Patrol boat

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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:

Eagle class patrol craft of World War I and World War II
Armidale-class, (Royal Australian Navy)
Fearless-class, (Singapore)
Island-class, (USCG)
Kingston-class, (Canadian Navy)
Chamsuri-class (Republic of Korea Navy)
Mirage-class (Type 14310), (Russian Navy)
River-class, (Royal Navy)
Róisín-class, (Irish Naval Service)
Zara-class, (Italian Guardia di Finanza)

Patrol boat

See also