The United States Coast Guard (USCG) employs several small arms including machine guns, rifles, shotguns and handguns. They also use cutters and small boats on the water, and aircrafts or helicopters in the air.

Small Arms

• Coast Guardsmen use .40 S&W caliber SIG-Sauer P229R DAK as the standard personal defense weapon.

• The Remington 870 police magnum riot shotgun, M4 Carbine and M16A2 is also in service.
• M14 Tactical rifle fitted with same stock used on the Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle and a variant of .50 Caliber 107 precision rifles are used for AUF (Airborne Use of Force) missions.
• Many Coast Guard Units are also equipped with the .50 Caliber M2 Machine gun.
• Specific units such as Port Security Units use the M203 grenade launcher.

Boats

The Coast Guard boat fleet includes –

1. Deployable Pursuit Boat (DPB) – It is used in the Caribbean Sean and Eastern Pacific. However, it is no longer in service.
2. Aids to Navigation Boats (TANB/BUSL/ANB/ANB) – These boats were primarily designed to serve within the inland waters of the United States.
3. USCG Auxiliary Operational Facilities – It is augmented by privately owned vessels operated by the USCG Auxiliary.
4. Response boat-medium – These boats are equipped with two .50 caliber machine guns and have an excellent fendering system.
5. 25’ Response boat-small (Defender-Class) – It is a high speed boat, for a variety of missions, including law enforcement, port security, search and rescue duties.
6. USCG Long Range Interceptor (LRI) – A 36 ft (11 m) high-speed launch that can be launched from the rear ramps of the larger Deepwater cutters.
7. USCG Short Range Prosecutor (SRP) – It is a 23 ft (7 m) launch that can be launched from a rear launching ramp, at speed.
8. Transportable Port Security Boat (TPSB) – It is a 25 ft (7.6 m) boat, which is primarily used by Port Security Units for force protection in naval support areas abroad.
9. 47’ Motor Life Boat (MLB) – It is a heavy-weather boat, which is used for search and rescue as well as Homeland Security and law enforcement.
10. 41’ Utility Boat (UTB) – It is a general purpose boat that is used for nearly all operations.

Aircrafts

Here are few aircrafts that is used by the USCG –

1. 2 RG-8A Condors, a fixed gear, low wing motor glider.
2. 1 Bombardier C-143A as a Medium Range Command and Control Aircraft (MRC2A).
3. 1 Gulfstream C-37A as a VIP transport for high ranking Homeland Security and Coast Guard officials.
4. 3 CASA HC-144A Ocean Sentry for testing and integration.
5. 8 Agusta MH-68 Stingray, which is a light-weight, eight-seat, twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter.
6. 102 Aerospatiale HH-65 Dolphin as a Search and Rescue helicopter.
7. 35 Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk as a Search and Rescue, law enforcement and marine environmental protection missions.
8. 35 Dassault HU-25A Guardian, is a high-speed spotter aircraft that is used to locate shipwreck survivors.
9. 27 Lockheed HC-130 Hercules, is an extended-range, combat search and rescue (CSAR) and Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft.

Cutters

Cutters are a type of small sailing ship. Large cutters (over 55m (180 ft) in length) are controlled by Area Commands (Pacific Area or Atlantic Area), while small cutters come under control of District Commands. Here is a list of cutters used by the USCG –

1. Polar-class icebreaker (WAGB).
2. High Endurance Cutter (WHEC).
3. USCGC Eagle (WIX-327).
4. Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC).

87’ Marine Protector Class Cutter (WPB).