<P> Originally, the U.S. Coast Guard used the term cutter in its traditional sense, as a type of small sailing ship . Today it officially uses the term for any vessel that has a permanently assigned crew and accommodations for the extended support of that crew, and includes only and all vessels of 65 feet (20 m) or more in length . </P> <Ul> <Li> Polar - class icebreaker (WAGB): There are three WAGB's used for icebreaking and research though only two, the heavy 399 - foot (122 m) Polar Star and the newer medium class 420 - foot (130 m) Healy, are active . Polar Sea is located in Seattle, Washington but is not currently in active service . </Li> <Li> National Security Cutter (WMSL): These are a new class of 418 - foot (127 m) military defense, maritime ship, also known as the Legend - class cutter . At 418 ft. these are the largest USCG military cutters in active service . One - for - one Legend - class ships are replacing individually decommissioned 1960s Hamilton - class high endurance cutters . A total of eight were authorized and budgeted; as of 2015 three are in service, and three are under construction . In 2016 a ninth National Security Cutter was authorized by Congress . </Li> <Li> High Endurance Cutter (WHEC): These are 12 378 - foot (115 m) Hamilton - class cutters commissioned in the late 1960s . Missions include law enforcement, search and rescue, and military defense . These aged cutters are individually being decommissioned and replaced by the new 418 ft . National Security Cutters . </Li> <Li> Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC): These are mostly the 210 - foot (64 m) Reliance class, and the 270 - foot (82 m) Famous class cutters, although the 283 - foot (86 m) Alex Haley also falls into this category . Primary missions are law enforcement, search and rescue, and military defense . </Li> <Li> USCGC Mackinaw: A 240 - foot (73 m) heavy icebreaker built for operations on the Great Lakes . </Li> <Li> USCGC Eagle: A 295 - foot (90 m) sailing barque used as a training ship for Coast Guard Academy cadets and Coast Guard officer candidates . She was originally built in Germany as Horst Wessel, and was seized by the United States as a prize of war in 1945 . </Li> <Li> Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB): These 225 - foot (69 m) ships are used to maintain aids to navigation and also assist with law enforcement and search and rescue . </Li> <Li> Coastal Buoy Tender (WLM): The 175 - foot (53 m) Keeper - class coastal buoy tenders are used to maintain coastal aids to navigation . </Li> <Li> Sentinel class cutter (WPC): The 154 - foot (47 m) Sentinel class was previously known as the "Fast Response Cutter" class and is used for search and rescue work and law enforcement . </Li> <Li> Bay - class icebreaking tug (WTGB): 140 - foot (43 m) icebreakers used primarily for domestic icebreaking missions . Other missions include search and rescue, law enforcement, and aids to navigation maintenance . </Li> <Li> Patrol Boats (WPB): There are two classes of WPBs currently in service; the 110 - foot (34 m) Island - class patrol boats and the 87 - foot (27 m) Marine Protector - class patrol boats </Li> </Ul> <Li> Polar - class icebreaker (WAGB): There are three WAGB's used for icebreaking and research though only two, the heavy 399 - foot (122 m) Polar Star and the newer medium class 420 - foot (130 m) Healy, are active . Polar Sea is located in Seattle, Washington but is not currently in active service . </Li> <Li> National Security Cutter (WMSL): These are a new class of 418 - foot (127 m) military defense, maritime ship, also known as the Legend - class cutter . At 418 ft. these are the largest USCG military cutters in active service . One - for - one Legend - class ships are replacing individually decommissioned 1960s Hamilton - class high endurance cutters . A total of eight were authorized and budgeted; as of 2015 three are in service, and three are under construction . In 2016 a ninth National Security Cutter was authorized by Congress . </Li>

When did the coast guard became part of dhs