a link to infomation about all this new technology and how it will be used in the Coast Guard. www.globalsecurity.org...

It is a good read, you should read it.

[Edited on 14-8-2003 by jetsetter]

First American to die in Vietnam was in the Coast Guard.

For about three years, I've been participating in the Coast Guard's advertising campaign for the recruitment side of things:
www.gocoastguard.com...
(A new site is under development, we didn't do the one at the above link).

Their mission is the protection of American ports here and abroad. So, during a war, their vessles would part of the defense of occupied ports.

Many people don't realize what the U.S.C.G. does... they are amazing folks, consider crossing the best attributes of Marines' toughness with Boy Scouts' readiness to always do right.

Pretty good website William.

During World War 2, we Brits used anything that would float as warships.
We converted freight ships into aircraft carriers and mounted guns on everything else. As recently as 1982 we used commercial vessels and luxury liners to transport our troops and weapons to war in the Falklands.
The Argentinian bomber pilots were all after sinking the QE2. Cunard's great luxury liner. We lost the Atlantic Conveyor and almost our whole shipment of Chinook helicopters went down with her.

Wether or not this type of warfare would be feasible today with modern conditions is questionable.