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Liberian National Coast Guard

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Liberian National Coast Guard
Founded1959
Country Liberia
TypeCoast guard
AnniversariesFebruary 11
EngagementsFirst Liberian Civil War
Second Liberian Civil War
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Joseph Boakai
Minister of National DefenseGeraldine George
Commander of the Coast GuardMajor Theophilus Momo Duo
Insignia
Naval Jack
Ensign

The Liberian National Coast Guard is the naval force of Liberia, part of the Armed Forces of Liberia. Its main duties are law enforcement along Liberia's coast and in its maritime area, and aiding those in distress.[1]

History

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Members of the Liberian National Coast Guard at the inauguration of President William R. Tolbert in 1976

Liberia acquired a small number of naval ships during its early history. In 1892 the steel gunboat Gorronomah, built in Ireland, became its first ship, and in 1894 it acquired the gunboat Rocktown, built in the Netherlands. They were both out of service by 1900. In 1916 the auxiliary schooner President Howard was acquired from Germany and was the only ship in the Liberian Navy, but it was sunk in April 1918 by the German submarine U-154.[2][3]

The Liberian National Coast Guard, was established in 1959.[4] Throughout the Tubman period the coastguard was little more than a few sometimes unserviceable patrol craft manned by ill-trained personnel, though its training improved in the 1980s to the point where it was considered the best trained of the armed services.[4]

In 1984 the Liberian National Coast Guard contained about 450 personnel.[5] Under Samuel Doe the Coast Guard was retitled the Liberian Navy in 1986 through the passage of The Liberian Navy Act of 1986.[6] However, as a result of the First and Second Liberian civil wars, the navy lost control of its bases and was reduced to an insignificant force.[5]

The Coast Guard was reactivated on the 53rd Armed Forces Day on February 11, 2010, with an initial strength of 40 personnel who had been trained in the United States.[7] A United States Coast Guard officer is now serving at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia supporting efforts to reestablish the Liberian Coast Guard.[8]

A detachment from SeaBee Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7, based at Naval Station Rota, Spain, constructed a United States Africa Command-funded boat ramp and concrete perimeter wall for the Coast Guard, which was handed over in December 2010.[9] In February 2011, the United States turned over two donated USCG Defender class boats to the Coast Guard.[10]

Fleet

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The fleet of the Liberian National Coast Guard currently consists of:

Ranks

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Main article: Military ranks of Liberia

The ranks and insignia of the Liberian National Coast Guard are based on those of the United States Coast Guard, and are laid out in the Liberian Defense Act of 2008.[1]

Officers

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Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Liberian National Coast Guard[12]
Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign

Enlisted personnel

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Liberian National Coast Guard[12]
Master chief petty officer Senior chief petty officer Chief petty officer Petty officer first class Petty officer second class Petty officer third class Seaman Seaman recruit

References

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  1. ^ a b "Defense Act of 2008" (PDF). 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  2. ^ Mach, Andrzej V. (1986). "Liberia". In Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 417. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  3. ^ Lyon, Hugh (1979). "Liberia". In Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger; Kolesnik, Eugene M. (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 417. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
  4. ^ a b "Library of Congress Liberia Country Study 1984: Organization and Strength". Washington DC. Retrieved 23 May 2017.Accessed via GlobalSecurity.org
  5. ^ a b c "Brief History on the Liberian Coast Guard". Ministry of National Defense. 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Ellen Signs Anti-Corruption Act, Commissions Several Officials", The Inquirer (Monrovia), August 22, 2008
  7. ^ Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President's Annual Message, January 25, 2010
  8. ^ Chief Petty Officer Jason Morris, APS, Seabees Bolster Liberia's Coast Guard Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs, October 20, 2009
  9. ^ NMCB 7 Liberia Detachment Receives Commendation, May 30, 2010. Retrieved June 2010, and Liberian Coast Guard Ready for 24/7 Ops, December 29, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2011
  10. ^ http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/10592 US Equip AFL with 2 Boats
  11. ^ "USCG: About Us - Aircraft & Cutters". www.uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 2012-01-22.
  12. ^ a b "Defense Act of 2008" (PDF). 3 September 2008. p. 8. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
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