Patrol boat

Patrol boat
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 security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and they generally range in size. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, police, or customs, and may be intended for marine ("blue water"), estuarine ("green water"), or river ("brown water") environments.
Per their name, patrol boats are primarily used to patrol a country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but they may also be used in other roles, such as anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fishery patrols, immigration law enforcement, or search and rescue. Depending on the size, organization, and capabilities of a nation's armed forces, the importance of patrol boats may range from minor support vessels that are part of a coast guard, to flagships that make up a majority of a navy's fleet. Their small size and relatively low cost make them one of the most common naval vessels in the world.
Classification
The classification of a patrol boat is often subjective, but they are generally small naval vessels that are used to patrol national waters or a certain jurisdiction. They may be as large as a frigate or a corvette, though the term may also be used for vessels as small as a yacht or rigid inflatable boat. They can include fast attack craft, torpedo boats, and missile boats. They may be broadly classified as inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) or offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). OPVs are usually the smallest ship in a navy's fleet that are large and seaworthy enough to patrol off-shore in the open ocean, while IPVs are typically too small to do so and are instead kept in lakes or rivers, or close to coasts; IPVs specifically used in rivers can also be called "riverine patrol vessels".
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 their role, vessels in this class may also have more sophisticated sensors and fire control systems that would enable them to carry torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and surface-to-air missiles.
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 obsolete naval weapons. Some modern patrol vessels are still based on fishing and leisure boats.
The United States Navy operated the of armed hydrofoils for years in a patrol boat role. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Navy ordered 193 aluminum hulled Patrol Craft, Fast (PCFs), also known as Swiftboats, for brown water naval operations. The Patrol Boat, River (PBR, sometimes called "Riverine" and "Pibber") was a fiberglass hulled vessel also designed and used for inland river operations during the Vietnam War, and became an icon of water operations during the war due to its use in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now.
Most modern designs are powered by gas turbine arrangements such as CODAG, and speeds are generally in the range. 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 a navy, though some smaller navies are mostly composed of just patrol boats.
Specific nations
Albania
Albanian Naval Force
Algeria
Algerian National Navy
Ocea FPB98 MKI
Argentina
Argentine Naval Prefecture
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
(1967–1985)
(1979–2007)
(2005–present)
– lead ship expected to enter service in 2022
Australian Border Force Marine Unit
(1999–present)
Australian Customs Vessel Triton (2000–2016)
(2013–present) – replaced the Bay-class
Others
(1987–2023) – Australian-built, gifted by the Australian Government to 12 Pacific Island countries (appears to be the last boat in service as of November 2022)
(2018–present) – Australian-built replacements for the , gifted to the same 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste
Bahamas
Royal Bahamas Defence Force
Bahrain
Royal Bahrain Naval Force
35m Fast Patrol Vessels- USA -built by Swiftships, Commissioned in 2021
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.
Bangladesh Navy
Large patrol craft
Offshore patrol vessel
ARES 150
Inshore patrol vessel
ASW patrol boat
Kraljevica class
Haizhui class
Hainan class
Patrol gunboat
Bangladesh Coast Guard
Offshore patrol vessel
Leader class
Inshore patrol vessel
Fast patrol vessel
Coastal patrol vessel
Tawfique class (former PLAN Shanghai II class)
Riverine patrol craft
Border Guard Bangladesh
Patrol vessel
Shah Jalal class
Barbados
Barbados Coast Guard
Belgium
Castor (2014–present)
Pollux (2015–present)
Brazil
Grajaú-class offshore patrol vessel
Bracuí-class patrol vessel – ex-
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
offshore patrol vessel
Brunei
offshore patrol vessel
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
(1996–present)
(2006–present)
(2016–present) – Icebreakers based on the Norwegian
Canadian Coast Guard
Cape Verde
Cape Verdean Coast Guard
Kondor-class
Guardiao (P511)
Chile
Chilean Navy
(1979/1980–2001/2002)
(1982–2014?)
(1990–present)
(1993–present)
(1996–2017/2020)
(1999–present)
(2007–present)
(2007–present)
(2008–present)
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+
– less than 25 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
– less than 30 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
– less than 15 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
– less than 40 (being transferred to logistic duties)
China Coast Guard
(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)
Omiš (OB-31)
Denmark
Royal Danish Navy
OPV – 3 vessels
IPV – 6 vessels
patrol vessel
OPV – 4 ships (classed as ocean patrol frigates)
IPV – 3 vessels
IPV – 9 vessels (in Danish)
Hvidbjørnen-class OPV (link in Danish) – 4 ships (classed as ocean patrol frigates)
Ecuador
Ecuadorian Navy
Damen Stan Patrol 5009
Egypt
Egyptian Navy
35m Fast Patrol Vessels- USA -built by Swiftships
Eritrea
Eritrean Navy
Eritrea-class 60m patrol vessel
Others
Protector-class patrol boat
Finland
Finnish Navy
– formerly Finnish Border Guard, now Finnish Navy
Finnish Border Guard
VL Turva – an offshore patrol vessel built at STX Finland Rauma shipyard in 2014
France
French Navy
D'Estienne d'Orves-class
Félix Eboué-class
Confiance-class
P400-class
