A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. However, large size patrol vessels are also operated by multiple navies and coastguards. There are many designs for patrol boats, and they generally range in size. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, police, or customs, and may be intended for marine ("blue water"), estuarine ("green water"), or riverine ("brown water") environments.
Per their name, patrol boats are primarily used to patrol a country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but they may also be used in other roles, such as anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fishery patrols, immigration law enforcement, or search and rescue. Depending on the size, organization, and capabilities of a nation's armed forces, the importance of patrol boats may range from minor support vessels that are part of a coast guard, to flagships that make up a majority of a navy's fleet. Their small size and relatively low cost make them one of the most common naval vessels in the world.
Patrol boats are of varying types, including: offshore patrol vessels (OPV), patrol boat fast (PBF), patrol boat with surface-to-surface missile (PBG), patrol boat inshore (PBI), patrol boat with SAM (PBM), patrol boat riverine (PBR), patrol boat with torpedo (PBT).List of abbreviations for data sections. (2025). The Military Balance, 125(1), 518–519. https://doi.org/10.1080/04597222.2025.2445482
Classification
The classification of a patrol boat is often subjective, but they are generally small naval vessels that are used to patrol national waters or a certain jurisdiction. They may be as large as a corvette or even a frigate, though the term may also be used for vessels as small as a yacht or rigid inflatable boat. They can include gunboat, fast attack craft, torpedo boats, and missile boats. They may be broadly classified as inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) or offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). OPVs and medium size cutters are usually the smallest ship in a navy's fleet that are large and seaworthy enough to patrol off-shore in the open ocean, while IPVs are typically too small to do so and are instead kept in lakes or rivers, or close to coasts; IPVs specifically used in rivers can also be called "riverine patrol vessels". Large patrol vessels, offshore patrol vessels and Large cutters are the largest type of patrol ships and are typically more than 100 m (330 ft) in length. Some OPVs may possess significant armament and may approach corvettes in terms of armed capability.
Seagoing patrol boats are typically around 30 m (100 ft) in length and usually carry a single medium caliber artillery gun as main armament, and a variety of lighter secondary armament such as machine guns, while others include the sophisticated close-in weapon system. Depending on their role, vessels in this class may also have more sophisticated sensors and fire control systems that would enable them to carry torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and surface-to-air missiles.
History
During both World Wars, in order to rapidly build up numbers, all sides created auxiliary patrol boats by arming motorboats and seagoing fishing trawlers with machine guns and obsolete naval weapons. Some modern patrol vessels are still based on fishing and leisure boats.
The United States Navy operated the of armed hydrofoils for years in a patrol boat role. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Navy ordered 193 aluminum hulled Patrol Craft, Fast (PCFs), also known as Swiftboats, for brown water naval operations. The Patrol Boat, River (PBR, sometimes called "Riverine" and "Pibber") was a fiberglass hulled vessel also designed and used for inland river operations during the Vietnam War, and became an icon of water operations during the war due to its use in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now.
Most modern designs are powered by gas turbine arrangements such as CODAG, and speeds are generally in the range. The largest OPVs might also have a flight deck and helicopter embarked. In times of crisis or war, these vessels are expected to support the larger vessels in a navy, though some smaller navies are mostly composed of just patrol boats.
Specific nations Albania
Albanian Naval Force
Algeria Algerian National Navy
Ocea FPB98 MKI
Argentina
Argentine Naval Prefecture
Z-28-class patrol vessel Shaldag-class patrol boat
Argentine Navy Gowind-class vessel Murature-class vessel Intrépida-class boat Zurubí-class patrol boat Baradero class patrol boat Punta Mogotes class patrol boat
Australia Royal Australian Navy
(1967–1985) (1979–2007) (2005–present) (2017–present) (2025–present)
Australian Border Force Marine Unit (1999–present) ACV Triton (2006–2015) (2013–present) – replaced all but two of the Bay-class which underwent a life extension. Two Evolved Cape-class patrol boats ordered to replace the remaining two Bay-class patrol boats.
Others (1987–2023) – Australian-built, gifted by the Australian Government to 12 Pacific Island countries ( appears to be the last boat in service as of November 2022) (2018–present) – Australian-built replacements for the Pacific class, gifted to the same 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste
Bahamas Royal Bahamas Defence Force
Bahrain Royal Bahrain Naval Force 35m Fast Patrol Vessels- USA -built by Swiftships, Commissioned in 2021
Bangladesh The Bangladesh Navy classified its medium size patrol ships as large patrol craft (LPC) which are armed with either anti-ship missiles or torpedoes. Those ships typically have heavier armaments but less range than OPVs.
