The Defender-class boat, also called Response Boat–Small (RB-S) and Response Boat–Homeland Security (RB-HS), is a standard boat introduced by the United States Coast Guard in 2002. The boats serve a variety of missions, including search and rescue, port security and law enforcement duties and replaces a variety of smaller non-standard boats.[1]
The design length of the hull is 25 feet and the boat is officially referred to as such. However, the overall length with engines mounted is approximately 29 feet (8.8 m). Powered by twin 225 hp (168 kW) outboard motors, they are capable of speeds in excess of 46 knots (85 km/h) and have a range of 150 to 175 nautical miles (324 km), depending on the class. The boat requires a minimum crew of two persons, but has a carrying capacity for 10 persons. The boat is easily trailerable and can be transported by a C-130 Hercules aircraft or truck.[2]
Although similar in appearance to a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, the Defender is actually an aluminum-hulled vessel, equipped with a rigid foam-filled flotation collar. The first generation of boats were built by SAFE Boats International (Secure All-around Flotation Equipped) of Bremerton, Washington, a vendor of government and law enforcement boats.[3][4] The replacement second generation was ordered in 2011 from Metal Shark Boats.
The Defender class utilizes a rigid deep-V hull constructed of marine grade aluminum. While similar in appearance to the sponson of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat the Defender's collar is actually made from rigid polyethylene foam. The boat is powered by two 225 horsepower (168 kW) outboard engines, usually Honda four-strokes though Mercury and Johnson engines have also been used. Tow bitts are fitted forward and aft which also serve as mounting points for M240B or M60 machine guns.[2]
The Defender A class or Response Boat–Homeland Security (RB-HS) was the first version of the Defender class and entered service in 2002. Some A-class boats in service with the Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) have gray collars instead of the more common orange.
B class
The Defender B class, also known as the Response Boat–Small (RB-S) is a further development of the A class. First entering service in 2003 it has a slightly longer cabin, additional spotter windows aft, shock mitigating cabin seats, a smaller 105 gallon fuel tank, and various other minor changes. It is the most common of the three classes.[2][5]
C class
The Defender C class, sometimes known as the Response Boat Small–Charlie, is a modification of the B class and was designed as a replacement for the aging 25-foot (7.6 m) Transportable Port Security Boats (TPSB) currently used by Port Security Units. The C class has a gray foam collar, a cabin climate control system, and an increased armament of one M2HB .50-caliber machine gun on a modified forward mount and two M240B machine guns on port and starboard mounts just aft of the cabin.
A Defender-class boat in service with the Kenya Navy Special Boat Unit in 2010
The first C-class boats were delivered to Port Security Unit 305 in May 2008 for testing and entered operational service at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2009.[6]
Service life and replacement
With the Defender-class boats nearing the end of their 10-year service life, the Coast Guard issued a request for proposal for replacement design for the Response Boat-Small. The request called for a 25–30 foot boat, with weapon mounts, a minimum speed of 40 knots, and a range of at least 150 nautical miles.[7]
USS Cole under escort 2011
Contracts were awarded for two boats, one from SAFE Boats International and one from Metal Shark Aluminum Boats, for testing and on September 26, 2011 the Coast Guard awarded a contract to Metal Shark Boats for the production of 38 Response Boats-Small.[8] In November, Metal Shark was awarded a $192 million contract for up to 500 response boats—470 to replace the entirety of the Coast Guard's 2002-built fleet, 20 for the US Border Patrol, and 10 for the US Navy.[9]
^Johnson, Linda M. (September 2010). "Coast Guard Releases Request for Proposal for New Response Boat-Small" (PDF). Delivering the Goods. Vol. 31. United States Coast Guard. p. 2.
^"Contract Awarded for the Production of 38 Response Boats-Small" (Press release). United States Coast Guard. September 28, 2011.
