Naval capabilities
Left: The Portuguese Navy’s first ocean patrol vessel, P360 Viana do Castelo.
Below: The British Royal Navy’s HMS Tamar embarking on a long- term deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Opposite page: OPVs may be coveted by navies worldwide, but their utility in a real conflict between great powers is debatable.
Certainly, there’s plenty of enthusiasm for new OPVs as well, with the Indonesian and Vietnamese navies just two of those investing heavily in new models. But with the end of Pax Americana, and the related rise of serious naval rivals like China, some insiders believe that, especially for the US, larger vessels may soon be making a decisive comeback. That’s shadowed by a range of practical challenges, with several OPVs suffering from awkward delays or malfunctions. Not that the era of the small ship is necessarily vanishing forever. Especially for countries with long coastlines, they’re still vitally important for scouring lonely bays and inlets. Bolstered by developments in new technology, it seems clear that OPVs are here to stay – if construction gremlins can be banished, anyway.
Size matters
Spend time exploring the roster of new OPVs and it’s obvious that they’re a vital part of military thinking the world over. In September 2022, to give one example, France announced plans to order six such vessels from a pair of local defence companies, a contract coming in at around €110m. On the opposite side of the world, for its part, is Japan, which in June 2022 unveiled a “next generation” series of OPVs each costing the equivalent $66m. Countries as varied as Israel and the Philippines are moving in a similar direction too.
It may not have OPVs of its own, after all, but the US is investing in the so-called 40-Foot Patrol Boat (40PB). Replacing its 34ft predecessor, Tiara Robinson, a public affairs specialist at the US’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), explains that “the 40PB will provide improved performance, endurance and survivability over the previous platform”. Beyond specifics in size and nomenclature, indeed, the continued popularity of OPVs and similarly small vessels can partly be understood in terms of how they’re using new technology. To return to the Japanese example, for instance, the country’s new OPV will boast such titbits as low fuel consumption and easy maintenance options for the 30-strong crew.
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com 27
Not to be outdone, the 40PB will be armed with autocannons and machine guns, while Thomas notes that the use of remote weapons may be able to reduce crew exposure to enemy attack. Naturally, all this technology would be a waste of money if OPVs and their crews didn’t have anything to do – but here, too, it’s clear they do. Buoyed by the post-9/11 focus on small-scale projects, and famed for their manoeuvrability and speed, over recent years they’ve supported civil and military forces across a range of operations. In Australia, to give one example, the OPV Nemesis has helped the New South Wales Police Force detain illegal migrants and foil drug smugglers. Based in Marseille, the Gyptis is set to have a similarly idiosyncratic career, with the French government tasking the OPV with monitoring the stock of red tuna in the Mediterranean. Other work in that particular sea transcends specific countries. “OPVs have been deployed, among other missions, on Nato’s Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean Sea,” says Lieutenant Commander Baldur Gudjonsson of Nato Allied Maritime Command, noting that the maritime security mission has significantly bolstered the fight against terrorism in the region.
NATO MARCOM; Kevin Shipp/
Shutterstock.com
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