Bangladesh Navy Large patrol craft
Offshore patrol vessel
ARES 150 Inshore patrol vessel
ASW patrol boat Kraljevica class Haizhui class Hainan class Patrol gunboat
Bangladesh Coast Guard
Offshore patrol vessel Leader class Inshore patrol vessel
Fast patrol vessel
Coastal patrol vessel Tawfique class (former PLAN Shanghai II class) Riverine patrol craft
Border Guard Bangladesh Patrol vessel Shah Jalal class
Barbados Barbados Coast Guard
Belgium Castor (2014–present) Pollux (2015–present)
Brazil Grajaú-class offshore patrol vessel Bracuí-class patrol vessel – ex- Imperial Marinheiro-class offshore patrol vessel Piratini-class patrol vessel J-class patrol vessel Roraima-class river patrol vessel Pedro Teixeira-class river patrol vessel offshore patrol vessel
Brunei offshore patrol vessel patrol vessel KH 27-class patrol boat FDB 512-class patrol boat Bendaharu-class patrol vessel Perwira-class patrol vessel Saleha-class patrol vessel Pahlawan-class patrol vessel
Bulgaria Obzor
Canada Royal Canadian Navy (1996–present) (2006–present) (2016–present) – Icebreakers based on the Norwegian
Canadian Coast Guard
Cape Verde Cape Verdean Coast Guard Kondor-class Guardiao (P511)
Chile Chilean Navy
(1979/1980–2001/2002) (1982–2014?) (1990–present) (1993–present) (1996–2017/2020) (1999–present) (2007–present) (2007–present) (2008–present)
China (PRC) People's Liberation Army Navy Harbour security boat (PBI) – four newly built 80-ton class harbour security / patrol boats, and more are planned in order to take over the port security / patrol duties currently performed by the obsolete Shantou, Beihai, Huangpu, and Yulin-class gunboats, which are increasingly being converted to inshore surveying boats and range support boats Shanghai III (Type 062I)-class gunboat – 2 Shanghai II-class gunboat Shanghai I (Type 062)-class gunboat – 150+ active and at least 100 in reserve Huludao (Type 206)-class gunboat – 8+ – less than 25 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia) – less than 30 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia) – less than 15 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia) – less than 40 (being transferred to logistic duties)
China Coast Guard (Type 718)
Colombia
Colombian Navy Diligente-class patrol boat Nodriza-class patrol boat PAF-I-class patrol boat PAF-II-class patrol boat PAF-III-class patrol boat PAF-IV-class patrol boat Patrullera Fluvial Ligera-class patrol boat Riohacha-class gunboat Fassmer-80 class – built in Colombia by COTECMAR
Croatia Šolta (OB-02) Omiš (OB-31)OOB-31 "Omiš" predan u ruke OS RH
Denmark
Royal Danish Navy OPV – 3 vessels IPV – 6 vessels patrol vessel OPV – 4 ships (classed as ocean patrol frigates) IPV – 3 vessels IPV – 9 vessels (in Danish) Hvidbjørnen-class OPV (link in Danish) – 4 ships (classed as ocean patrol frigates)
Ecuador Ecuadorian Navy Damen Stan Patrol 5009
Egypt Egyptian Navy 35m Fast Patrol Vessels- USA -built by Swiftships
Eritrea Eritrean Navy Eritrea-class 60m patrol vessel
Others Protector-class patrol boat
Finland
Finnish Navy – formerly Finnish Border Guard, now Finnish Navy
Finnish Border Guard VL Turva – an offshore patrol vessel built at STX Finland Rauma shipyard in 2014
France
French Navy D'Estienne d'Orves-class Félix Eboué-class Confiance-class
P400-class Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (planned)
Maritime Gendarmerie Trident-class patrol boat Géranium-class patrol boat Jonquille-class patrol boat Vedette-class patrol boat Pétulante-class patrol craft Pavois-class patrol craft
Germany
Potsdam class (2019–present) (2002–present) Helgoland class (2009–present) (1943–1945) R boats (1929–1945) Type 139 patrol trawler (1956 to mid-1970s)
Greece
Hellenic Navy s and derivatives and s Nasty-class coastal patrol vessels – formerly torpedo boats Esterel-class coastal patrol vessels
Hellenic Coast Guard – acting as offshore patrol vessels (OPV) Stan Patrol 5509 OPV Vosper Europatrol 250 Mk1 OPV Abeking & Rasmussen patrol vessels – class Dilos POB-24G patrol vessels – class Faiakas CB90-HCG Lambro 57 and derivatives – all being boats for coastal patrols
Honduras Honduran Navy Damen Stan Patrol 4207
Hong Kong (SARPRC)
Hong Kong Police Force Sea Panther-class large command boat
Iceland Icelandic Coast Guard
India
Indian Navy
Indian Coast Guard
Indonesia
FPB 28, Indonesian Police and Indonesian Customs, 28 meter long patrol boat made by local shipyard PT PAL. FPB 38, Indonesian Customs, 38 meter long aluminium patrol boat made by local shipyard PT PAL. FPB 57, Indonesian Navy, 57 meter long patrol boat designed by Lürssen and made by PT PAL, ASM and heli deck equipped for some version. Pari class, Indonesian Navy, also designated as the PC-40 or PC-40M, is a 40 meter long patrol boat variant of the Clurit Class fast attack craft. Dorang class, Indonesian Navy, also designated as the PC-60 or PC-60M, is a 60 meter long patrol boat variant based of the Sampari Class fast attack craft. The ships can be modified to be equipped with anti ship missiles when required. Klewang class, Indonesian Navy, 63-meter-long composite material, is armed with 120 km range of anti-ship missile, made by PT Lundin industry Raja Haji Fisabililah class, Indonesian Navy. The ships of the class are 98 meters long, and equipped with a 76 mm gun, CIWS, 8 Atmaca, and have a ramp for RHIBs. Pulau Nipah class, BAKAMLA, 80 meter long OPV, designed by Terafulk and made by PT Citra Shipyard Tanjung Datu class, BAKAMLA, 110 meter long OPV, made by PT Palindo Marine Shipyard
Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy: Azarakhsh MK-13 Zoljenah Bavar Zolfaghar Rezvan Tir Pashe Ghaem Gahjae Kajami Tarlan Taregh Ashura Murce Seraj Ashura-33 MIL 40 Cougar An unknown class of patrol boat Zulfighar Islamic Republic of Iran Navy: Kaivan class Parvin class
Ireland List of Irish Naval Service vessels; Offshore Patrol Vessels (1972–2001) (1978–2013) (1979–2015) (1980–2016) Helicopter Patrol Vessel (1984–2022) Coastal Patrol Vessels (1984–2022) (1985–2022) Offshore Patrol Vessels (1999–present) (2001–present) Offshore Patrol Vessels (2014–present) (2015–present) (2016–present) (2018–present)
Israel
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