Patrol boat

Patrol boats are lightly armed, fast boats or small to medium-sized ships used by the Navy , Coast Guard , Police or Customs .

The term is used for different vehicles. The size, equipment and armament of the patrol boats differ depending on the operating conditions. They are used against smugglers , terrorists , illegal immigrants , etc. Ocean patrol boats (so-called offshore patrol vessels , OPV) are designed for longer journeys and some also have helicopter landing pads .

Military patrol boats are used, among other things, for reconnaissance , surveillance and security in the coastal apron. In order to be able to provide the larger number of vehicles required for this purpose, civilian ships such as fishing vessels and yachts were requisitioned and used as patrol boats during the world wars .