U.S. Coast Guard in war-torn Georgia.

[Selino631]

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard Cutter Dallas and US Navy destroyer USS McFaul will be used to transport humanitarian aid to Georgia according to a CNN report.

The two ships were chosen because prior to the start of the war they had received permission from Turkey to transit into the Black Sea. All war ships from a non-Black Sea nation must receive permission from Turkey before entering the Black Sea.

Both the Dallas and McFaul were previously scheduled to have a series of exercises with several Black Sea nation navies.

Navy officials told CNN that the USS McFaul is headed to the Black Sea from a port in Crete where it was loaded with humanitarian supplies. The cutter Dallas is currently in port in Crete and is scheduled to depart for the Black Sea in a few days.
- MSNBC
                               

I just hope this works out ok. With Russian Military ships out in the sea it could cause trouble. The reson they sent a Coast Guard ship is because it is "technicaly" not considerd a war ship however, It is armed with one 76mm gun, Phalanx Anti-Missile system, two 25mm cannons and multiple 50 caliber machine guns. Putin said that he feels threated with U.S. Military ships in Geogian waters. Hope this doesn't relive the cold war/cuban missle crisis. 

[Dowding]

They docked about a week ago - avoiding Poti where Russian forces are still present.

[Elfie]

Putin would feel threatened by my dog......and he's dead.

[rpm]

Go Big D!
Semper paratus 

[derelict]

Was stationed on the Mellon (WHEC-717) and Munro (WHEC-724).  Man those were some times   Good to see them being used for something high profile for a change 

[james]

my sister ship, was stationed on gallatin 97- 99

[FrodeMk3]

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard Cutter Dallas and US Navy destroyer USS McFaul will be used to transport humanitarian aid to Georgia according to a CNN report.

The two ships were chosen because prior to the start of the war they had received permission from Turkey to transit into the Black Sea. All war ships from a non-Black Sea nation must receive permission from Turkey before entering the Black Sea.

Both the Dallas and McFaul were previously scheduled to have a series of exercises with several Black Sea nation navies.

Navy officials told CNN that the USS McFaul is headed to the Black Sea from a port in Crete where it was loaded with humanitarian supplies. The cutter Dallas is currently in port in Crete and is scheduled to depart for the Black Sea in a few days.
- MSNBC
                               

I just hope this works out ok. With Russian Military ships out in the sea it could cause trouble. The reson they sent a Coast Guard ship is because it is "technicaly" not considerd a war ship however, It is armed with one 76mm gun, Phalanx Anti-Missile system, two 25mm cannons and multiple 50 caliber machine guns. Putin said that he feels threated with U.S. Military ships in Geogian waters. Hope this doesn't relive the cold war/cuban missle crisis.  (Image removed from quote.)

PUTIN is the one who want's to jump start the old communist party, with May Day parades, Bear overflights, sealed borders, and the whole deal. That's why he invaded Georgia-not the U.S. Coast Guard.

[rpm]

my sister ship, was stationed on gallatin 97- 99

USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719)

[Hornet33]

Yeah I've been following this one pretty close. I'm good friends with Bob Wagner the CO of the Dallas.

On a side note I've also been onboard every 378 in the fleet from 2003-05 as part of the install team to upgraded the flight deck video system, rebuilt the bridge helo control station, and integrate the entire thing into the shipboard command and control system along with the maritime forward looking infrared search and tracking camera. 3 week installs with alot of cable pulling involved but those were all great installs and fun times other than when we did the Munro. That one sucked because we only had 10 days to complete a 3 week install, had to do it over the Thanksgiving holiday, and I had the flu. Got it done though.

Was never assigned to a 378 though. I was a 270 sailor, CGC Legare WMEC-912. Great ship with a great crew and loved almost every minute of my time onboard. I sure do miss those days.

[CAP1]

not to sound stupid, BUT...........why are we sending the coast guard there?

aren't they supposed to be patrolling OUR waters?

[Hornet33]

The US Coast Guard has always had a worldwide mission. We send a cutter over every summer with 6th Fleet to operate with the Navy. The Legare went over in 2001 with yours truely onboard. We actually went to Poti Georgia on that trip for 4 days, then went over to Odessa Ukraine for 5 days to take part in a NATO exercise, Operation Sea Breeze 2001. Conducted a few live fires and got to play Navy for a few days. Most of those trips though involve working with the other countries in the med and black sea's Coast Guards and Naval search and rescue teams. We did allot of boarding team and search and rescue training with all the countries we visited. The US Coast Guard mission on these deployments is more of a profesional exchange of knowledge and training, than what the Navy does, which is moreaolong the lines of showing the flag and influence by sheer presence. Now since the Dallas is a US Coast Guard cutter and one of our primary missions in the service is to save lives and provide humanitarian aid, this particular mission for them makes alot of sense. She was already in the med, and diverting her to this mission is important. A cutter is alot less threatening than a naval warship when you look at what the ship does on a routine patrol.

Those trips are actually alot of fun though and the crews usually really look forward to them. I know I did.

[Bodhi]

The Russians are just trying to incite nationalistic pride into their nation of people all yearning to get as far away as possible from the evils of Moscow.  Putin just screwed up awfully big this time.  The amount of economic damage that this little charade cost him is going to far out weigh the value of S. Ostettia being separate from Georgia.

[RightF00T]

This could be dicey, let's hope noone forgets Oct. 12 8 years ago.

[1pLUs44]

This could be dicey, let's hope noone forgets Oct. 12 8 years ago.

Not trying to be stupid, but could you enlighten me? I was 7 at the time, so I didnt really keep up with the news...

[skernsk]

Quick Google search for that date.  Kursk sank in the Berents Sea.  Not sure if that is significant or not.