10 Biggest Patrol Ships In The World

Offshore patrol ships are mainly used to patrol a nation’s exclusive economic zone, but they are also used for other purposes apart from coastal defense and maritime security. The biggest patrol ships are key assets and can be deployed in anti-smuggling operations, counter-terrorism, fishery patrols, immigration law enforcement, search and rescue, disaster relief, etc.

Their small size and low cost make them one of the most common yet indispensable naval ships in the world. 

The Chinese Coast Guard has around 225 ships of more than 500 tonnes, capable of operating offshore and additional ships confined to closer waters. Beijing also has two of the world’s biggest coast guard ships, each weighing 10,000 tonnes at full load.

Read along to learn about the 10 biggest patrol ships in the world. 

1. CCG 3901 or Chinese Cutter Nansha

Said to be the biggest patrol ship in the world, this Zhaotou-class cutter of the China Coast Guard, with a displacement of 12,000 tonnes, is bigger than the U.S. Navy’s 9800-ton Triconderoga-class guided missile cruisers, which has earned it the nickname, ‘the Monster’.  

A few specifications of this offshore patrol ship include:

• Length: 164.89 m
• Speed: 25 knots 
• Armament: a 76 mm naval gun, 2 auxiliary guns, 2 anti-aircraft machine guns
• Aviation facilities: Hangar and flight deck for two Z-8 helicopters

The heavy armament sets this coast guard ship apart from its contemporaries, which are usually fitted with lighter weaponry or just armed with water cannons. Another distinguishing factor is its massive size.

Commissioned in 2017, Nansha has usually been deployed in the disputed South China Sea. 

2. Shikishima of Japan Coast Guard

She is the lead vessel of her class of long-range patrol ships. Constructed in Tokyo by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Shikishima is the biggest and the heaviest armed patrol ship of the Japan Coast Guard. Given her cruising range and capacity, she can make trips from Japan to Europe without any port calls.

She is the only Japanese vessel fitted with anti-radar & Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannons, which gives her more anti-air firepower. The ship frequently goes to Southeast Asia to foster cooperation against piracy in the Strait of Malacca. 

• Length: 150 m
• Breadth: 16.5 m
• Draft: 9 m
• Displacement: 9,300 tons 
• Speed: 25 knots
• Range: 20,000 nm
• Armament: two Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon, two JM61 20 mm gun
• Aircraft: two Eurocopter AS332

3. Paolo Thaon di Revel (P430) of the Italian Navy

This is the lead ship of the Italian Navy’s Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessels. One of the biggest patrol ships, it was laid down in 2017 and commissioned in 2022.

These ships were designed to be multipurpose and were built with slightly different configurations, with a basic light variant for patrolling, some with better self-defense capacities and a full variant with a much broader capacity. 

• Displacement: 5830 tonnes
• Length:143 m
• Breadth: 16.5 m
• Depth: 5 m
• Speed: 27 knots
• Range: 5000 nm
• Armament: one Oto Melara 127 mm/64 Vulcano with Automated Ammunition Handling System (AAHS), an Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Strales Sovraponte anti-aircraft gun and two
•  Oto Melara Oerlikon KBA B06
• Aircraft : two SH90’s and a AW101
• Aviation facilities: double hangar, flight deck

4. USCGC Calhoun of U.S Coast Guard

This legend-class cutter of the U.S. Coast Guard was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries.

It has a high endurance and is technologically advanced, which makes it vital during national emergencies and other disasters. 

These vessels can take on lightly armed hostiles in low-threat environments, thanks to their AN/SPS-75 air search radar, SPQ-9B fire control radar and a surface search radar.

It has an advanced electronic warfare system, rapid decoy launcher armament, a 57 mm naval gun system, four caliber machine guns, armor ballistic protection for the main gun and much more.

• Displacement: 4,500 tonnes
• Length: 127 m
• Beam: 6.9 m
• Speed: 28 knots 
• Range: 12,000 nm
• Aircraft:  two MH-65C Dolphin MCH or one MH-65C Dolphin MCH and two sUAS

5.  PLH-10 Daisen of Japan Coast Guard

This Tsugaru-class patrol ship of the Japan Coast Guard not only has a helicopter platform but also functions as a command vessel, so it has an operations room and an OIC section installed near the bridge.

