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Bertholf completes first operational patrol

The Coast Guard’s first national security cutter returned to its homeport in Alameda, Calif., Nov. 16 after completing its first operational patrol, which included flight operations, small-boat operations and weapons testing.

During what is known as the dynamic interface testing, helicopters repeatedly took off and landed from the cutter’s deck in various weather conditions and at night, requiring crew members to practice using night-vision goggles.

The results from those tests will establish safety regulations for all future Legend-class national security cutters, according to the Coast Guard.

“The Bertholf is a unique and improved landing platform for a number of reasons,” Lt. Cmdr. Scott Weaver, a rotary-wing test pilot for the Coast Guard, said in a statement. “It has the largest flight deck of any cutter in the Coast Guard. Its lighting system is new and at night can easily be switched between full lighting and low-level lighting for use with night-vision goggles.”

In a live-fire drill, crew members tested the close-in weapons system with a surface target. They also tested the small-boat launch and recovery system while on patrol.

“This has been an extremely beneficial underway period for this crew, as well as for the Coast Guard,” said Capt. Patrick Stadt, Bertholf’s commanding officer, adding the tests have “paved the way for future Coast Guard operations.”