Kingston class patrol boat of the Royal Canadian Navy
The Iliria, an example of a modern Patrol boat of the Albanian Naval Force
PCE-872, a World War II patrol craft escort of the US Navy
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties. There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine (blue water) and/or estuarine 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. Vessels of this type include the original yacht (from Dutch/Low German jacht meaning hunting or hunt), a light, fast-sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into shallow waters.
Classification[]
They may be broadly classified as inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) and 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 are large and seaworthy enough to patrol off-shore in the open ocean. 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.
Most modern designs are powered by gas turbine arrangements such as Combined diesel and gas, and speeds are generally in the 25–30 knot range. They are primarily used for patrol in a country's Exclusive Economic Zone. 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[]
Australia[]
HMAS Armidale of the Royal Australian Navy
- Attack class patrol boat (Royal Australian Navy) - 1967 to 1985
- Fremantle class patrol boat (Royal Australian Navy) - 1979 to 2007
- Armidale class patrol boat (Royal Australian Navy) - 2005 to present
- Bay class patrol boat (Customs Marine Unit) - 1999 to present
- Australian Customs Vessel Triton (Customs Marine Unit) - 2000 to present
- Cape class patrol boat (Customs Marine Unit) - Bay class replacement from 2013
Bahamas[]
- Bahamas class 60m patrol vessel (Royal Bahamas Defence Force)
- Protector class patrol boat
Bangladesh[]
- Island class patrol vessel
- Sea Dragon Class offshore patrol vessel
- Padma Class offshore patrol vessel
- Meghna class large patrol boats (Bangladesh Navy)
- Hainan Class
- Kraljevica class patrol boat
- Barkat ('Haizhui' class/Type 062) small patrol boat
- Ajay class patrol boat
- Shaheed ('Shanghai-II') class small patrol boats
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 "BAE Offshore Patrol Vessel"[1]
Canada[]
PTC Orca, an Orca-class patrol boat of the Royal Canadian Navy
- Kingston-class, (Royal Canadian Navy)
- Orca-class, (Royal Canadian Navy)
- Hero-class, (Canadian Coast Guard) (Pending Delivery 2011-2013)
China[]
- Harbour security boat (PBI) - 4 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 classes gunboats, which are increasingly being converted to inshore surveying boats and range support boats.
- Shanghai III (Type 062-I) class gunboats - 2
- Shanghai II class gunboats
- Shanghai I (Type 062) classes gunboats - 150+ active and at least 100 in reserve
- Huludao (Type 206) class gunboat - 8+
- Shantou class gunboats - less than 25 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
- Beihai class gunboats - less than 30 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
- Huangpu class gunboats - less than 15 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
- Yulin class gunboats - less than 40 (being transferred to logistic duties)
Chile[]
- 02 ASMAR OPV, under license Fasmmer. 1,700 tons, 1 Bofors 40/70 6 cal 0.50, 1 Helicopter, Comandante Toro and Piloto Pardo.
