Page 36 - NAVAL FORCES 03/2017

Surface & Subsurface

10 in programme); the Netherlands (2); UK
Border Force (4); Venezuela (8). The latter
Features MRTP 29 of the Turkish Coast Guard. are being built in Cuba (2), Vietnam (3), the
Netherlands (2) and Venezuela (1). The 200t,
42.8m vessels have established a reputation
for reliability and seakeeping. They have steel
hull and aluminium superstructure and many
variants have been provided to individual
customer specifications; some feature a stern
ramp for launching/recovering RHIBs, others
have one or two RHIBs on deck with davits or
cranes. Top speeds range from 20 to 30 knots.
The Bahamas has ordered four Damen
3007, 145t, 30.8m, 20kts, now being deliv-
ered. Other recent Damen designs include
the “Sea Axe Bow,” an unusual bow provid-
ing surprisingly good seakeeping and higher
fuel efficiency, cutting through the waves
rather bouncing over them. The “Sea Axe
Bow” family includes the SPa 5009, operat-
ed/ordered by Cape Verde (1); Ecuador (2);
Turkey’s production includes also the will be instead fitted for coastal ASW, with a Mexico (1); Qatar (6); Trinidad and Tobago
aforementioned Ares Shipyard, with the Kongsberg SS2030 HMS, an ST2400 variable (6); Venezuela (6). Most recently, in February
HERCULES series, operated by Qatar and depth sonar, UUVs, and depth charges. 2017, South Africa ordered three SPa 5009
Bahrain, and the HECTOR, HARPOON, STX Offshore and Shipbuilding is involved craft (FCS variant) for the long-awaited BIRO
FAMB (fast attack craft), and SAT series, in the Colombian patrol craft programme for Inshore Patrol Vessel program. The largest
some of them designed in cooperation with 14 vessels. Two craft were built in Korea and member of the family is the 55m SPa 5509,
BMT Nigel Gee. The most recent operators delivered in 2015, and a further three craft are procured by the Greek Coast Guard (1) and the
include the Turkish Republic of Northern now being built by Cotecmar. These are 285t, Italian Custom Police (2).
Cyprus Coast Guard and Nigerian Customs. 46m craft, fitted with one Rafael TYPHOON The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)-
South Korea is also a source of various 25mm gun and one Rafael TOPLITE optro- Ramta “Super Dvora” Mk3 is expanding its
successful FPB designs. The country’s Pa- nic sensor. The Peruvian Coast Guard is now market. After Israel (10 craft, the last three
trol Killer Experimental (PKX[B]) pro- commissioning its five STX-designed craft, commissioned in July 2016), and Sri Lanka
gramme, for which an initial batch of 16 has derived from the Korean Coast Guard’s TAE (6), Myanmar acquired six craft in 2015 and
been orde red from Hanjin Heavy Industry, GEUK-class. They are being built, with four were delivered to an undisclosed African
is aimed at replacing the ageing 34-vessel Korean assistance, at SIMA Chimbote ship- country in 2016. The Israeli craft are being
CHAMSURI-class. This is a 300t, 48m, 40kts yard: 465t, 54.5m, armed with a TYPHOON fitted with self-protection equipment against
craft with CODAG propulsion consisting of 30mm gun, a crew of 25 and an additional 14 the anti-tank guided missiles increasingly
one LM500 gas turbine, two Caterpillar C32 troops. The contract includes an option for five used by terrorists groups, as demonstrated by
diesels, and two MJP waterjets. Armament additional vessels. the attack against an Egyptian Swiftship pa-
includes one 76mm gun, two 12.7mm K6 Damen’s 4207 StanPatrol craft is operat- trol craft off Gaza in July 2015. The SUPER
Remote-controlled weapon stations (RWS), ed by or on order for a number of services: DVORA Mk3 is also being armed with
and an unusual 12-barreled 130mm rocket Albania (4), Bahamas (4); Barbados (3); Rafael’s SPIKE-MR missiles, in addition to
launcher firing LIG-Nex1 LOGIR guided Bulgaria (1); Canada (9 plus 3 in programme); the Rafael TYPHOON-25 and depth charges
rockets with a 30km range. The first vessel Honduras (2); Jamaica (3); Mexico (10 plus against divers. IAI-Ramta is also considering
was launched in July 2016. The class is intend- hybrid propulsion for the SUPER DVORA,
ed to interdict North Korean hovercraft and with electric drive at lower speeds improving
fast assault craft although the second batch fuel efficiency. NAFO

“Super Dvora” MK3 at 48 knots.

34 NAVAL FORCES III/2017