USCGC Bertholf returns home following RIMPAC 2018

Coast Guard cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) returned on September 4 to her homeport in Alameda following a nearly 90-day deployment to the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

There, Bertholf crewmembers participated in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018 which is said to be the world’s largest multi-national naval exercise.

Twenty-five nations, forty-six ships, five submarines, about 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel took part in this year’s RIMPAC.

Bertholf crewmembers executed and assisted in several boardings, humanitarian response scenarios and war-at-sea exercises during RIMPAC which were designed to strengthen international relations with allied navies, according to the coast guard.

Bertholf served as the task force commander for the multi-national, Combined Task Force (CTF) 175, which included naval units from Japan, the Philippines, Peru and France.

Following RIMPAC, the crew sailed to San Diego to conduct tailored ship’s training availability (TSTA) which assessed the crew’s capabilities and operational readiness through testing and evaluation. During TSTA, the crew executed engineering, medical, damage control, navigation, force protection and combat systems oriented drills and exercises.

Bertholf is a 418-foot national security cutter and one of four NSCs homeported in Alameda. NSCs are designed to patrol the open ocean and serve as a command and control center for complex law enforcement, defense and national security missions.

The NSCs displace 4,500 tons with a full load, have a range of 12,000 miles and can endure up to 90-day patrol cycles. The cutters feature advanced command, control, communication, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, aviation support facilities and a stern cutter boat launch.