Patrol boat

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A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border protection, immigration law-enforcement, search and rescue duties. There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, police force or customs and may be intended for marine ("blue water") or estuarine ("green water") or river ("brown water") environments. They are commonly found engaged in various border protection roles, including anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fisheries patrols, and immigration law enforcement. They are also often called upon to participate in rescue operations.

Classification[]

They may be broadly classified as inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) or offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). They are warships typically smaller in size than a corvette and can include fast attack craft, torpedo boats and missile boats, although some are as large as a frigate. The offshore patrol vessels are usually the smallest ship in a navy's fleet that is large and seaworthy enough to patrol off-shore in the open ocean. Smaller inshore patrol vessels also known as coastal patrol craft or coastal patrol boats. Riverine patrol craft are used for patrol river area. In larger militaries, such as in the United States military, offshore patrol vessels usually serve in the coast guard, but many smaller nations' navies operate these type of ships.

History[]

During both World Wars in order to rapidly build up numbers, all sides created auxiliary patrol boats by arming motorboats and seagoing fishing trawlers with machine guns and obsolescent naval weapons. Some modern patrol vessels are still based on fishing and leisure boats. Seagoing patrol boats are typically around 30 m (100 ft) in length and usually carry a single medium caliber artillery gun as main armament, and a variety of lighter secondary armament such as machine guns or a close-in weapon system. Depending on role, vessels in this class may also have more sophisticated sensors and fire control systems that would enable them to carry torpedoes, anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles.^[1]

Most modern designs are powered by gas turbine arrangements such as CODAG, and speeds are generally in the 25–30 knots (46–56 km/h; 29–35 mph) range. They are primarily used for patrol in a country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Common tasks are fisheries inspection, anti-smuggling (usually anti-narcotics) duties, illegal immigration patrols, anti-piracy patrols and search and rescue (law enforcement-type of work). The largest OPVs might also have a flight deck and helicopter embarked. In times of crisis or war, these vessels are expected to support the larger vessels in the navy.

Their small size and relatively low cost make them one of the most common type of warship in the world. Almost all navies operate at least a few offshore patrol vessels, especially those with only "green water" capabilities. They are useful in smaller seas such as the North Sea as well as in open oceans. Similar vessels for exclusively military duties include torpedo boats and missile boats. The United States Navy operated the Pegasus class of armed hydrofoils for years, in a patrol boat role. The River Patrol Boat (PBR, sometimes called "Riverine" and "Pibber") is a U.S. design of small patrol boat type designed to patrol waters of large rivers.

Specific nations[]

Albania[]

Albanian Naval Force[]

• Iliria

Algeria[]

Algerian National Navy[]

• Kebir-class
• Alusafe 2000
• Ocea FPB98 MKI

Argentina[]

Argentine Naval Prefecture[]

• Mantilla-class patrol vessel
• Z-28-class patrol vessel
• Shaldag-class patrol boat

Argentine Navy[]

• Gowind-class vessel
• Murature-class vessel
• Intrépida-class boat
• Zurubí-class patrol boat
• Baradero class patrol boat
• Punta Mogotes class patrol boat

Australia[]

Royal Australian Navy[]

• Attack-class patrol boat (1967–1985)
• Fremantle-class patrol boat (1979–2007)
• Armidale-class patrol boat (2005–present)
• Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – expected to enter service in 2021

Australian Border Force Marine Unit[]

• Bay-class patrol boat (1999–present)
• Australian Customs Vessel Triton (2000–2016)
• Cape-class patrol boat – Bay-class replacement from 2013 (2013–present)

Others[]

• Pacific-class patrol boat – Australian-built, gifted by the Australian Government to 12 Pacific Island countries (1987–present)

Bahamas[]

Royal Bahamas Defence Force[]

Others[]

Bangladesh[]

The Bangladesh Navy classified its medium size patrol ships as large patrol craft (LPC) which are armed with either anti-ship missiles or torpedoes. Those ships typically have heavier armaments but less range than OPVs.^[2][3]

Bangladesh Navy[]

Large patrol craft

• Durjoy class
• BNS Madhumati

Offshore patrol vessel

• Island class

Inshore patrol vessel

• Padma class

ASW patrol boat

• Kraljevica class
• Haizhui class
• Hainan class

Patrol gunboat

• Chamsuri class

Bangladesh Coast Guard[]

