ALAMEDA, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard ship Waesche (WSML 751) and its crew returned to their homeport at Alameda Base on Sunday after a 120-day patrol of the Indo-Pacific.
Waesche took part in various operations, exercises and events throughout the mission.
The cutter’s management and crew met with officials and military personnel during port calls in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Vietnam.
Following Waesche’s visit to Maizuru, Japan, Waesche participated in a joint search and rescue exercise at sea with the crew of the Japan Coast Guard vessel Wakasa (PL 93) and the Republic of Korea Coast Guard patrol vessel Taepyongyang (KCG 3016).
The crew of Waesche also conducted a bilateral U.S.-Philippine search and rescue exercise in the South China Sea with the Philippine Coast Guard.
“We are grateful to have safely returned home to our loved ones and completed a successful and meaningful patrol,” said Capt. Tyson Scofield, Waesche’s commanding officer. “Waesche’s patrol strengthened U.S. relationships with our partner nations to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. The opportunity to work with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific on high-impact operations was an honor and a rewarding experience that the crew will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Tyson assumed command of the cutter during a change of command ceremony in Honolulu as the cutter headed to the Indo-Pacific.
Waesche was deployed with a San Francisco-based MH-65E Dolphin helicopter and a crew from Air Station Barbers Point in Hawaii.
Waesche was assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s primary surface force. DESRON 15 regularly assumes tactical control of surface units operating in the area.
Commissioned in 2010, Waesche is one of four Legend-class National Security Cutters homeported in Alameda. National Security Cutters are 418 feet long, 54 feet wide, have a top speed of over 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, an endurance of up to 90 days, and can accommodate a crew of up to 170. The advanced technologies of the National Security Cutter-class ships are designed to support operations and missions in the Indo-Pacific region.
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