The ships of this class have Heli-TV to allow transmission of TV signals directly from helicopter to the OIC sections. It also boasts a SATCOM system to relay these signals to the onshore headquarters.

There are 9 ships of this class currently in active service.

• Displacement: 4,037 tonnes
• Length: 105.4 m
• Beam: 14.6 m
• Draught: 8.0 m
• Speed: 23 knots
• Armament: one L/90 35 mm gun, a JM61-RFS 20 mm gun
• Aviation facilities: one ASR helicopter

6. HNLMS Holland (P840) of Royal Netherlands Navy

This is the first vessel of the Holland-class of patrol ships belonging to the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was made to patrol and intervene against smugglers and pirates, but it is also equipped with electronic and radar surveillance systems used for security missions.

• Displacement: 3,750 tons full load
• Length: 108.4 m
• Beam: 16 m 
• Draught: 4.55 m
• Speed: 21.5 knots
• Range: 5,000 nautical miles
• Endurance: 21 days
• Armament: a 76 mm Oto Melara Super Rapid, a 30 mm Oto Melara Marlin WS, six 7.62 mm FN MAG machine guns
• Aircraft: one NH90 NFH helicopter
• Aviation facilities: fully equipped hangar and flight deck for one medium-sized helicopter

7. HSwMS Carlskrona (P04) of Swedish Navy

The longest ship in the Swedish Navy, she was originally a minelayer and also used as the navy’s long travel ship. It was launched in 1980 and played a key role during the Cold War Era. However, it was left with no task when the Swedish Armed Forces were restructured in the 2000s. 

It was refitted in 2002 and in 2016 to extend its service life.

• Displacement: 3,150 tonnes
• Length: 105.7 m
• Beam: 15.2 m
• Draft: 4.7 m
• Speed: 20 knots
• Armament: two Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun
• Aircraft: one AW109LUH (HKP15B)
• Aviation facilities: 1 Helipad

8. Furor (P-46) of the Spanish Navy

This offshore patrol vessel is the 6th of the Meteoro class built for the Spanish Navy by Navantia.

This class, also called Buque de Acción Marítima (BAM), comprises modular offshore patrol ships which are made for various purposes from a common base. The BAM incorporates high performance and efficiency with mission versatility, thereby decreasing the lifecycle costs of ships.

• Displacement: 2860 tons full load
• Length: 93.9 m
• Beam: 14.2 m
• Draft: 4.2 m
• Speed: 20 knots
• Range: 3,500 nm
• Armament: a 76 mm/62 gun, two 25 mm automatic mountings, two 12.7 mm machine guns
• Aircraft carried: an NH-90 helicopter

9. ICGS Samarth of Indian Coast Guard

The newest and the biggest offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, Samarth, is the first in the line of 6 such ships and was built by the Goa Shipyard Limited.

It was commissioned in 2015 and is used for patrolling the Exclusive Economic Zone and is deployed extensively on the western seaboard. 

• Length: 105 m
• Displacement: 2450 tonnes
• Speed: 23 knots
• Endurance: 6,000 nm
• Aircraft: 1 helicopter HAL Dhruv

10. HTMS Krabi of Royal Thai Navy

This modified River-class patrol ship was constructed by Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard in 2011 and was commissioned in 2013.

It is equipped with an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun and two MSI 30mm secondary guns, along with machine guns.

She is powered by two MAN 16v 28/33D diesel engines and is fitted with a Thales Variant surveillance radar, a fire control radar and a combat management system.

• Displacement: 2,000 tonnes
• Length: 90.5 m
• Beam: 13.5 m
• Speed: 25 knots
• Range: 5,500 nm
• Armament: one Oto Melara 76 mm gun, two 30mm MSI guns, two Machine guns
• Aircraft: One H145M helicopter
• Aviation facilities: flight deck

You might also like to read-

• What are Offshore Vessels?
• A Guide To Types of Ships
• Types of Ships in Merchant Navy
• List Of Major Shipbuilding Companies Around the Globe
• Advantages And Disadvantages Of Bigger Vessels For Port And Terminal Operators
• Top 10 Largest Dry Docks in the World

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