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

* Kebir-class
* Alusafe 2000
* 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

* (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 – 2 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

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

* P400 class
* Classe La Confiance (link in French)
*
*
* Espadon 50 class (1991–2010)
* D'Entrecasteaux-class
* D'Estienne d'Orves-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 cessel 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

* Point-class cutter, Alberto Navarette-class
* Jose Andrada class
* Shaldag-class patrol boat, Nestor Acero-class
* Malvar-class corvette, Malvar-class patrol vessel
* Jacinto-class patrol vessel
* stretched HDP-1500neo 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
* BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8401), Gabriela Silang-class offshore patrol vessel
* Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessel, offshore

Portugal

Portuguese Navy

*Viana do Castelo class patrol vessel, Viana do Castelo class
*Tejo-class patrol vessel, Tejo-class
*Centauro class fiscalization boat, Centauro-class
*Argos-class patrol boat, Argos-class
*Rio Minho-class fiscalization boat, Rio Minho-class

Maritime Authority System, Maritime Police

* Bolina-class
* Levante-class
* Calmaria-class

National Republican Guard (Portugal), National Republican Guard

* Bojador-class
* Ribamar-class
* Lancha de Fiscalização de Águas Interiores

Qatar

Qatari Emiri Navy

* QENS Musherib (QB1), 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

* Sa'ar 4-class missile boat, Warrior class (modified ''Saar 4'' Open Sea Patrol Vessels)
* Namacurra class harbour patrol boat, Namacurra class

South Korea (ROK)

* Chamsuri class patrol vessel, ''Chamsuri''-class (Republic of Korea Navy)
* Yoon Youngha-class patrol vessel

Spain

* Buque de Acción Marítima, ''Meteoro'' class
* Descubierta class corvette, ''Descubierta'' class
* Serviola class patrol boat, ''Serviola'' class
* Anaga class patrol boat, ''Anaga'' class
* Barceló class patrol boat, ''Barceló'' class
* Toralla class patrol boat, ''Toralla'' class
* Conejera class patrol boat, ''Conejera'' class
* Chilreu class patrol boat, ''Chilreu'' class
* P111 patrol boat, P111 class patrol boat
* Cabo Fradera class patrol boat, ''Cabo Fradera'' class

Sri Lanka

* Jayasagara class patrol craft, ''Jayasagara '' class (Sri Lanka Navy)
* Ultra Fast Attack Craft, ''Colombo'' class (Sri Lanka Navy)

Suriname

* Ocea Type FPB 98 class fast patrol boat
* Ocea FPB 72, Ocea Type FPB 72 class fast patrol boat

Sweden

* Hugin-class (based on the Norwegian Storm-class patrol boat, Storm-class, decommissioned) – 16 ships
* Kaparen-class (Hugin-class modified with better subhunting capacity, decommissioned) – 8 ships
* Stockholm-class corvette, Stockholm-class (commissioned as corvettes, later converted to patrol boats) – 2 ships
* HSwMS Carlskrona (P04), 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, Typ 60-class (decommissioned) – 17 ships
* Tapper-class patrol boat, Tapper class – 12 ships

The Swedish Coast Guard operate an additional 22 patrol vessels for maritime surveillance.

Thailand

* HTMS Pattani, Pattani class (Royal Thai Navy)
* River-class patrol vessel, River class (Royal Thai Navy)
* T.991 class patrol boat, T.991 class (Royal Thai Navy)
* HTMS krabi, krabi class (Royal Thai Navy)

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force#Coast Guard, 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 (Turkey), Coast Guard Command

* KAAN 15 class
* KAAN 19 class
* KAAN 29 class patrol craft, KAAN 29 class
* KAAN 33 class
* SAR 33 class
* SAR 35 class
* 80 class
* Corvette

United Kingdom

* Kingfisher-class sloop, ''Kingfisher''-class patrol vessel of 1935
* Motor Launch of World War II
* Harbour Defence Motor Launch of World War II
* River-class offshore patrol vessel, River class patrol vessel
* Castle-class patrol vessel, Castle class patrol vessel
* Archer-class patrol vessel, Archer class patrol vessel
* Island-class patrol vessel, Island class patrol vessel
* Scimitar-class patrol vessel, Scimitar class patrol vessel
* UKBF 42m Customs Cutter
* ''Cutlass'' class patrol vessel - planned service entry with the Gibraltar Squadron from 2022

United States

United States Navy

* - (1993–present)
* 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 BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38), fourth (2000-2004) was donated to the Philippine Navy''
* – (1998–present)
* – (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

{{Authority control

Patrol vessels
Ship types