Colombia[]
ARC Juan Ricardo Oyola Vera PAV-IV class patrol boat of the Colombian Navy
- Diligente class patrol boat, (Colombian Navy)
- Nodriza class patrol boat, (Colombian Navy)
- PAF-I class patrol boat, (Colombian Navy)
- PAF-II class patrol boat, (Colombian Navy)
- PAF-III class patrol boat, (Colombian Navy)
- PAF-IV class patrol boat, (Colombian Navy)
- Patrullera Fluvial Ligera class patrol boat, (Colombian Navy)
- Riohacha class gunboat, (Colombian Navy)
- Fassmer-80 class, (Colombian Navy) (Built in Colombia by COTECMAR)
Denmark[]
- Knud Rasmussen-class OPV
- Diana-class IPV
France[]
- P400 class patrol vessel, (French Navy)
- Floréal class frigate, (French Navy)
- Flamant class patrol vessel, (French Navy)
- Espadon 50 class patrol vessel, (French Navy)
Finland[]
- Kiisla class (Formerly Finnish Border Guard, now Finnish Navy)
- UVL10, a new offshore patrol vessel under construction at STX Finland
- VMV-class (Finnish Navy)
Germany[]
- Bad Bramstedt class - 2002 to present
- Patroullienboot Ausland class - 1943 to 1945
- R boats - 1929 to 1945
- Type 139 patrol trawler - 1956 to mid-1970s
Greece[]
Hellenic Navy HSY-56A Gunboat HS Aittitos, P-268
[]
- Osprey 55 class gunboats and derivatives HSY-55 and HSY-56A[2][3]
- Asheville class gunboats[4]
- Nasty class Coastal Patrol Vessels, formerly torpedo boats
- Esterel class Coastal Patrol Vessels
Hellenic Coast Guard[]
- Saar 4 Open Sea Patrol Vessels[5]
- Vosper Europatrol 250 Mk1 Open Sea Patrol Vessel
- Abeking & Rasmussen Patrol Vessels
- Lambro 57 and derivatives, coastal patrol boats
Hong Kong[]
Hong Kong Police Force[]
Iceland[]
- ICGV Týr (Icelandic Coast Guard)
- Ægir class OPV (Icelandic Coast Guard)
- ICGV Óðinn (Icelandic Coast Guard)
- ICGV Þór (Icelandic Coast Guard)
India[]
Photograph of the Indian Coast Guard's offshore patrol vessel ICGS Vishwast (OPV-30) at the Shinko Pier No. 2, Port of Kobe, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Car Nicobar class fast attack craft, Indian Navy
- Saryu class patrol vessel, Indian Navy
- Bangaram class patrol vessel, Indian Navy
- Sukanya class patrol vessel, Indian Navy
- Samar class, Indian Coast Guard
- Vishwast Class, Indian Coast Guard
- Sarojini Naidu Class, Indian Coast Guard
- Tara Bai class, Indian Coast Guard
- Priyadarshini class, Indian Coast Guard
- Jija Bai class, Indian Coast Guard
- Vikram class, Indian Coast Guard
- Sankalp class, Indian Coast Guard
Indonesia[]
- FPB 28, Indonesian Police and Indonesian Customs, 28 meter long patrol boat made by local shipyard PT.PAL
- FPB 38, 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 Luerssen and made by PT.PAL, ASM and heli deck equipped for some version.
- PC-40, 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 composit material,is armed with 120 km range of anti ship missile,made by PT Lundin industry
Ireland[]
Irish Naval Service Large Patrol Vessel (LPV) LÉ Niamh
- Irish Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessels[6]
- Irish Naval Service Coastal Patrol Vessels
- Irish Naval Service Large Patrol Vessels
- Irish Naval Service Helicopter Patrol Vessels
Israel[]
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Italian Navy patrol boat Cigala Fulgosi
- Dabur class patrol boats - Israeli Navy
- Super Dvora Mk II class patrol boats - Israeli Navy
- Dvora - Israeli Navy
- Super Dvora Mk II - Israeli Navy
- Super Dvora Mk III - Israeli Navy
- Shaldag class fast patrol boats
- Shaldag Mk II - Israeli Navy
- Nachshol class patrol boats (Stingray Interceptor-2000) - Israeli Navy
Italy[]
Italian Coast Guard patrol boat U. Diciotti, CP-902
- Zara class, (Italian Guardia di Finanza)
- Saettia class, (Italian Coast Guard)
- Diciotti class, (Italian Coast Guard)
- Cassiopea class, (Italian Marina Militare)
- Cassiopea II class, (Italian Marina Militare)
- Esploratore class, (Italian Marina Militare)
- Comandanti class, (Italian Marina Militare)
Japan[]
Shikishima (Japan Coast Guard), the largest patrol boat in the world
Japan Coast Guard "Hida" (PL51)
- Shikishima (Japan Coast Guard), the largest patrol boat.
- "Sōya" (Japan Coast Guard), icebreaker ship.
- Hida class (Japan Coast Guard), high-speed Large Patrol Vessel with helicopter deck.
- Aso class (Japan Coast Guard), high-speed Large Patrol Vessel.
