Patrol boat

Shikishima (Japan Coast Guard), the largest patrol boat in the world.

Canadian Forces' Kingston class Patrol boat

The Iliria, an example of a modern Patrol boat of the Albanian Naval Defense Forces.

PCE-872, a World War II patrol craft escort of the US Navy.

A patrol boat is a 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.

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.

During both World Wars in order to rapidly build up numbers, all sides created auxiliary patrol boats by arming motorboats and sea going 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 30m (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 CODAG, 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 (1967–1985)
Fremantle class patrol boat (1979–2007)
Armidale class patrol boat (2005–)
Protector (Pacific Forum) class small patrol boat (1990s)

Bahamas

Bahamas class 60m patrol vessel (Royal Bahamas Defence Force)
Protector class patrol boat

Bangladesh

Meghna class large patrol boats (Bangladesh Navy)
'Hainan' class patrol boat
Kraljevica class patrol boat
Barkat ('Haizhui' class/Type 062) small patrol boat
Padma (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

Canada

PTC Orca, an Orca-class patrol boat of the Canadian navy

Kingston-class, (Canadian Forces)
Orca-class, (Canadian Forces)

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)

Denmark

Knud Rasmussen
Flyvefisken
Diana

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)
VMV-class (Finnish Navy)

Greece

Hellenic Navy HSY-56A Gunboat HS Aittitos, P-268.

Hellenic Navy

Osprey 55 class gunboats and derivatives HSY-55 and HSY-56A ^[1] ^[2]
Asheville class gunboats ^[3]
Nasty class Coastal Patrol Vessels, formerly torpedo boats
Esterel class Coastal Patrol Vessels

Hellenic Coast Guard

Hellenic Coast Guard Saar 4 class OPV ΛΣ-060.

Saar 4 Open Sea Patrol Vessels ^[4]
Vosper Europatrol 250 Mk1 Open Sea Patrol Vessel
Abeking & Rasmussen Patrol Vessels

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Police Force

Sea Panther class large command boat

Iceland

ICGV Ægir & ICGV Baldur(front)

ICGV Týr (Icelandic Coast Guard)
Ægir class OPV (Icelandic Coast Guard)
ICGV Óðinn (Icelandic Coast Guard)
ICGV Þór (Icelandic Coast Guard)

India

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
Sankalp class, Indian Coast Guard
Samar class, Indian Coast Guard
Vikram class, Indian Coast Guard

Indonesia

FPB 28, Indonesian Navy, 28 meter long 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.

Ireland

Róisín-class, (Irish Naval Service)
LÉ Eithne (P31), Irish Naval Service

Israel

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

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)

Mexico

ARM "Oaxaca", head of the Oaxaca class Offshore patrol vessel 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

Future Dutch Navy OPV's (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

Royal Norwegian Navy

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

KNM Skjold of the Royal Norwegian Navy.

Norwegian Coast Guard

Barentshav class OPV
Nordkapp class OPV
Nornen class

Philippines

Philippine Navy

Mariano Alvarez class
Aguinaldo class
Kagitingan class
Tomas Batillo class
Conrado Yap class
Jose Andrada class

Portugal

Portuguese Navy

Centauro class
Viana do Castelo class

Russia

Mirage-class (Type 14310) (Russian Navy)

Singapore

Fearless-class (Republic of Singapore Navy)

Sri Lanka

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

South Korea

Chamsuri-class (Republic of Korea Navy)
Gumdoksuri class patrol vessel

Spain

Descubierta class
Serviola class
Anaga class
Barceló class
Toralla class
Conejera class
Chilreu class
P111 class patrol boat
Cabo Fradera class

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
ASW OPV class

United Kingdom

HMS Severn and HMS Mersey are 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

List of patrol vessels of the United States Navy
Cutters of the US Coast Guard
Eagle class patrol craft of World War I and World War II
PC Patrol Craft of World War II
Cyclone class patrol ship
Island class cutter (United States Coast Guard)

Gallery

AB 29 patrol boat of the Turkish Navy

Hellenic Navy Osprey 55 class gunboat HS Navmachos, P-19.

Hellenic Navy Nasty class Coastal Patrol Vessel HS Andromeda, P-196.

Vietnamese People's Coast Guard BP (biên phòng) 33-12-01

References

↑ "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.