U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf conducts successful missile decoy testing

DATE: June 10, 2009 15:58:10 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pacific Area Public Affairs

Alameda, Calif.

Press Release

Date: June 10, 2009

Contact: PA3 Melissa Hauck (510) 437-3375 or (510) 816-0215

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf conducts successful missile decoy testing

PACIFIC OCEAN – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, homeported in Alameda, Calif., conducted a structural test fire of its Decoy Launching System at the Pacific Missile Range SoCal OPAREA here June 9, 2009.

The crew of the 418-foot cutter, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dalhgren Division and the Navy Research lab successfully launched two MK-234 NULKA rounds that hover in air while attracting incoming anti-ship missiles. The successful completion of the missile test fire was the first phase of their two-month national defense patrol.

Bertholf is currently on its first operational patrol since its commissioning on Aug 4. 2008, and leads the eight-ship Legend class.

Designed to be the flagships of the U.S. Coast Guard's modern fleet, the National Security Cutters are capable of executing the most challenging Coast Guard missions.

Bertholf was christened on Veteran’s Day, 2006, and is named after Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf, the first commandant of today's Coast Guard. Bertholf's sister ships, the Waesche and the Stratton, are under construction in Pascagoula, Miss. Long lead time materials for the fourth National Security Cutter, the Hamilton, have been ordered.

For more information on Bertholf visit: http://uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcBertholf/

To take a virtual tour of the Bertholf visit: http://uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcBertholf/virtualtour/default.html

For more information on the NSC acquisition project, visit: www.uscg.mil/acquisition/nsc

NULKA TEST PHOTO

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