The PR Navy: Patrol Boats and Light Ships

[Rudd]

who misses joint operations?! /cry

a river congo map would be cool with insurgnets hiding drug caches or summin similar

it would

[+SiN+headhunter]

Well make them guy's.
Then we can put them in game.

[M.Warren]

Some information regarding British Patrol boats referred to as "Rigid Raiders" and "Combat Patrol Boats" and insurgent activity in Iraq. The source was derived from here.

Q&A: UK troops and Basra boat blast.

Four British servicemen have been killed and three injured in an attack on a patrol boat in the Shatt al-Arab waterway in Basra, southern Iraq.

Why do troops depend on the river, and what does the attack mean for future operations?

What is Basra's Shatt al-Arab waterway?

The waterway, which flows into the Gulf, is a narrow stretch of river about 120 miles long. It is fed by the Euphrates, Tigris, and Karun rivers and forms the boundary between Iraq and Iran. The border between the two countries runs up the middle of the river, and in some places there are disputes about exactly where it is. It is heavily patrolled by Iraqi and British forces to prevent explosive material being smuggled across the border.

Why do troops use the river?

It is mainly used to transport personnel quickly between the two main bases in the centre of the city. The fast riverboats have been used to get people from place to place without running the risk of using roads and encountering roadside bombs. Until now, the river had been considered a safe mode of transport.

What kind of boats do British forces use?

Patrolling the Shatt al-Arab is a risky job for troops because the waterway is too narrow and shallow for large, well-armoured vessels. Instead British forces use so-called "rigid raider" launches, which can carry up to a dozen troops. They only have light arms for protection and they are vulnerable to attack. A boat called the Boston Whaler, used by customs officers, also has no serious armour.

Have there been attacks before?

Fears over suicide bombs grew after three members of the USS Firebolt's boarding party were killed near the mouth of the river in 2004. The Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF) was later created to help with security on the waterway. Recruits were trained in Britain, but multi-national troops still do much of the work.

What kind of bombs do insurgents use?

Most attacks on troops use improvised explosive devices, known as IEDs. It is believed this is the first time such a device has been used to target a British boat. But roadside bombs and suicide bombs have become more effective during the last two or three years.

Will the British military have to change their tactics?

Military leaders will be analysing evidence to find out what kind of bomb was used. Security is likely to be improved along the river bank, but whether patrolling techniques will change remains to be seen.

What can troops do to protect themselves?

The British military has to be constantly "on its toes", says military analyst Colonel Mike Dewer. He expects British forces to now be more circumspect about how and when they use river transportation. They could vary their operations by changing their routes, and hope to stay one step ahead of the enemy. But he said the attack would not affect the morale of soldiers and they would "get on with the job."

It appears patrol boats play a much larger role than we anticipated. I must admit that even I was surprised.

[[R-DEV]Masaq]

The Royal Marines are reportedly replacing many of their Rigid Raiders with the ORC - Offshore Raiding Craft, a 9m long monohull with a flexible mount able to carry 7.61mm or .50 cal machine guns, and able to be underslung from a Merlin or Chinook.

9m makes it a thirty-footer, so it's a fair bit larger than the RiBs in-game already.

Top speed of 40 knots or 36 kts (loaded), so it's pretty damn fast, on inboard diesels.

The crew and passengers are still exposed to small-arms fire, but they're at least able to return fire a hell of a lot more convincingly with either Gimpy or 50cals in a twin mount and a single mount capable of either housing a third of the same or a 40mm grenade launcher. It also has smoke dispensers.


Personally, I think they'd look stunning in-game, and if I had the time I'd definitely start improving my modelling skills with the aim of creating it. Unfortunately, I don't... any takers?


Information:
Offshore Raiding Craft - UKSF Gear

"Offshore Raiding Craft" - Google Image Search

[Rudd]

Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Masaq

and able to be underslung from a Merlin or Chinook.

Boat artillery any1?

[Tartantyco]

Originally Posted by M.Warren

"Rigid Raiders"

-I'm pretty sure that's a gay porn movie.

[thedoombringer0]

I like this suggestion.
Maps based on water mobility =D
More varieties of water based craft =D
And hopefully no more bf2v ribs for every team =D
100% behind this suggestion.

[ReapersWarrior]

I think if the speed was increased on the boats now it would solve alot of problems.

[Garmax]

oh man.. those boats are so sloww.. its sad. thats the problem

[red.murder1]

what we need is a 1024*4 map with Both teams having a static aircraft carrier and various destroyer boats,aircraft and helos and the goal is to destroy the other teams aircraft carrier's bridge,that would be awesome