^"Metal Shark Awarded $192T Coast Guard Contract". Marine Link. November 14, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
^"US provides patrol boats to Djibouti". Defenceweb. 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
^Keeter, Hunter C. (November 2008). "Iraqi Navy's Boat Purchase Marks Milestone for Coast Guard FMS Program" (PDF). Delivering the Goods. United States Coast Guard.
^. Archived from the original on 2014-04-03. Retrieved 2013-12-11.Ships of the Nigerian Navy
^defenceWeb (10 July 2014). "Togo receives Defender patrol boat from United States". defenceWeb. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USCG Defender class boat.
U.S. Coast Guard: Response boat-small fact sheet (PDF)
January 12, 2023
defender, class, boat, confused, with, defender, class, torpedo, boat, also, called, response, boat, small, response, boat, homeland, security, standard, boat, introduced, united, states, coast, guard, 2002, boats, serve, variety, missions, including, search, . Not to be confused with Defender class torpedo boat The Defender class boat also called Response Boat Small RB S and Response Boat Homeland Security RB HS is a standard boat introduced by the United States Coast Guard in 2002 The boats serve a variety of missions including search and rescue port security and law enforcement duties and replaces a variety of smaller non standard boats 1 Defender class boatClass overviewNameDefender classBuildersSAFE Boats InternationalOperatorsSee OperatorsSubclassesDefender A Class Defender B Class Defender C ClassIn service2002 PresentCompleted800 citation needed Active800 citation needed General characteristicsDisplacement8 5 tonLength8 9 m 29 ft 2 in A Class 9 m 29 ft 6 in B Class Beam2 6 m 8 ft 6 in Draught0 98 m 3 ft 3 in Propulsion2 Honda 4 stroke outboard engines 225 hp 168 kW eachSpeed46 knots 53 mph 85 km h maximum 35 knots 40 mph 65 km h cruisingRange175 nmi 324 km A Class 150 nmi 280 km B Class Complement4 crew 6 passengersArmament1 2 M240B A and B Class 1 M2HB 2 M240B C Class M60 machine gunThe design length of the hull is 25 feet and the boat is officially referred to as such However the overall length with engines mounted is approximately 29 feet 8 8 m Powered by twin 225 hp 168 kW outboard motors they are capable of speeds in excess of 46 knots 85 km h and have a range of 150 to 175 nautical miles 324 km depending on the class The boat requires a minimum crew of two persons but has a carrying capacity for 10 persons The boat is easily trailerable and can be transported by a C 130 Hercules aircraft or truck 2 Although similar in appearance to a rigid hulled inflatable boat the Defender is actually an aluminum hulled vessel equipped with a rigid foam filled flotation collar The first generation of boats were built by SAFE Boats International Secure All around Flotation Equipped of Bremerton Washington a vendor of government and law enforcement boats 3 4 The replacement second generation was ordered in 2011 from Metal Shark Boats Contents 1 Design 2 Variants 2 1 A class 2 2 B class 2 3 C class 3 Service life and replacement 4 Operators 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDesign Edit A 25 foot 8 m Defender A class boat from Maritime Safety and Security Team 91106 in New York Harbor The Defender class utilizes a rigid deep V hull constructed of marine grade aluminum While similar in appearance to the sponson of a rigid hulled inflatable boat the Defender s collar is actually made from rigid polyethylene foam The boat is powered by two 225 horsepower 168 kW outboard engines usually Honda four strokes though Mercury and Johnson engines have also been used Tow bitts are fitted forward and aft which also serve as mounting points for M240B or M60 machine guns 2 Variants EditA class Edit A Defender C class boat on patrol near Guantanamo Bay The Defender A class or Response Boat Homeland Security RB HS was the first version of the Defender class and entered service in 2002 Some A class boats in service with the Maritime Security Response Team MSRT have gray collars instead of the more common orange B class Edit The Defender B class also known as the Response Boat Small RB S is a further development of the A class First entering service in 2003 it has a slightly longer