U.S. Navy Riverine Squadron 2 patrols the waters above Haditha Dam, Anbar Province, Iraq, in a Small Unit Riverine Craft.
Class overview
NameSmall unit riverine craft (SURC)
Operators
General characteristics
TypeRiverine patrol boat
Displacement22,000 lb (10,000 kg) combat load
Length38 ft (12 m) (w/ transom platform)
Beam10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) (collars removable for C-130 transport)
Draft24 in (0.61 m) static
Propulsion
  • Twin Yanmar 6LY2A-STP diesel engines, 440 bhp (330 kW) at 3300 RPM;
  • Twin Hamilton waterjets HJ292
Speed35 knots (65 km/h) cruise, 39 knots (72 km/h) sprint
Range>250 nm
Complement16 troops
Crew2
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Ritchie magnetic compass
  • Integrated AN/PSN-11 GPS (PLGR)
  • Raymarine SL72 LCD radar
  • ST 60 depth sounder
  • Raymarine RAY53
  • VHF marine band radio
  • AN/VIC-3 internal stations
  • SINCGARS (VHF tactical) radio
Armament
NotesFuel: JP-5, JP-8, and marine diesel
U.S. Marines with Dam Security Unit, Bravo Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion near Haditha Dam in 2006.
U.S. Marines launch a SURC in Iraq
Landing ashore

The small unit riverine craft (SURC) is a rigid-hull, armed and armored patrol boat used by the U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy to maintain control of rivers and inland waterways. They are similar in size and purpose to the much older Patrol Boat, River vessels used during the Vietnam War.

The boats are built by Raytheon Naval & Maritime Integrated Systems, with a contract to build up to 100 boats. Raytheon's contract partners are SAFE Boats International of Bremerton, Washington and Boat Master of Fort Myers, Florida.

History

The boats were first deployed to Iraq and were used there by the now deactivated U.S. Marine Corps' Small Craft Company, being later turned over to the United States Navy Riverine Squadrons - units of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) that used the boats to patrol strategic areas of Iraq.

On Sept. 25 2013, the United States transferred six SURC patrol boats to the Philippine Marine Corps to provide a platform for command and control, reconnaissance, logistic/resupply, medical evacuation, counter-drug operations, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping and non-combatant evacuation operations & will be deployed to augment sea-based forces addressing terrorism and lawlessness.[2]

Design

According to the Navy, “The primary mission of the SURC is to provide tactical mobility and a limited weapons platform for the ground combat element of a Marine Air Ground Task Force in littoral and riverine environments.”[3] The boat's secondary mission includes “command and control, reconnaissance, logistic/resupply, medevac, counter-drug operations, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, and noncombatant evacuation operations.”[3]

The boat is transportable by C-130 Hercules aircraft and can be launched from its trailer at lakeside. It also has the capability to turn 180 degrees in less than three boat lengths and accelerate to 25 knots (46 km/h) in less than 15 seconds.

Other characteristics

Hull Type:Aluminum with full length beaching plates
Collars:High strength solid cell foam collar provides stability, redundant buoyancy, and small-arms ballistic protection
Weight:17,500 lb (7,900 kg) craft and trailer

See also

References

  1. ↑ "US gives PH 6 patrol boats to fight Moro militants in Mindanao". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  2. ↑ LaGrone, Sam (26 September 2013). "U.S. Gives Philippine Marines Six Riverine Boats for Counter Terrorism Missions". USNI News. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 Wavelengths Online. “Small Unit Riverine Craft”, May 17, 2004 Archived April 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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