Patrol boat
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:LÉ Róisín (P51).jpg Image:Canada EH101 03.jpg
A patrol boat is a small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence duties. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or even 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.
Patrol boats are typically around 30m (100 ft) in length and usually carry a single gun as main armament, along with a variety of lighter secondary armament such as machine guns. They are usually diesel-powered, although some modern designs use gas turbines, and speeds are generally in the 25-30 knot range.
Similar vessels for exclusively military duties include torpedo boats and missile boats. The U.S. Navy operated the Pegasus class of armed hydrofoils for years, in a patrol boat role.
Examples of Patrol Boats:
- Armidale-class, (Royal Australian Navy)
- Fearless-class, (Singapore)
- Island-class, (USCG)
- Kingston-class, (Canadian Navy)
- Mirage-class (Type 14310), (Russian Navy)
- River-class, (Royal Navy)
- Róisín-class, (Irish Naval Service)
- Zara-class, (Italian Guardia di Finanza)
See also
it:Vedetta (nave) lv:Patruļkuģis ja:巡視船 sh:Patrolni čamac sr:Патролни чамац