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The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of seven uniformed services. In addition to being a military branch at all times, it is unique among the armed forces in that it is also a maritime law enforcement agency (with jurisdiction both domestically and in international waters) and a federal regulatory agency. It is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President during a time of war. The Coast Guard motto is "Semper Paratus", Latin for "Always Ready" or "Always Prepared".

As one of the five armed forces and the smallest armed service of the United States, its stated mission is to protect the public, the environment, and the United States economic and security interests in any maritime region in which those interests may be at risk, including international waters and America's coasts, ports, and inland waterways.

Seal of the United States Coast Guard

Mission

The United States Coast Guard has a broad and important role in maritime homeland security, maritime law enforcement (MLE), search and rescue (SAR), marine environmental protection (MEP), and the maintenance of river, intracoastal and offshore aids to navigation (ATON).

To carry out this mission, the USCG has response and command centres, Cutters (Cutter is the US Coast Guard name for its ships), fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

Organisation

The Coast Guard is organised into a Headquarters, a Pacific Area, and an Atlantic Area. Each Area is subdivided into districts. Each area also has a Maintenance and Support Command. There are also two major activities, one in Japan (USCG Activities Far East (FEACT)_ which inspects vessels bound for the United States, and USCG Activities Europe (ACTEUR) which is based in Holland and monitors vessels bound for the US.

Equipment

Cutters

2 Legend class National Security Cutters (WMSL)
12 Hamilton class cutters (WHEC)
13 Famous class cutters (WMEC)
13 Reliance class cutters (WMEC)
41 Island class cutters (WPB)
3 Polar class icebreakers (WAGB)
USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) heavy icebreaker
16 Juniper-class buoy tenders (WLB)
USCGC Eagle (WIX-327) sail training ship

US Coast Guard 'racing stripe'

Boats

The US Coast Guard has 1400 boats of the following types:

Arctic Survey Boat (ASB)
Motor Life Boat (MLB)
Utility Boat (UTB)
Deployable Pursuit Boat (DPB)
Aids to Navigation Boats (TANB/BUSL/ANB/ANB)
Transportable Port Security Boat (TPSB)
Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHI)
USCG Long Range Interceptor (LRI)
USCG Short Range Prosecutor (SRP)
USCG Defender class boat (RB-S)
Response boat-medium (RB-M)
USCG Coastal Patrol Boat (WPB)

Fixed-wing Aircraft

Lockheed R8V-2G Hercules
Lockheed R8V-4G Hercules
Bombardier Aerospace UC-1G Challenger
Gulfstream R6Y

Helicopters

Sikorsky HS3S-4G Jayhawk
Aerospatiale HUA-3G Dolphin
- Aerospatiale HUA-3B Dolphin (Multi-Mission Cutter Helicopter (MCH))
McDonnell Douglas HUH-1G Enforcer