Malaysia[]
- Kedah class offshore patrol vessel, (Royal Malaysian Navy)
Malta[]
- Diciotti class, "Modified", (P61) of Armed Forces of Malta, Maritime Squadron
Mexico[]
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ARM Oaxaca, an Oaxaca class OPV of the Mexican Navy
Durango class ships, offshore patrol vessels of Mexican Navy
- Uribe class, offshore patrol vessel (Mexican Navy)
- Holzinger class, offshore patrol vessel (Mexican Navy)
- Sierra class, offshore patrol vessel (Mexican Navy)
- Durango class, offshore patrol vessel (Mexican Navy)
- Oaxaca class, offshore patrol vessel (Mexican Navy)
- Azteca class, coastal patrol boat (Mexican Navy)
Netherlands[]
- Yacht (from Dutch/Low German jacht meaning hunting or hunt), a light, fast-sailing vessel used by the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Age of Sail to pursue pirates and smugglers around and into shallow waters.
- Holland class offshore patrol vessels (Koninklijke Marine)
New Zealand[]
- Protector-class OPV (Royal New Zealand Navy) (2008)
- Protector-class IPV (Royal New Zealand Navy) (2008)
- Moa-class patrol boat (Royal New Zealand Navy)(1983 - 2008)
Norway[]
NoCGV Tor (W334 KYSTVAKT) from Nornen Class of the Norwegian Coast Guard
Philippines[]
- Mariano Alvarez class
- Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo class
- Kagitingan class
- Tomas Batillo class
- Conrado Yap class
- Jose Andrada class
Portugal[]
NRP Viana do Castelo, offshore patrol vessel of the Portuguese Navy
- Centauro class
- Viana do Castelo class
- Albatroz class
- Cacine class
- Argos class
Russia[]
- Mirage-class (Type 14310)
- Svetlyak class patrol boat (Type 10410)
- Rubin class patrol boat (Type 22460)
- Mangust Patrol Boat
- Project 12200 Sobol
Singapore[]
- Fearless-class (Republic of Singapore Navy)
Slovenia[]
Sri Lanka[]
South Korea[]
Spain[]
Meteoro (P-41)
- Meteoro class
- Descubierta class
- Serviola class
- Anaga class
- Barceló class
- Toralla class
- Conejera class
- Chilreu class
- P111 class patrol boat
- Cabo Fradera class
Suriname[]
- Ocea Type FPB 98 class fast patrol boat
- Ocea Type FPB 72 class fast patrol boat
Sweden[]
- Typ 60 class (Decommissioned)
- Tapper class (Swedish Navy)
Thailand[]
- Pattani-class OPV (Royal Thai Navy)
Turkey[]
- Kılıç II class
- Kılıç I class
- Yıldız class
- Rüzgar class
- Doğan class
- Kartal class
- Türk class
- Tuzla class
United Kingdom[]
Two River class offshore patrol vessels of the Royal Navy
- 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
United States[]
[]
- Eagle class patrol craft of World War I and World War II
- PC Patrol Craft of World War II
- Cyclone class patrol ship - US Navy
- Dauntless-class patrol boat - US Navy
United States Coast Guard[]
- Cutters of the US Coast Guard
- 87-foot Marine Protector class coastal patrol boat - USCG
- 110-foot Island class patrol boat - USCG
- 154-foot Sentinel-class cutter - USCG
References[]
- ↑ "Brazil getting armored vehicles, boats." Space Media Network, 10 August 2012.
- ↑ "Gunboats Class Osprey 55". Hellenic Navy. 2008. http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/gunboats_osprey55%20_en.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ↑ "Gunboats Class Osprey HSY-55". Hellenic Navy. 2008. http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/gunboats_ospreyHSY55%20_en.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ↑ "Gunboats Class Asheville". Hellenic Navy. 2008. http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/gunboats_asheville%20_en.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ↑ E.A. Pagotsis (2009). G. Christogiannakis. ed. Hellenic Defence Report 2009-2010 (Yearbook of the magazine Hellenic Defence & Security). Athens: Line Defence Publications Ltd. pp. 81.
- ↑ Irish Defence Forces website - Naval Service Fleet
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The original article can be found at Patrol boat and the edit history here.