Skrunda-class patrol boat
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Skrunda class |
| Builders | |
| Operators |  Latvian Naval Forces |
| Preceded by | Storm class |
| In commission | 2011–present |
| Planned | 5 |
| Completed | 5 |
| Active | 5 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Patrol boat |
| Displacement | 125 tons |
| Length | 25.7 m (84 ft 4 in) |
| Beam | 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in) |
| Draft | 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 x MAN D 2842 diesel engines and Servogear CPPs, 1,620 kW (2,170 hp) |
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Range | 1,000 nmi (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 1 x RIB for shallow water pursuit |
| Complement | 8–10 (depending on mission) |
| Sensors and processing systems | Raytheon X-band radar and electro optic sensors |
| Armament |
|
The Skrunda class is a class of SWATH patrol vessels used by the Latvian Navy.[1][2][3][4] The main duties of the vessels include fisheries inspections, search and rescue, environmental protection, sovereignty enforcement, and participation in NATO and EU operations.
Description
The Skrunda class was ordered in 2008 and built in cooperation by Abeking & Rasmussen Shipyard in Germany and Riga Shipyard in Latvia between 2009 and 2013. The class and the five vessels are named after towns and cities in Latvia from each of the five historical regions of Latvia, where important battles for Latvia's independence took place. The design is based on the well proven Abeking & Rasmussen 25-metre (82 ft) SWATH Pilot boat design, which is known for its excellent seaworthiness, offering motions in high sea state similar to conventional monohull ships three to four times its size. Skrunda-class vessels are able to perform 100% of their duties in waves as high as 3.5 metres (11 ft). The propulsion system was designed specifically for the Skrunda class and places two MAN D 2842 diesel engines in the lower torpedo hulls, driving Servogear controllable pitch propellers via Servogear reduction gearboxes.
Tasked to monitor and control the Latvian and EU territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, the Skrunda class can perform a number of different missions by changing the mission module between the bows of the two hulls, which adheres to the dimensions of a 20-foot (6.1 m) ISO container and has a payload of 6 tons. A Mission Module may contain weapons systems, equipment for hydrographic surveying, environmental protection, support for divers, or mine countermeasure operations.
Armament
The standard armament consists of two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns. In addition, one Mission Module can be installed with a weapons system that weighs up to 6 tons.
Vessels in class
| Pennant Number |
Name | Shipyard | Launched | In Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-05 | Skrunda | Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany | 20 January 2011 | 18 April 2011 |
| P-06 | Cēsis | Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany | 23 November 2011 | 2 April 2012 |
| P-07 | Viesīte | Riga Shipyard, Latvia | 11 April 2012 | 22 August 2012 |
| P-08 | Jelgava | Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany | 16 April 2013 | 24 July 2013 |
| P-09 | Rēzekne | Riga Shipyard, Latvia | 14 October 2013 | 20 March 2014 |
A scale model of a ship, presented to members of the Saeima on a visit to the Riga Shipyard in 2011
The P-05 Skrunda, displaying its M2 Browning machine gun
Interior of the deck
P-05 Skrunda and P-07 Viesīte side-by-side on an open day in Andrejsala
References
- ^ "Delivery of the first SWATH@A&R Offshore Patrol Boat". Abeking & Rasmussen. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ "First Latvian SWATH patrol boat named, SIGNALS". Jane's Intelligence and Insight. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ "Latvian Naval SWATH Boats to stay with GL in class". GL Group. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ "Krasta apsardzes patruļkuģu būves projekts". Latvian Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2012.