cabin additional spotter windows aft shock mitigating cabin seats a smaller 105 gallon fuel tank and various other minor changes It is the most common of the three classes 2 5 C class Edit The Defender C class sometimes known as the Response Boat Small Charlie is a modification of the B class and was designed as a replacement for the aging 25 foot 7 6 m Transportable Port Security Boats TPSB currently used by Port Security Units The C class has a gray foam collar a cabin climate control system and an increased armament of one M2HB 50 caliber machine gun on a modified forward mount and two M240B machine guns on port and starboard mounts just aft of the cabin A Defender class boat in service with the Kenya Navy Special Boat Unit in 2010 The first C class boats were delivered to Port Security Unit 305 in May 2008 for testing and entered operational service at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Cuba in 2009 6 Service life and replacement EditWith the Defender class boats nearing the end of their 10 year service life the Coast Guard issued a request for proposal for replacement design for the Response Boat Small The request called for a 25 30 foot boat with weapon mounts a minimum speed of 40 knots and a range of at least 150 nautical miles 7 USS Cole under escort 2011 Contracts were awarded for two boats one from SAFE Boats International and one from Metal Shark Aluminum Boats for testing and on September 26 2011 the Coast Guard awarded a contract to Metal Shark Boats for the production of 38 Response Boats Small 8 In November Metal Shark was awarded a 192 million contract for up to 500 response boats 470 to replace the entirety of the Coast Guard s 2002 built fleet 20 for the US Border Patrol and 10 for the US Navy 9 Operators Edit Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard coast guard Bangladesh Navy 10 Bangladesh Coast Guard 10 Royal Canadian Navy 11 Chilean Navy Colombian National Navy Djiboutian Navy 12 Iraqi Navy 13 Israeli Navy Israel Police Kenya Navy Liberian Coast Guard 14 failed verification Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta Mexican Navy Nigerian Navy 15 Somaliland Coast Guard Togolese Armed Forces operates one 16 United States Navy United States Coast GuardSee also EditEquipment of the United States Coast Guard Response boat mediumReferences Edit 25 Foot Defender Class Boat RB HS RB S United States Coast Guard Retrieved December 13 2008 a b c Defender Class Operator s Handbook PDF Report U S Department of Homeland Security United States Coast Guard June 27 2006 SAFE Boats International SAFE Boats International LLC Retrieved November 11 2006 GSA Sales page for SAFE Boats International United States Government Retrieved April 18 2008 Defender Class Boat RB HS RB S RB S II United States Coast Guard http www jtfgtmo southcom mil wire wire WirePDF v9 Issue 2049v9 pdf permanent dead link The Wire Vol 9 Issue 49 Johnson Linda M September 2010 Coast Guard Releases Request for Proposal for New Response Boat Small PDF Delivering the Goods Vol 31 United States Coast Guard p 2 Contract Awarded for the Production of 38 Response Boats Small Press release United States Coast Guard September 28 2011 Metal Shark Awarded 192T Coast Guard Contract Marine Link November 14 2011 Retrieved January 1 2017 a b Saunders Stephen ed 2014 Jane s Fighting Ships 2014 2015 Coulsdon UK IHS Jane s p 55 ISBN 978 0 7106 3101 5 Traffic technicians prepare NST lift off Pacific Navy News 2017 06 20 Retrieved 2017 11 22 US provides patrol boats to Djibouti Defenceweb 2020 03 03 Retrieved 2020 03 03 Keeter Hunter C November 2008 Iraqi Navy s Boat Purchase Marks Milestone for Coast Guard FMS Program PDF Delivering the Goods United States Coast Guard http www liberianobserver com node 10592 US Equip AFL with 2 Boats Ships Archived from the original on 2014 04 03 Retrieved 2013 12 11 Ships of the Nigerian Navy defenceWeb 10 July 2014 Togo receives Defender patrol boat from United States defenceWeb Retrieved 30 June 2021 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to USCG Defender class boat U S Coast Guard Response boat small fact sheet PDF Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Defender class boat amp oldid 1129054011, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
