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 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 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 is 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 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. 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

• Iliria (Albanian Navy Brigade)

Argentina

• Mantilla-class patrol vessel, Argentine Naval Prefecture
• Z-28-class patrol vessel, Argentine Naval Prefecture

Australia

• Attack-class patrol boat, (Royal Australian Navy) – 1967 to 1985
• Fremantle-class patrol boat, (Royal Australian Navy) – 1979 to 2007
• Pacific-class patrol boat, (Australian built, gifted by Australian government to 12 Pacific Island countries), 1987–present
• Armidale-class patrol boat, (Royal Australian Navy) – 2005 to present
• Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessel, (Royal Australian Navy) – Expected to enter service in 2021
• Bay-class patrol boat, (Australian Border Force Marine Unit) – 1999 to present
• Australian Customs Vessel Triton, (Australian Border Force Marine Unit) – 2000 to 2016
• Cape-class patrol boat, (Australian Border Force Marine Unit) – Bay class replacement from 2013

Bahamas

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

Bangladesh

• Durjoy-class LPC
• Island-class patrol vessel
• Sea Dragon-class offshore patrol vessel
• Padma-class offshore patrol vessel (Bangladesh Navy)
• Meghna-class large patrol boats (Bangladesh Navy)
• Hainan-class submarine chaser
• Kraljevica-class patrol boat
• Barkat ('Haizhui' class/Type 062) small patrol boat
• Ajay-class patrol boat
• Shaheed ('Shanghai-II') class small patrol boat

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^[1][2]

Belgium

• P901 Castor (2014)
• P902 Pollux (2015)

Bulgaria

• Obzor (525)

Canada

• Orca class, (Royal Canadian Navy)
• Hero class, (Canadian Coast Guard)

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)
• Haixun class cutter(Type 718), China Coast Guard

Chile

Patrulleros de Zona Marítima FASSMER OPV-80 class. 4 of 6 units planned, built by ASMAR under 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
• 06 MICALVI Class Patrol vessels built in ASMAR.
• 18 Protector Class Patrol crafts built by ASMAR under license of Fairey Brooke Marine.
• 04 DABUR Class Patrol crafts built in Israel.

Colombia

• 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)

Croatia

• Šolta (OB-02)
• Omiš (OB-31)^[3]

Denmark

• Knud Rasmussen-class OPV – 2 vessels
• Diana-class IPV – 6 vessels *Danish Wikipedia
• Flyvefisken-class patrol vessel
• Thetis class OPV – 4 ships (classed as ocean patrol frigates)
• Beskytteren ocean patrol frigate OPV. (classed as ocean patrol frigates). Later sold to Estonia and renamed EML Admiral Pitka (A230)
• Agdlek-class IPV – 3 vessels
• Barsø class IPV – 9 vessels *Danish Wikipedia
• Hvidbjørnen class OPV – 4 ships, classed as ocean patrol frigates. (Link in Danish)

Eritrea

• Eritrea-class 60m patrol vessel, (Eritrean Navy)
• Protector-class patrol boat

France

• P400 class, (French Navy)
• La Confiance Class, (French Navy) link in French
• Floréal class, (French Navy)
• Flamant class, (French Navy)
• Espadon 50 class, (French Navy) 1991 to 2010
• Trident-class patrol boat, (Maritime Gendarmerie)
• Géranium-class patrol boat, (Maritime Gendarmerie)
• Jonquille-class patrol boat, (Maritime Gendarmerie)
• Vedette-class patrol boat, (Maritime Gendarmerie)
• Pétulante-class patrol craft, (Maritime Gendarmerie)
• Pavois-class patrol craft, (Maritime Gendarmerie)

Finland

• Kiisla class (Formerly Finnish Border Guard, now Finnish Navy)
• UVL10, an offshore patrol vessel built at STX Finland Rauma shipyard in 2014
• VMV class (Finnish Navy)

Germany

• Potsdam class - 2018 to present
• Bad Bramstedt class – 2002 to present
• PA class – 1943 to 1945
• R boats – 1929 to 1945
• Type 139 patrol trawler – 1956 to mid-1970s

