Island-class patrol vessel (2013)

The Island-class is a class of Police patrol boat operated primarily by the MOD Police Clyde Marine Unit at HMNB Clyde. They are tasked with protecting high value Royal Navy ships such as the Vanguard-class submarines. Royal Marines currently operate two ex police boats of the class Mull and Rona- these were handed over to the Royal Marines during 2013. Rona and Mull are interchangeable in their roles and can be used by both RM and MDP. The RMs also have a third vessel named Eorsa. Mod Police Portsmouth Marine Unit also operate Gigha and Lewis. Gigha was the prototype and first of class. [1][2]

Island-class Police patrol vessel
Class overview
Builders: Holyhead Marine Services
Operators: MoD Police Clyde Marine Unit (primary) . Portsmouth Marine Unit. Force Protection Group Royal Marines
Preceded by: 14m police boat
Succeeded by: new hull in design phase
Subclasses: RM patrol craft
Built: 294 miles at 33kts full load
In commission: 12
General characteristics
Type: Police Patrol Boat
Displacement: 19.9 tonnes
Length: 14.90m (OA)
Beam: 4.58m
Draught: 0.90m (Full Load)
Propulsion: Twin Caterpillar C18 @ 715bhp (533kW) coupled to Rolls Royce FF37 Waterjets
Speed: 33kts @ 19.9 tonnes
Complement: 3
Armament: Capable of carrying variety of weapons fit
Armour: Ballistically protected

Specifications

The Island-class patrol vessel has the following specifications:[2]

  • Weight (full): 20,000 kg (20 tonnes)
  • Length: 14.9 m (48 ft 11 in)
  • Width : 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
  • Speed: 33 kn (61 km/h; 38 mph)
  • Endurance: In excess of 275 nautical miles (509 km)
  • Crew: 3
  • Armament: Weapon mounts for GPMGs, GMGs and HMGs

Current Fleet

MoD Police

  • Gigha (Portsmouth Marine Unit)'
  • Iona
  • Skye
  • Lismore
  • Barra
  • Harris
  • Lewis (Portsmouth Marine Unit)
  • Jura
  • Tiree

Royal Marines

  • Mull
  • Rona
  • Eorsa

See also

References

  1. Royal Marines take delivery of new Island Class vessels, royalnavy.mod.uk, 07/03/2013
  2. 15m Police Boat Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, holyheadmarine.co.uk, Retrieved 15 June 2014


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