Fast Patrol Boats:Armada
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Fast Patrol Vessels
US Coast Guard’s Sentinel class fast response cutters are based on a design largely derived from the Dutch Damen Stan 4708 patrol vessel and built by Bollinger shipyard in America. Originally a design for the South African Government, the 353-tonne and 47 metre cutter now has a higher maximum speed, a stern launching ramp, fixed pitch propellers, and water tight bulkheads. (US Coast Guard)
With a design largely based on the Stan 4708 patrol vessels already employed by the South African Government, the 353-tonne and 47-meter long cutter is manned by a crew of 22 and is armed with a remote-control 25 mm Bushmaster gun and four 12.7 mm machine guns. The Stan Patrol platforms family ranges from the 60-metre Stan Patrol 6011 capable of 26.5 knots to the 125-metre Stan Patrol 1204 with a maximum speed of 35 knots. Between them are seven platforms, such as the 58-metre Stan Patrol 5509 which forms the basis of the Italian Custom Services’two main patrol vessels, built and integrated in Italy by Cantiere Navale Vittoria and equipped with a combat system designed by Italian company’s Almaviva. In addition to luxury yachts, Lürssen is known worldwide for its high-speed craft and history as combatant vessels provider to a range of main and less known navies and governmental services. The current product portfolio ranges from the 28-metre FPB 28 with a maximum speed of 35 knots to the FPB 57 combatant fast craft capable of 38 knots and the 35-metre TNC 35 with stern launching ramp and an armament package that includes a 20/30 main gun. Lurssen has been reported to be involved in discussions on the delivery of a fleet of patrol vessels to Saudi Arabia, although there is no official confirmation of this. Fassmer is also offering a 21-metre fast patrol boat, which has been sold to three customers including the Cambodian Navy and the Bulgarian Coast Guard. Swede Ship is
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known for its family of multi-role high-speed vessels, which range from 16 to 27 metres in length. The latter, known as the Patrol 27 model, has been acquired by United Arab Emirates Naval Forces through Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) and being built both by the Swede Ship and ADSB shipyard. As a multi-role compact high-speed vessel for medium range surveillance and weapon engagement of asymmetric threats in a flotilla configuration, the Emirati’s naval forces Ghannatha II patrol boat programme involves twelve vessels equipped by two 2,432 hp MTU diesel engines and Rolls-Royce
FF600 waterjets allowing a 45-knot maximum speed. These boats are equipped with Rheinmetall 27 mm MLG 27 and Oto Melara Hitrole-G with GAU-19A triple 12.7 mm guns, together with four MBDA Marte Mk 2/N antiship missiles—all managed by a small combat management system built by Selex ES. The sensors suite includes GEM Elettronica radar, Selex ES IFF and a Cprotection unit. In addition to the Ghannatha phase II programme, the UAE Naval Force’s Phase I, 24-metre transport vessels are being upgraded with the same combat electronics suite but different weapon systems package.
The United Arab Emirates’ Ghannata Phase I fast patrol boats are based on a 24-metre transport vessel designed by Swede Ship Marine. (Luca Peruzzi)