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Patrol Boat




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 Boat s and Missile Boat s. The U.S. Navy operated the ''Pegasus'' Class of armed hydrofoils for years, in a patrol boat role.

Examples of Patrol Boats:



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