Offshore patrol vessel

• Leader class

Inshore patrol vessel

• Padma class
• Sobuj Bangla class

Fast patrol vessel

Coastal patrol vessel

• Tawfique class (former PLAN Shanghai II class)

Riverine patrol craft

Border Guard Bangladesh[]

Patrol vessel

• ^[4]

Belgium[]

• Castor (in Dutch) (2014–present)
• Pollux (in Dutch) (2015–present)

Brazil[]

• Grajaú-class offshore patrol vessel
• Bracuí-class patrol vessel – ex-River-class minesweeper
• Imperial Marinheiro-class offshore patrol vessel
• Piratini-class patrol vessel
• J-class patrol vessel
• Roraima-class river patrol vessel
• Pedro Teixeira-class river patrol vessel
• Macaé-class offshore patrol vessel
• Amazonas-class corvette^[5][6]

Brunei[]

• Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel
• Ijtihad-class patrol vessel
• KH 27-class patrol boat
• FDB 512-class patrol boat
• Bendaharu-class patrol vessel
• Perwira-class patrol vessel
• Saleha-class patrol vessel
• Pahlawan-class patrol vessel

Bulgaria[]

• Obzor

Canada[]

Royal Canadian Navy[]

• Orca-class patrol vessel - 8
• Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel - HMCS Harry DeWolf commissioned on 26 June 2021. Others under construction/awaiting commissioning/awaiting construction start
• Kingston-class coastal defence vessel - 12

Canadian Coast Guard[]

• Hero-class patrol vessel

Chile[]

• Patrulleros de Zona Marítima FASSMER OPV-80 class – four of six units planned, built by ASMAR under the license of FASSMER Gmbh:
  • OPV-81 Piloto Pardo
  • OPV-82 Comandante Toro
  • OPV-83 Marinero Fuentealba – this unit has reinforced hull for Antarctic operations
  • OPV-84 Cabo Odger – with characteristics similar to the previous ship
• 6 Micalvi-class patrol vessels – built in ASMAR
• 18 Protector-class patrol crafts – built by ASMAR under the license of Fairey Brooke Marine
• 4 Dabur-class patrol crafts – built in Israel

China (PRC)[]

People's Liberation Army Navy[]

• Harbour security boat (PBI) – four newly built 80-ton class harbour security / patrol boats, and more are planned in order to take over the port security / patrol duties currently performed by the obsolete Shantou, Beihai, Huangpu, and Yulin-class gunboats, which are increasingly being converted to inshore surveying boats and range support boats
• Shanghai III (Type 062I)-class gunboat – 2
• Shanghai II-class gunboat
• Shanghai I (Type 062)-class gunboat – 150+ active and at least 100 in reserve
• Huludao (Type 206)-class gunboat – 8+
• Shantou-class gunboat – less than 25 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
• – less than 30 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
• Huangpu-class gunboat – less than 15 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
• Yulin-class gunboat – less than 40 (being transferred to logistic duties)

China Coast Guard[]

• Haixun-class cutter (Type 718)

Colombia[]

Colombian Navy[]

• Diligente-class patrol boat
• Nodriza-class patrol boat
• PAF-I-class patrol boat
• PAF-II-class patrol boat
• PAF-III-class patrol boat
• PAF-IV-class patrol boat
• Patrullera Fluvial Ligera-class patrol boat
• Riohacha-class gunboat
• Fassmer-80 class – built in Colombia by COTECMAR

Croatia[]

• Šolta (OB-02)
• ^[7]

Denmark[]

Royal Danish Navy[]

• Knud Rasmussen-class OPV – 2 vessels
• Diana-class IPV – 6 vessels
• Flyvefisken-class patrol vessel
• Thetis-class OPV – 4 ships (classed as ocean patrol frigates)
• Agdlek-class IPV – 3 vessels
• IPV – 9 vessels (in Danish)
• Hvidbjørnen-class OPV (link in Danish) – 4 ships (classed as ocean patrol frigates)

Eritrea[]

Eritrean Navy[]

Others[]

Finland[]

Finnish Navy[]

• Kiisla class – formerly Finnish Border Guard, now Finnish Navy
• VMV class

Finnish Border Guard[]

• VL Turva – an offshore patrol vessel built at STX Finland Rauma shipyard in 2014

France[]

French Navy[]

• P400 class
• Classe La Confiance (link in French)
• Floréal class
• Flamant class
• (1991–2010)

Maritime Gendarmerie[]

