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High endurance cutter
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<p>The designation of high endurance cutter (WHEC) was created in 1965 when the <a href="/facts/United_States_Coast_Guard/6d7SWTP9">United States Coast Guard</a> adopted its own designation system. High endurance cutters encompass the largest cutters previously designated by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">United States Navy</a> as gunboats, destroyer escorts, and seaplane tenders. The term High Endurance Cutter may refer to any of five individual ship classes that have seen service in the Coast Guard. </p> <ul><li>The <a href="/facts/Legend-class_cutter/5qD3JenT"><i>Legend</i>-class cutter</a> is the newest class in this category.</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Hamilton-class_cutter/U8cD7rmM"><i>Hamilton</i>-class cutter</a> is a contemporary design. These vessels are also known as Secretary- or Hero-class cutters. They are currently being replaced by newer <a href="/facts/Legend-class_cutter/5qD3JenT">Legend-class cutters</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Owasco-class_cutter/sMWFtNjE"><i>Owasco</i>-class cutter</a> was a <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a> design, the last was retired in the 1970s.</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Casco-class_cutter/9s3tGRhz"><i>Casco</i>-class cutter</a> was a pre-World War II design, the last was retired in the 1980s under the Philippine Navy.</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Treasury-class_cutter/5uuANQsJ">Treasury-class cutter</a>, a 327-foot (100 m) class from 1936 to the mid-1980s.</li></ul>