US coastal force seeks ‘intimidating’ patrol boat
The US Navy’s Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) is looking to replace up to 160 of its 25ft and 34ft force protection boats with a larger craft of unambiguously warlike appearance.
Designated PB-X, the new patrol boat will have an overall length of about 40-50ft (12.2-15.2m) and a topside designed to ‘create an intimidating presence and impression on all observers’, according to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).
Market survey documents issued by NAVSEA suggest the craft will be armed with four 12.7mm machine guns – one of them on a Sea Protector remote mount supplied by Kongsberg Protech – and two
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