Ukrainian patrol vessel Starobilsk

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P191 Starobilsk.jpg
Starobilsk in Odessa
History
United States
NameUSCGC Drummond
NamesakeDrummond Island, Michigan
BuilderBollinger Shipyard, Lockport, Louisiana
CommissionedOctober 19, 1988
HomeportMiami Beach, Florida
Identification
MottoKeep On, Keepin' On
FateTransferred to Ukraine
Ukraine
NameStarobilsk
NamesakeStarobilsk
Acquired27 September 2018
In service13 November 2019
IdentificationPennant number: P191
General characteristics
Class and typeIsland-class patrol boat
Displacement164 tons
Length110 ft (34 m)
Beam21 ft (6.4 m)
Draft6.5 ft (2.0 m)
PropulsionTwin 16-CM RP-200M
Speedover 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range9,900 miles
Endurance6 days
Boats & landing
craft carried		1 - RHI (90 HP outboard engine)
Complement18 personnel (2 officers, 16 enlisted)
Armament
  • 25 mm Mk 38 machine gun
  • 2 × .50 caliber machine gun

The Ukrainian patrol vessel Starobilsk (P191)[1] is an Island-class patrol boat of the Naval Forces of Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Originally named USCGC Drummond, named for Drummond Island, Michigan for the United States Coast Guard and then upon joining Ukraine, renamed for the town Starobilsk. Drummond was commissioned on October 19, 1988, at Bollinger Shipyard in Lockport, Louisiana, and was last homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico. With a top speed in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and a cruising speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph), the ship is capable of enduring unsupported operations for six days and accommodates two officers and sixteen enlisted personnel.

The US Coast Guard's first Sentinel-class cutters were stationed in Florida, replacing Island-class cutters like Drummond.[2]

History[]

Service in the U.S. Coast Guard[]

USCGC Drummond anchored off Cay Sal Island, Bahamas.

Since commissioning, Drummond served in the 's busiest district and has been decorated for her involvement in a variety of operations. In 1992 and 1994, Drummond was awarded the while working with other U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy units that combined for the safe interdiction of over 20,502 Haitian migrants at sea.

Originally homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida, Drummond's home port was changed to Key West in the summer of 2002. Typical patrols in Key West's area of operations involved search and rescue, migrant interdiction operations, fisheries law enforcement, counter narcotics operations, and homeland security. Drummond shifted homeports to Miami Beach in support of the Coast Guard's effort to maximize the operational hours of the patrol boats in the Seventh District by utilizing a dual-crew manning concept.

In April 2004, Drummond again returned to Haiti in support of Operation Able Sentry and Operation Secure Tomorrow as that country's poor political and economic situation generated an exodus of migrants. In 2005, Drummond was again awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for her efforts in stemming the illegal flow of Cuban migrants in the Florida Straits. Drummond also was credited for saving more than $500,000 in property during this period in search-and-rescue cases, including a daring rescue of a dismasted sailboat during Tropical Storm Arlene.

Since 2004, Drummond is credited with interdicting over 550 illegal Cuban migrants in the Florida Straits, on eight go-fast vessels and 26 homebuilt boats and rafts. Drummond has also recovered nearly 120 illegal migrants from various Bahamian islands, working closely with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Drummond has cared for 1,600 illegal migrants on her decks while conducting 32 politically sensitive repatriations to Cabanas, Cuba.

Transfer to the Ukrainian Naval Forces[]

Unloading of the boats in Odessa.

On September 27, 2018, Drummond and USCGC Cushing were formally transferred to Ukraine, after their retirement from the US Coast Guard.[2] The two vessels were shipped, as deck cargo, and arrived in Odessa on October 21, 2019.[3]

The patrol boat was renamed after the Donbas town Starobilsk. This name perpetuates the memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine, natives of this town — sailor Olexandr Veremeyenko and senior sailor Stepan Kryl.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "American Island-class boats "Sloviansk" and "Starobilsk" have arrived to Odessa". Ministry of Defence Ukraine. Retrieved 9 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b "US Coast Guard transfers two Island-class cutters to Ukraine". . 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2018-09-26. The US Coast Guard transferred two of its decommissioned Island-class cutters to Ukraine in a ceremony at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, on September 27.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Ben Werner (2019-10-21). "Retired U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Arrive in Odessa to Join Ukrainian Navy". United States Naval Institute. Retrieved 2019-10-23. The general cargo ship Ocean Freedom delivering the two cutters arrived at the Black Sea port of Odessa, according to Istanbul-based ship spotters and UNIAN.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Ukrainian Navy has received Island-class patrol boats "Starobilsk", "Sloviansk" and search and rescue vessel "Oleksandr Okhrimenko"". Ministry of Defence Ukraine. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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