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)
(2002–present)
Helgoland class (2009–present)
(1943–1945)
R boats (1929–1945)
Type 139 patrol trawler (1956 to mid-1970s)
Greece
Hellenic Navy
s and derivatives and
s
Nasty-class coastal patrol vessels – formerly torpedo boats
Esterel-class coastal patrol vessels
Hellenic Coast Guard
– 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
Honduras
Honduran Navy
Damen Stan Patrol 4207
Hong Kong (SARPRC)
Hong Kong Police Force
Sea Panther-class large command boat
Iceland
Icelandic Coast Guard
India
Indian Navy
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 Lurssen 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 composite material, is armed with 120 km range of anti-ship missile, made by PT Lundin industry
OPV 80 - 80 meter long, designed by Terafulk and made by PT Citra Shipyard
OPV 110 (Tanjung Datu-class) - 110 meter long, made by PT Palindo Marine Shipyard
Iraq
Iraq Navy
35m Fast Patrol Vessels- USA -built by Swiftships, during the period 2010 - 2014
Ireland
List of Irish Naval Service vessels;
Offshore Patrol Vessels
(1972–2001)
(1978–2013)
(1979–2015)
(1980–2016)
Helicopter Patrol Vessel
(1984–2022)
Coastal Patrol Vessels
(1984–2022)
(1985–2022)
Offshore Patrol Vessels
(1999–present)
(2001–present)
Offshore Patrol Vessels
(2014–present)
(2015–present)
(2016–present)
(2018–present)
Israel
s
Dvora class fast patrol boat
s
s
Shaldag Mk II
s (Stingray Interceptor-2000)
Italy
Zara class, (Italian Guardia di Finanza)
Saettia class, (Italian Coast Guard)
Diciotti – CP 902 class, (Italian Coast Guard)
, (Italian Coast Guard)
, (Italian Marina Militare)
Cassiopea II class, (Italian Marina Militare)
Esploratore class, (Italian Marina Militare)
, (Italian Marina Militare)
Jamaica
JDF Coast Guard
Japan
(Japan Coast Guard), the largest patrol boat
(Japan Coast Guard), large patrol vessel with helicopter deck and hangar
(Japan Coast Guard), large patrol vessel with helicopter deck and hangar
(Japan Coast Guard), high-speed large patrol vessel with helicopter deck
(Kunisaki class)
(Japan Coast Guard), high-speed large patrol vessel
(Japan Coast Guard), medium-sized patrol vessel
(JMSDF, Japanese Navy), corvette type patrol vessel
, (Japan Coast Guard), icebreaker
Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) program (JMSDF, Japanese Navy)
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
Offshore patrol vessel
Montenegro
Kotor class frigate
Morocco
OPV-70 class, offshore patrol vessel (Royal Moroccan Navy)
OPV-64 class, offshore patrol vessel (Royal Moroccan Navy)
Namibia
Grajaú-class offshore patrol vessel
Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Navy
Holland class offshore patrol vessels
Netherlands Coastguard
Visarend
Zeearend
Barend Biesheuvel
Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard
Damen Stan Patrol 4100
New Zealand
Protector OPV (Royal New Zealand Navy) (2008)
Lake-class inshore patrol vessel (Royal New Zealand Navy) (2008)
(Royal New Zealand Navy)(1983–2008)
Nicaragua
Nicaraguan Navy
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
Jan Mayen-class - Planned replacement for the Nordkapp-class
Peru
Río Zarumilla class, Peruvian Coast Guard
Rio Cañete class, Peruvian Coast Guard
Philippines
Philippine Navy
Alberto Navarette-class
Jose Andrada class
Nestor Acero-class
Malvar-class patrol vessel
Jacinto-class patrol vessel
HDP-2200 offshore patrol vessel
Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessel
Philippine Coast Guard
Boracay-class patrol boat
Ilocos Norte-class patrol boat
Parola-class patrol vessel
San Juan-class patrol vessel
Gabriela Silang-class offshore patrol vessel
Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessel, offshore
Portugal
Portuguese Navy
Viana do Castelo class
Tejo-class
Centauro-class
Argos-class
Rio Minho-class
Cacine-class
Maritime Police
Bolina-class
Levante-class
Tufão-class
Calmaria-class
National Republican Guard
Bojador-class
Ribamar-class
Zodíaco-class
Mar Creta-class
Qatar
Qatari Emiri Navy
Musherib class
Qatari Ministry of Interior
ARES 75
ARES 110
ARES 150
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
Bogomol Class patrol boat (Project 02065), Russian Navy
Mirage class patrol vessel (Project 14310), Russian Coast Guard
Svetlyak class patrol boat (Project 10410), Russian Coast Guard
Ogonek class patrol boat (Project 12130), Russian Coast Guard
Mangust class patrol boat (Project 12150, Russian Coast Guard
Sobol class patrol boat (Project 12200), Russian Coast Guard
Terrier class patrol boat (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
, 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
, 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
Anaga class
Barceló class
Toralla class
Conejera class
Chilreu class
P111 class patrol boat
Cabo Fradera class
Sri Lanka
Jayasagara class (Sri Lanka Navy)
Colombo class (Sri Lanka Navy)
Suriname
Ocea Type FPB 98 class fast patrol boat
Ocea Type FPB 72 class fast patrol boat
Sweden
Hugin-class (based on the Norwegian Storm-class, decommissioned) – 16 ships
Kaparen-class (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"):
Typ 60-class (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)
krabi class (Royal Thai Navy)
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard
Damen Stan Patrol 5009
Turkey
Turkish Naval Forces
Kılıç II class
Kılıç I class
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
Corvette
United Kingdom
Kingfisher-class patrol vessel of 1935
Motor Launch of World War II
Harbour Defence Motor Launch of World War II
Bird class patrol vessel
Ford-class seaward defence boat
River class patrol vessel
Castle class patrol vessel
Archer class patrol vessel
Island class patrol vessel
Scimitar class patrol vessel
UKBF 42m Customs Cutter
Cutlass-class patrol vessel with the Gibraltar Squadron from 2022
United States
United States Navy
Combatant Craft Medium - (2015–present)
- (1993–2022)
Mark VI patrol boat - US Navy (2016–present)
United States Coast Guard
- (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)
– (2012–present)
Venezuela
(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
Patrol vessels
Ship types