Patrol Vessels Of Abkhazia

Patrol boats, ships, craft, or vessels are small naval vessels designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. They can vary in size and purpose but are chiefly defensive and are usually among the smallest commissioned vessels in any navy. Sometimes they are operated by the navy of any particular nation but are often used by Coast Guard forces. For larger navies, they serve minor roles and are of small importance but for smaller navies, they tend to be the largest ships they operate. Their small size and cost make them some of the most numerous warships in the world.

They were first developed in the two World Wars as the need arose for large quantities of lightly armed vessels for the most basic but fundamental naval work. They first became recognisable during the Vietnam War when the U.S. Navy operated around 200 PCFs (Patrol Craft, Fast), also known as Swiftboats and featured prominently in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now. Some of the largest modern Offshore Patrol Vessels feature small flight decks and the ability to carry a helicopter whereas the smallest ones are hardly more than civilian vessels with very light armament.