About this Unit
USCGC MUNRO (WMSL-755) is a Legend-class National Security Cutter of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 2017 and named in honor of Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro, the Coast Guard’s only Medal of Honor recipient. Based out of Alameda, California, the Munro has participated in a wide range of missions, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and national defense operations. The cutter is renowned for its successful drug interdiction deployments, notably seizing over 39,000 pounds of cocaine in a single patrol in 2019. USCGC Munro continues to serve as a vital asset in safeguarding U.S. maritime interests in the Pacific and beyond.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USCGC Munro (WMSL-755) is named after Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro, the only member of the U.S. Coast Guard to receive the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously for his heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II.
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Legend-class Cutter: Munro is a Legend-class National Security Cutter, the sixth ship in its class, designed for extended offshore patrols and capable of supporting homeland security, law enforcement, and national defense missions.
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Commissioning: USCGC Munro was commissioned on April 1, 2017, in Seattle, Washington, in a ceremony attended by Munro’s family and high-ranking Coast Guard officials.
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Homeport: Munro’s homeport is Alameda, California, a strategic location for missions in the Pacific.
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Drug Interdiction: In 2019, Munro was involved in a high-profile drug bust in the Eastern Pacific, where its crew boarded and seized a semi-submersible vessel carrying over 17,000 pounds of cocaine, worth approximately $232 million.
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Viral Boarding: Footage of the 2019 drug bust, showing a Coast Guard member leaping onto the moving semi-submersible and pounding on its hatch, went viral and showcased the courage and skill of the crew.
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International Engagement: Munro has conducted joint exercises and operations with allied navies, including those of Japan and South Korea, strengthening global maritime partnerships.
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Humanitarian Missions: The cutter has participated in search and rescue operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid missions throughout the Pacific and beyond.
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Advanced Technology: USCGC Munro features advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, making it one of the most capable cutters in the Coast Guard.
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Namesake Tribute: The ship’s motto is "Gallantry in Action," honoring Douglas Munro's legacy, and its crest features the Medal of Honor ribbon and a Higgins boat silhouette, both symbols tied to Munro’s heroic actions at Guadalcanal.