• Trident-class patrol boat
• Géranium-class patrol boat
• Jonquille-class patrol boat
• Vedette-class patrol boat
• Pétulante-class patrol craft
• Pavois-class patrol craft

Germany[]

• Potsdam class (2019–present)
• Bad Bramstedt class (2002–present)
• Helgoland class (2009–present)
• PA class (1943–1945)
• R boats (1929–1945)
• Type 139 patrol trawler (1956 to mid-1970s)

Greece[]

Hellenic Navy[]

• Osprey 55-class gunboats and derivatives HSY-55 and Osprey HSY-56A^[8][9]
• Asheville-class gunboats^[10]
• Nasty-class coastal patrol vessels – formerly torpedo boats
• Esterel-class coastal patrol vessels

Hellenic Coast Guard[]

• Sa'ar 4 class^[11] – acting as offshore patrol vessels (OPV)
• Stan Patrol 5509 OPV
• Vosper Europatrol 250 Mk1 OPV
• Abeking & Rasmussen patrol vessels – class Dilos
• POB-24G patrol vessels – class Faiakas
• CB90-HCG
• Lambro 57 and derivatives – all being boats for coastal patrols

Hong Kong (SARPRC)[]

Hong Kong Police Force[]

• Sea Panther-class large command boat

Iceland[]

Icelandic Coast Guard[]

• ICGV Týr
• ICGV Óðinn
• ICGV Þór
• ICGV Ægir

India[]

Indian Navy[]

• Bangaram-class patrol vessel
• Car Nicobar-class patrol vessel
• Saryu-class patrol vessel
• Sukanya-class patrol vessel
• Trinkat-class patrol vessel

Indian Coast Guard[]

• Aadesh-class patrol vessel
• Rajshree-class patrol vessel
• Rani Abbakka-class patrol vessel
• Samar-class offshore patrol vessel
• Samarth-class offshore patrol vessel
• Sankalp-class offshore patrol vessel
• Sarojini Naidu-class patrol vessel
• Tara Bai-class patrol vessel
• Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel
• Vishwast-class offshore patrol vessel

Indonesia[]

• , Indonesian Police and , 28 meter long patrol boat made by local shipyard PT PAL.
• , Indonesian Customs, 38 meter long aluminium patrol boat made by local shipyard PT PAL.
• FPB 57, Indonesian Navy, 57 meter long patrol boat designed by Lurssen and made by PT PAL, ASM and heli deck equipped for some version.
• , Indonesian Navy, 40 meter long FRP/Aluminum patrol boat, locally made by in house Navy's workshop.
• PC-60 trimaran, Indonesian Navy, 63-meter-long composite material, is armed with 120 km range of anti-ship missile, made by PT Lundin industry
• - 80 meter long marine steel, is armed with 57 mm main gun, designed by Terafulk and made by PT Citra Shipyard
• OPV 110 (Tanjung Datu-class) - 110 meter long marine steel grade A, is armed with 57 mm main gun, made by PT Palindo Marine Shipyard

Ireland[]

Irish Naval Service[]

List of INS vessels;^[12]

• Offshore Patrol Vessels
  • LÉ Deirdre (P20) (1972–2001)
  • LÉ Emer (P21) (1978–2013)
  • LÉ Aoife (P22) (1979–2015)
  • LÉ Aisling (P23) (1980–2016)
• Helicopter Patrol Vessel
  • LÉ Eithne (P31) (1984–present)
• Peacock-class Coastal Patrol Vessels
  • LÉ Orla (P41) (1984–present)
  • LÉ Ciara (P42) (1985–present)
• Róisín-class Offshore Patrol Vessels
  • LÉ Róisín (P51) (1999–present)
  • LÉ Niamh (P52) (2001–present)
• Samuel Beckett-class Offshore Patrol Vessels
  • LÉ Samuel Beckett (P61) (2014–present)
  • LÉ James Joyce (P62) (2015–present)
  • LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63) (2016–present)
  • LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) (2018–present)

Israel[]

• Dabur-class patrol boats
• Dvora class fast patrol boat
• Super Dvora Mk II-class patrol boats
• Super Dvora Mk III-class patrol boat
• Shaldag-class patrol boats
  • Shaldag Mk II
• (Stingray Interceptor-2000)

Italy[]

