Patrol boat

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A patrol boat is a small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence duties. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force and may be intended for marine (blue water) and/or estuarine or river ("brown water") environments. They are commonly found engaged in various border protection roles, including anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fisheries patrols, and immigration law enforcement. They are also often called upon to participate in rescue operations.

Patrol boats are typically around 30m (100 ft) in length and usually carry a single artillery gun as main armament, and a variety of lighter secondary armament such as machine guns. They are usually diesel-powered, although some modern designs use gas turbines, and speeds are generally in the 25-30 knot range.

Similar vessels for exclusively military duties include torpedo boats and missile boats. The U.S. Navy operated the Pegasus class of armed hydrofoils for years, in a patrol boat role.

Examples of patrol boats:-