Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (400 to 2,800 tons)

This thread is dedicated to Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels, that are greater from 400 tons to 2,500 tons, and are truly patrol craft. Not multi-role, high threat combat corvettes or frigates. Coast Guards and other civilian agencies are not included.

The US Navy really does not have any such vessels in this displacement range...but numerous other navies do.

These vessels are probably the fastest growing overall calss of vessels in the world today.

I will give four examples here in this first post:

Indian Navy Sukanya Class Patrol vessels:


These are large offshore patrol vessels commisoned into the INdian NAvy between 1989 and 1993. Seven were built in Korea by Korea Tacoma, now part of the Hanjin Group. All are still in service. Their specifications include:

Displacement: 1,890 tons
Length :331 feet
Beam: 38 feet
Speed: 21 knots
Range: 7,000 nmi
Crew: 70
Armament:
1 x 40mm Bofors cannon
2 x 25mm auto cannons
2 x 12.7mm machine guns
Aviation: Hanger and pad
1 x HAL Chetak helicopter

Indian Navy Saryu Class Patrol vessels:


These are larger, modern offshore patrol vessels designed and being built in India and commissioned into the Indian Navy starting in 2013. Four have been commissioned and nine are planned. Their specifications include:

Displacement: 2,300 tons
Length :344 feet
Beam: 42 feet
Speed: 25 knots
Range: 6,000 nmi
Crew: 110
Armament:
1 x 76mm DP naval gun
2 x AK-630 30mm CIWS
2 x 12.7mm machine guns
Aviation: Hanger and pad
1 x HAL Dhruv helicopter

Protector Class OPV for the New Zealand Navy:
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These two offshore patrol vessels (also known as the Otago class) are operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Both have been commissioned since 2010. The ships are the HMNZS Otago and the HMNZS Wellington.

The RNZN operates these two vessels to New Zealand Customs Service tasks , tasks for the Department of Conservation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, patrol of New Zealand Fisheries, and Maritime patrol duties. The Navy policy was these OPVs carry out resource protection functions in New Zealand's EEZ, the South Pacific and Southern Ocean, and thus free up the two Anzac frigates for other duties. With the capability to carry and sustain a missile armed RNZN helicopter they do have limited higher contingency capabilities.

Displacement: 1,900 tons
Length :276 feet
Beam: 45 feet
Speed: 22 knots
Range: 6,000 nmi
Crew: 110
Armament:
1 x 25 mm stabilised naval gun in Typhoon mount
2 x 12.7mm Browning machine guns
Aviation: Hanger and pad
1 x Seasprite helicopter

Knud Rasmussen Class OPV , Danish Navy:


These offshore patrol vessels operated by the Royal Danish Navy. Two vessels have nbeen built since 2008 and a third is planned. The duties for these vessels include fisheries inspections, environment protection, search and rescue, sovereignty enforcement, icebreaker assignments, towage and salvage operations. TThey do have a helicopter deck but no hangar. BVut the vessels are desinged and fitted to provide refueling for helos.

Displacement: 2,050 tons
Length :235 feet
Beam: 48 feet
Speed: 17 knots
Range: 3,000 nmi
Crew: 43
Armament:
1 x 76mm DP gun
2 x 12.7mm machine guns
8 x RIM-162 ESSM missiles
Aviation: Hanger
1 x Medium Helicopter

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World Maritime News said:

The total number of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), the fastest growing segment of the naval vessels market, ordered last year marked a 4 percent increase, while the number of planned orders has also increased by 4 percent, OPV Market Report for 2015-2016 by Defence iQ finds.

At least 24 countries are known to have a total of 136 OPVs on order and 30 countries have plans for up to another 276 at a total value of over USD 60 billion.

The total number of OPVs in operation worldwide has increased from 681 to 776 last year, but an additional 49 Chinese and 16 Taiwanese vessels, now classified as OPVs have been added to the total.

Disregarding these additional vessels, the world OPV fleet has actually grown by 4.4 percent last year.

Asia has the largest proportion of the current fleet (44%) and the numbers on order (46%). Japan and India have 50% of the Asian vessels between them, while India alone has 26% of the total vessels on order worldwide, the report shows.

The proportion of the total number of OPVs on order worldwide, in South America, has increased from 13%-15% over the last year, while in Europe, the proportion on order has increased from 8% to 19% of the worldwide total and in North America, from 6% to 15%.

OPVs can be broadly classified into high-end war-fighting vessels with expensive weapon systems and C4I suites and more basic patrol vessels, designed for sustained low intensity missions and equipped with basic gun armaments.

According to the report, the majority of OPV programmes are of the lowcost, multi-role variety.

These are being used in an increasing number of roles, including fishery protection, pollution control, firefighting, salvage or search and rescue (SAR), counter-narcotics, humanitarian operations and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) patrol.

Click to expand...

Spanish Navy BAM (Buque de Acción Marítima) Offshore Patrol vessels:


These are large offshore patrol vessels commissioned into the Spanish Navy starting in 2009 and continuing. Three have been commissioned with a fourth building, and contracts for two more have been let. Their missions include: main missions are: the protection and escort of other ships in low intensity/asymmetric warfare situations, anti-piracy, SAR (Search and rescue), control of maritime traffic, anti-drug and human trafficking, humanitarian aid, and fishing, pollution, and environment control missions. They have modular sections to allow them to preform other missions as well when needed such as hydrographic research, intelligence gathering, diving support.

Their specifications include:

Displacement: 2,600 tons
Length :308 feet
Beam: 47 feet
Speed: 20 knots
Range: 3,000 nmi
Crew: 46 + 30
Armament:
1 x 76mm Bofors cannon
2 x 25mm auto cannons
2 x 12.7mm machine guns
Aviation: Hanger and pad
1 x NH-90 helicopter

Here are the other two vessels currently commissioned thus far: