New Patrol Boat Coming for U.S. Navy

[Kunal Biswas]

SAFE Boats International has won a competition to build a new class of patrol boats for the U.S. Navy's Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), the company announced May 24.

The 85-foot-long Mark VI patrol boat is intended to expand the operating area of Navy patrol craft farther off shore, supplanting and replacing existing craft such as the 68-foot Mark IV and 34-foot Sea Ark patrol boats.

The $30.5 million SAFE Boat contract award is for five new patrol boats, with an option for a sixth — which, if exercised, would add another $6 million to the contract's value.

Ultimately, the Navy intends to buy 48 Mark VIs.

New Patrol Boat Coming for U.S. Navy | Defense News | defensenews.com

 

[Ray]

Please find out the details, if you can, as to how these are superior to the ones existing.

What is the operational advantage and the tactics for employment.

Thanks.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Sir,
These are offshore patrol boats, about there description:

SAFE Boats' Mark VI design, a variant of the company's Archangel self-righting life boat, will have a waterline length of 78 feet. Powered by twin diesels and waterjets, it will have a range in excess of 600 nautical miles and be able to burn both marine grade diesel and JP-5 fuel. A Mark 38 25mm gun can be mounted forward. the boats would operate at speeds in excess of 35 knots with sprint speeds of 41 knots. he Mark VI will have berthing and galley facilities to allow for extended missions, and shock mitigating seats will be fitted at crew work stations. The main cabin is reconfigurable to accommodate remotely operated vehicles, a medical triage area, or provide more shock-mitigated seating.SAFE Boats also builds 25-foot Response Boat-Small and 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement craft for the U.S. Coast Guard.

The are mainly for patrol and look outs, these are larger than previous and have extended range..

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Please find out the details, if you can, as to how these are superior to the ones existing.

What is the operational advantage and the tactics for employment.

Thanks.

Welcome to Navy Forces Online Public Sites

http://www.public.navy.mil/necc/hq/Documents/MESF_FactSheet - 2010 v6.pdf

http://www.public.navy.mil/necc/hq/PublishingImages/NECC fact sheets/NECC_CRF_FactSheet2012.pdf

http://www.public.navy.mil/necc/hq/...t sheets/00063_NECC_SubCom_ECRC_FactSheet.pdf

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Please find out the details, if you can, as to how these are superior to the ones existing.

What is the operational advantage and the tactics for employment.

Thanks.

Looking around the NECC website, I did not see a patrol boat of that length. The existing boats were smaller with partially inflatable hulls.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Now the Coast Guard will want them too.

 

[asianobserve]

This boat must have been one of the inspirations for that new Mark VI