• Zara class, (Italian Guardia di Finanza)
• Saettia class, (Italian Coast Guard)
• Diciotti – CP 902 class, (Italian Coast Guard)
• Dattilo-class offshore patrol vessel, (Italian Coast Guard)
• Cassiopea-class patrol vessel, (Italian Marina Militare)
• Cassiopea II class, (Italian Marina Militare)
• Esploratore class, (Italian Marina Militare)
• Comandanti-class patrol vessel, (Italian Marina Militare)

Japan[]

• Shikishima (Japan Coast Guard), the largest patrol boat
• Mizuho class (Japan Coast Guard), large patrol vessel with helicopter deck and hangar
• Tsugaru class (Japan Coast Guard), large patrol vessel with helicopter deck and hangar
• Hida class (Japan Coast Guard), high-speed large patrol cessel with helicopter deck
• Kunigami class (Kunisaki class)
• Iwami class
• Hateruma class
• Aso class (Japan Coast Guard), high-speed large patrol vessel
• (Japan Coast Guard), medium-sized patrol vessel
• Hayabusa class (JMSDF, Japanese Navy), corvette type patrol vessel
• Sōya，(Japan Coast Guard), icebreaker

Latvia[]

• Skrunda class, world's first SWATH patrol boat (Latvian Naval Forces)

Malaysia[]

• Kedah class offshore patrol vessel, (Royal Malaysian Navy)
• Keris-class littoral mission ship,(Royal Malaysian Navy)
• Gagah Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Ramunia Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Nusa Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Sipadan Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Rhu Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Pengawal Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Peninjau Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Pelindung Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Semilang Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Penggalang Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Penyelamat Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Pengaman Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Kilat Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Malawali Class Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• Langkawi Class Patrol Ship，Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

Malta[]

• Protector class offshore patrol vessel (Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta) – 2002–present
• Diciotti class offshore patrol vessel (Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta) – 2005–present
• P21 class inshore patrol vessel (Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta) – 2010–present
• Emer class offshore patrol vessel (Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta) – 2015–present

Mexico[]

Mexican Navy[]

• Coastal patrol boat
  • Azteca-class
  • Tenochtitlan-class
• Offshore patrol vessel
  • Durango-class
  • Holzinger-class
  • Oaxaca-class
  • Uribe-class

Montenegro[]

• Kotor class frigate

Morocco[]

• OPV-70 class, offshore patrol vessel (Royal Moroccan Navy)
• OPV-64 class, offshore patrol vessel (Royal Moroccan Navy)

Netherlands[]

• Holland class offshore patrol vessels (Koninklijke Marine)

New Zealand[]

• Protector OPV (Royal New Zealand Navy) (2008)
• Lake-class inshore patrol vessel (Royal New Zealand Navy) (2008)
• Moa-class patrol boat (Royal New Zealand Navy)(1983–2008)

Norway[]

Royal Norwegian Navy[]

• Rapp-class
• Tjeld-class
• Storm-class
• Snøgg-class
• Hauk-class
• Skjold-class

Norwegian Coast Guard[]

• Barentshav class OPV
• Harstad class OPV
• Nordkapp class OPV
• Nornen class
• Svalbard class icebreaker

Peru[]

• Río Zarumilla class, Peruvian Coast Guard
• Rio Cañete class, Peruvian Coast Guard

Philippines[]

Philippine Navy[]

• Alberto Navarette class
• Jose Andrada class
• Rizal class patrol vessel
• Malvar class patrol vessel
• Jacinto class patrol vessel
• Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessel

Philippine Coast Guard[]

• Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessel
• Gabriela Silang-class Offshore Patrol Vessel
• San Juan-class patrol vessel
• Parola-class patrol vessel
• Ilocos Norte-class patrol boat

Portugal[]

Portuguese Navy[]

• Viana do Castelo class
• Tejo-class
• Centauro class
• Argos class
• Rio Minho-class

National Republican Guard[]

Qatar[]

Qatari Emiri Navy[]

• Musherib class

Romania[]

• SNR-17 class patrol boats, Romanian Border Police
• Stefan Cel Mare patrol vessel, Romanian Border Police

Russia[]

