Namacurra-class patrol boats
Class overview
BuildersTornado Products, South Africa
Operators
Built1980–1981
In commission1980–present
Planned33
Completed33
Active32
Lost1
General characteristics
Class and typeHarbour patrol craft
Displacement
  • 4 t (3.9 long tons) light
  • 5.2 t (5.1 long tons) fully loaded
Length9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
Beam2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Draught0.8 m (2 ft 7 in)
Propulsion2 × 280 kW (380 bhp) gasoline engines
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range180 nmi (330 km; 210 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement4
Sensors and
processing systems		Surface search: Furuno I-band
Armament
  • 1 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine gun
  • 2 × 7.62 mm (0.30 in) light machine guns[1]

The Namacurra-class patrol boats are a series of small harbour patrol boats currently in service with South Africa, Namibia, Malawi and Mozambique.

Background and description

The Namacurra class[2] (also spelled "Namicurra")[3] is a series of small harbour patrol craft designed and built in South Africa. Their catamaran-type hulls are made of glass-reinforced plastic. They have a displacement of 4 tonnes (3.9 long tons) light and 5.2 t (5.1 long tons) fully loaded and measure 9.5 metres (31 ft 2 in) with a beam of 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) and a draught of 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in). The boats are powered by two BMW or Yamaha 280-kilowatt (380 bhp) gasoline engines turning two propellers giving the vessels a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) With a crew of four they have a maximum range of 180 nautical miles (330 km; 210 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[3]

The patrol boats mount a Furuno surface search radar operating on the I band. They are armed with a 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine gun or two 7.62 mm (0.30 in) light machine guns.[1] When fitted the 12.7 mm gun is placed atop the pilothouse facing forward and the 7.62 mm guns are mounted facing aft.[3] Their small size allows the vessels to be transported by trailers and transported by road.[2]

Construction and career

33 patrol boats were built in South Africa between 1980 and 1981 for service with the South African Navy. They were initially numbered beginning with Y 1500, but they were later renamed in South African service beginning keeping only the final two digits of their initial names, beginning with Y 02.[2][3] These boats are in use with the harbour patrol forces in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Walvis Bay.[2] Y 1506 was lost at sea off Port Elizabeth.[4] Several boats were transferred to other nations. Five were refitted for advanced riverine operations as part of Project Xena.[3] Three were operated on Lake Tanganyika.[2]

Export

Y 1520 transferred to Malawi in October 1988. The vessel was renamed Kaning'a. Kaning'a was refitted in 2007. A second boat was transferred in October 2008.[2][5] Two, Y 1501 and Y 1510 were transferred to Namibia on 29 October 2002. They were renamed Y 01 and Y 10 respectively.[6] Y 1507 and Y 1530 were donated to Mozambique on 14 September 2004 They too were renamed to Y 07 and Y 30.[7] In 2006, a further two were donated to Angola.[2][3]

Citations

References

  • Du Toit, Allan (1992). South Africa's Fighting Ships: Past and Present. Ashanti.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2888-9.
  • Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (16th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9-7-815911-4954-5.
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