The present day BEAR was named after the USRC BEAR (AG-29). The original BEAR (AG-29) was a steam barkentine, 199 feet overall in length, of heavy oak construction, powered by a compound recropcating steam engine which produced 300 horsepower.

The keel of the present-day BEAR was laid on August 23, 1979, launched on September 25, 1980, and formally commissioned on February 4, 1983. She is the first of thirteen “Famous Class” 270-foot medium endurance cutters. During any given patrol, BEAR conducts a wide-spectrum of missions such as search and rescue, alien migrant interdiction operations, counter-drug patrols, fisheries enforcement, and international engagement -- illustrating the versatile, multi-mission character of the Coast Guard and the cutter fleet. (Source: U.S. Coast Guard)