The Pacific 24 is a

rigid inflatable boat A rigid inflatable boat (RIB), also rigid-hull inflatable boat or rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), is a lightweight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a rigid hull bottom joined to side-forming air tubes that are ...

made by

BAE Systems BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...

in the UK, one of a range of small boats made by the company. it was the latest Pacific craft within the BAE Halmatic range, and has been proven in service with the UK MOD, UK police and overseas military and paramilitary organisations. It was designed to replace the Pacific 22. An uncrewed version of the boat, controlled from a parent Navy ship, has been developed, entering tests in 2020; a few boats may ultimately be deployed for special missions, or a whole fleet ordered.

Usage

The boats are mostly used for fast rescue, anti-piracy and counter-narcotics missions, and are the standard boats used by

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

and

Royal Fleet Auxiliary The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is a naval auxiliary fleet owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence. It provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The RFA ensures the Royal Navy is supplied and supported by ...

ships. They have a "dry running" capability, allowing their engines to be started out of the water, while still attached to a ship's

davit Boat suspended from radial davits; the boat is mechanically lowered Gravity multi-pivot on Scandinavia'' file:Bossoir a gravité.jpg, Gravity Roller Davit file:Davits-starbrd.png, Gravity multi-pivot davit holding rescue vessel on North Sea ferr ...

UK Ministry of Defence

In December 2015 the MoD placed an order for 60 Pacific 24 boats as part of a £13.5m contract for use with vessels such as the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and the new River class offshore patrol vessels. These new boats will include high-performance shock-absorbing seats that minimise crew fatigue, allowing them to travel up to six times the distance. Building was to start in early 2016, and was expected to take four years to complete.

Operators

Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) The Ministry of Defence (MOD or MoD) is the department responsible for implementing the defence policy set by His Majesty's Government, and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. The MOD states that its principal objectives are to ...

* Various UK police services * Various UK rescue authorities * Other UK and International Agencies

References

{{Reflist

Usage

UK Ministry of Defence

Operators

References

See also