• Stenka class patrol boat (Project 02059), Russian Navy and Russian Coast Guard
• (Project 02065), Russian Navy
• Mirage class patrol vessel (Project 14310), Russian Coast Guard
• Svetlyak class patrol boat (Project 10410)， Russian Coast Guard
• (Project 12130), Russian Coast Guard
• Mangust class patrol boat (Project 12150, Russian Coast Guard
• Sobol class patrol boat (Project 12200）, Russian Coast Guard
• (Project 14170), Russian Navy and Russian Coast Guard
• Rubin class patrol boat (Project 22460), Russian Coast Guard
• Okean class patrol vessel (Project 22100), Russian Coast Guard
• Vosh class river patrol craft (Project 12481), Russian Coast Guard
• Piyavka class river patrol craft (Project 1249), Russian Coast Guard
• Ogonek class river patrol craft (Project 12130), Russian Coast Guard

Senegal[]

• Fouladou (OPV 190), Senegalese Navy
• Kedougou (OPV 45), Senegalese Navy
• Ferlo (RPB 33), Senegalese Navy
• Conejera (Class Conejera P 31), Senegalese Navy
• Fouta (Osprey 55), Senegalese Navy
• Njambuur (PR 72), Senegalese Navy

Singapore[]

• Fearless-class patrol vessel, Republic of Singapore Navy
• PK class Interceptor Craft, Police Coast Guard
• 1st Generation PT class patrol Craft, Police Coast Guard (decommissioned)
• 2nd Generation PT class patrol Craft, Police Coast Guard (decommissioned)
• 3rd Generation PT class patrol Craft, Police Coast Guard
• 4th Generation PT class patrol Craft, Police Coast Guard
• PC class patrol Craft, Police Coast Guard
• Swift-class coastal patrol craft
• Independence-class littoral mission vessel, Republic of Singapore Navy

Slovenia[]

• Slovenian patrol boat Triglav

South Africa[]

• Warrior class (modified Saar 4 Open Sea Patrol Vessels)
• Namacurra class

South Korea (ROK)[]

• Chamsuri-class (Republic of Korea Navy)
• Yoon Youngha-class patrol vessel

Spain[]

• Meteoro class
• Descubierta class
• Serviola class

Sri Lanka[]

• Jayasagara class (Sri Lanka Navy)
• Colombo class (Sri Lanka Navy)

Suriname[]

• Ocea Type FPB 72 class fast patrol boat

Sweden[]

• (based on the Norwegian Storm-class, decommissioned) – 16 ships
• (Hugin-class modified with better subhunting capacity, decommissioned) – 8 ships
• Stockholm-class (commissioned as corvettes, later converted to patrol boats) – 2 ships
• HMS Carlskrona (commissioned as minelayer, later converted to ocean patrol vessel)

Additionally, the Royal Swedish Navy also operates smaller types of patrol boats (Swedish: bevakningsbåt = "guard boat"):

• (decommissioned) – 17 ships
• Tapper class – 12 ships

The Swedish Coast Guard operate an additional 22 patrol vessels for maritime surveillance.

Thailand[]

• Pattani class (Royal Thai Navy)
• River class (Royal Thai Navy)
• T.991 class (Royal Thai Navy)
• (Royal Thai Navy)

Turkey[]

Turkish Naval Forces[]

• Yıldız class
• Rüzgar class
• Doğan class
• Kartal class
• Türk class
• Tuzla class

Coast Guard Command[]

• KAAN 15 class
• KAAN 19 class
• KAAN 29 class
• KAAN 33 class
• SAR 33 class
• SAR 35 class
• 80 class

United Kingdom[]

• Kingfisher-class patrol vessel of 1935
• Motor Launch of World War II
• Harbour Defence Motor Launch of World War II
• River class patrol vessel
• Castle class patrol vessel
• Archer class patrol vessel
• Island class patrol vessel
• Scimitar class patrol vessel

United States[]

United States Navy[]

• Cyclone-class patrol ship - (1993–present)
• Mark VI patrol boat
  - US Navy (2016–present)

United States Coast Guard[]

• Cyclone-class patrol ship - (2000-2011) - four boats were transferred to the Coast Guard for a temporary loan, three (2004-2011) have since been returned, while the fourth (2000-2004) was donated to the Philippine Navy
• Marine Protector-class patrol boat – (1998–present)
• Island-class patrol boat – (1985–present)
• Sentinel-class cutter – (2012–present)

Venezuela[]

• Venezuelan patrol boat Naiguatá (GC-23)

Vietnam[]

• Type TT-120 patrol boat, Vietnam Coast Guard
• Type TT-200 patrol boat, Vietnam Coast Guard
• Type TT-400 patrol boat, Vietnam Coast Guard
• DN 2000(Damen 9014 class) offshore patrol vessels, Vietnam Coast Guard

References[]