OPV-70 is an
Offshore Patrol Vessel
A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval ship, naval vessel generally designed for Coastal defence and fortification, coastal defence, Border control, border security, or law ...
of the
Royal Moroccan Navy
ber, ⴰⴷⵡⴰⵙ ⴰⴳⴻⵍⴷⴰⵏ ⵏ ⵢⵉⵍⴻⵍ
, image =
, caption = Royal Moroccan Navy Seal
, start_date = active since: 11th century
current form: 30 Apr ...
, designed by
Raidco Marine and built at
STX France SA.
The first vessel received, was named after the Battle of Bir Anzaran, between the
Polisario Front
The Polisario Front, Frente Polisario, Frelisario or simply Polisario, from the Spanish abbreviation of (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro), (in ar, rtl=yes, الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير الس ...
and
Royal Armed Forces in 1979.
Definition of the Equipment and requirements
The main mission is the surveillance of Moroccan
EEZ and control of fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, with secondary roles including detecting
illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration of people into a country in violation of the immigration laws of that country or the continued residence without the legal right to live in that country. Illegal immigration tends to be financially upwar ...
,
smuggling
Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people, such as out of a house or buildings, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.
There are various ...
and
drug trafficking
A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via insuffla ...
and supporting
counter terrorism
Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or ...
and
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
patrols along Moroccan coasts.
Bir Anzaran is the first in a series, which will include three more units: P342, P343 and P344 with an option for two more. The Moroccan EM (Etat Major) now discuss the purchase of a more sophisticated and advanced version for the three last ships to be built.
Its hull is made of steel and aluminum structures, for a displacement of 800 tonnes with a maximum speed of 22 knots.
[Specifications for Bir Anzaran (OPV 70) class Offshore Patrol Vessel, on seaforces]
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It received its weapons at the port of Casablanca:
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* x1 Otobreda 76 mm
The OTO Melara 76 mm gun is a naval gun built and designed by the Italian defence company OTO Melara. It is based on the OTO Melara 76/62C and evolved toward 76/62 SR and 76/62 Strales.
The system is compact enough to be installed on re ...
* x1 Bofors
AB Bofors ( , , ) is a former Swedish arms manufacturer which today is part of the British arms concern BAE Systems. The name has been associated with the iron industry and artillery manufacturing for more than 350 years.
History
Located in ...
40mm
* 2 x 14,5 mm MG
* 2 x 12,7 mm MG
Ships GlobalSecurity – Moroccan Navy equipment
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References
{{Ship classes of the Royal Moroccan Navy
Patrol vessels of Morocco
Patrol boat classes