Greece

Hellenic Navy

• Osprey 55-class gunboats and derivatives HSY-55 and HSY-56A^[4][5]
• Asheville-class gunboats^[6]
• Nasty-class Coastal Patrol Vessels, formerly torpedo boats
• Esterel-class Coastal Patrol Vessels

Hellenic Coast Guard

• Saar 4^[7] 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

Hong Kong Police Force

• Sea Panther class large command boat

Iceland

• ICGV Týr (Icelandic Coast Guard)
• ICGV Óðinn (Icelandic Coast Guard)
• ICGV Þór (Icelandic Coast Guard)
• ICGV Ægir (Icelandic Coast Guard)

India

• Car Nicobar-class patrol vessel, Indian Navy
• Saryu-class patrol vessel, Indian Navy
• Bangaram-class patrol vessel, Indian Navy
• Sukanya-class patrol vessel, Indian Navy
• Samar-class offshore patrol vessel, Indian Coast Guard
• Vishwast-class offshore patrol vessel, Indian Coast Guard
• Sarojini Naidu-class patrol vessel, Indian Coast Guard
• Tara Bai-class patrol vessel, Indian Coast Guard
• Priyadarshini-class patrol vessel, Indian Coast Guard
• Jija Bai-class patrol vessel, Indian Coast Guard
• Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel, Indian Coast Guard
• Aadesh-class patrol vessel, 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 marine steel, is armed with 57 mm main gun, designed by Terafulk and made by PT Citra Shipyard
• OPV 110 - 110 meter long marine steel grade A, is armed with 57 mm main gun, made by PT Palindo Marine Shipyard

Ireland

Irish Naval Service^[8]

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

Israel

• Dabur class patrol boats – Israeli Navy
• Dvora class fast patrol boat – 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

• Zara class, (Italian Guardia di Finanza)
• Saettia class, (Italian Coast Guard)
• Diciotti – CP 902 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.
• 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 Vessel with helicopter deck.
• Kunigami class (Kunisaki class)
• Iwami class
• Hateruma class
• Aso class (Japan Coast Guard), high-speed Large patrol Vessel.
• Amami class (Japan Coast Guard), medium-sized patrol Vessel
• Hayabusa-class (JMSDF,Japanese Navy), Corvette class patrol vessel by JMSDF(Navy) Fleet.
• "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)
• 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

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)
• Protector 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

Norwegian Coast Guard

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

Philippines

Philippine Navy

• Mariano Alvarez class
• Kagitingan class
• Tomas Batillo class
• Conrado Yap class
• Jose Andrada class
• Jacinto-class corvette
• Multi-purpose Attack Craft
• Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessel

Philippine Coast Guard

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

Peru

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

Portugal

Portuguese Navy

• Centauro class
• Viana do Castelo class
• Albatroz class
• Cacine class
• Argos class

National Republican Guard (GNR)

• Ribamar 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
• 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

• 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

• Chamsuri-class (Republic of Korea Navy)
• Gumdoksuri 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 minel layer, 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)

Turkey

• Kılıç II class, Turkish Navy
• Kılıç I class，Turkish Navy
• Yıldız class，Turkish Navy
• Rüzgar class，Turkish Navy
• Doğan class，Turkish Navy
• Kartal class，Turkish Navy
• Türk class，Turkish Navy
• Tuzla class，Turkish Navy
• KAAN 15 class，Turkish Coast Guard Command
• KAAN 19 class，Turkish Coast Guard Command
• KAAN 29 class，Turkish Coast Guard Command
• KAAN 33 class，Turkish Coast Guard Command
• SAR 33 class，Turkish Coast Guard Command
• SAR 35 class，Turkish Coast Guard Command
• 80 class，Turkish Coast Guard Command

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 – US Navy (1993– )
• Eagle class patrol craft – US Navy (1918–1947)

United States Coast Guard

• 87-foot Marine Protector class coastal patrol boat – USCG
• 110-foot Island class patrol boat – USCG
• 154-foot Sentinel class cutter – USCG

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