Marine Protector-class cutters are 87 feet (27 m) long.[7][8] Their maximum speed is 25 knots (46 km/h). All the cutters carry a water-jet propelled fast pursuit boat. The boats can be launched or retrieved without bringing the mothership to a complete halt. The standard Marine Protector is armed with a pair of fifty caliber Browning M2 machine gun, that mount on pintles, on the port and starboard rail of the foredeck. But for the four vessels ordered for the Navy (Sea Dragon, Sea Dog, Sea Devil and Sea Fox) a third machine gun was added, mounted on a pedestal, in the middle of the foredeck. The third machine gun is equipped with advanced optics, is gyro stabilized, and its gunner uses remote controls–making it much more accurate, at long range, when fired from a heaving deck, at night, or in a fog.[4][9]
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Chuck Hill (2012-10-29). "Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Units". Chuck Hill's blog. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2018-10-02. The units are perhaps unique in that they have only a single mission, and they are funded by the Navy. They protect Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines while they transit on the surface, to and from their homeports. The possibility of a USS Cole style attack motivated their creation. Each unit consist of approximately 200 Coasties and is commanded by an O-5. Having CG crews and carrying CG colors and markings allows them to enforce a security zone around the subs. Both units stood up in July 2007.
^"Bollinger Shipyards delivers final Marine Protector-class CPB". Industry News. 2009-05-13. Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-03. We're very sad to see the Sea Fox leave. This contract was supposed to end at 51 vessels, and now we're at 75," said Christopher Bollinger, executive vice president of new construction. "We're excited to see the workmanship continue as we start the next contract for 36 boats.
