The PR Navy: Patrol Boats and Light Ships

[Eddie Baker]

Ok, TBH that was the only thing I could find that was suitable for the UK. Couldn't even find any pics with the optional 20mm on it, so I kinda guessed it wasn't exactly a vessel used in hot mid-east patrols.

I'd imagine that in areas like 'stan, we would be at a major disadvantage when patrolling rivers, given the forested green zones either side of them; kinda like the yanks in Vietnam. Can't be too enjoyable chugging down narrow rivers lined with trees and undergrowth so thick you can't even see more than a couple of metres in.

If it makes you feel better, we've only recently gotten back into this game. The USMC Small Craft Company was formed pretty much from scratch in the late 80s/early 90s after recognizing a need for a riverine capability (beyond just the Special Boat elements of NSW) in the SOUTHCOM AO (Central/South America and Caribbean); their first coxswains received their training from the Coast Guard SMTC, which has a small reservation on Camp Lejeune. Once they realized how effective and necessary they were in Iraq, the Navy decided it was an important capability and expanded upon it (while disbanding the unit that had proved the concept *shrugs*). Perhaps the MoD will learn from this too and develop an improved riverine/small patrol craft capability? RM and RE certainly have enough well trained small boat handlers to make it work if they get armed boats, and they've already been doing a good job with what they have.

Sounds good and how about the chinook or blackhawk even being able to deploy a small boat

Zodiacs and "duck drops" have been suggested before, and these boats are widely used (or duplicated) enough to be generic to each faction. I have suggested on the DEV forum that I would like to see them become the single squad water transport (6 men- one of the squad members as coxswain), with larger boats, unique (as we can get) to each faction, carrying an entire squad plus coxswain and gunner.

[EOD_Security-2252]

I support replacing the RIBs with SURCs (what is shown the first couple of pictures), but only USMC uses SURCs, so someone would need to research riverine crafts on a more international level.
Currently, PR doesn't really use naval forces enough to warrant this, but I think it would be great if PR did use more boats (and if RIB was replaced with SURC it would be realistic too).

[Sadist_Cain]

rivers aren't very well implented in the game at all imo they just seem stuck in certain places to funnel the flow of heavy vehicles.

If ever there's a boat in PR I use it, the idea isnt to patrol the waters and rule them (the Rhib is pointlerss for that) but it gives you a fast direct insertion that can be very secretive

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

there's a lot of focus in PR about air and ground fighting but not a lot to do with rivers apart from Bi Ming which only just qualify

Lotsa potential for this to be used and not a lot of reason not to, apart from extra work

[Eddie Baker]

I support replacing the RIBs with SURCs (what is shown the first couple of pictures), but only USMC uses SURCs

The 2MARDIV Small Craft Company was disbanded and the riverine mission belongs to the Navy again. The SURC has been re-designated as the "Riverine Patrol Boat (RPB)," and the Marines' inventory of them transferred to the RIVRONs, along with newly purchased boats.

[chuckMFd]

wHAT ABOUT the use of mini subs for the ultimate stealth insertion lets say a six man version!! Now were talkin!!

Submarine, homemade and cocaine-laden, is seized off Mexico - Los Angeles Times

[Hotrod525]

You're SMALLEST costal defense boat got a 40MM buffer and 2 HARPOON's Battery are you sure it is the weakest ? LOL!

[Eddie Baker]

You're SMALLEST costal defense boat got a 40MM buffer and 2 HARPOON's Battery are you sure it is the weakest ? LOL!

Who were you talking to?

[Bob_Marley]

The Brits could use those hover crafts the RMs have, on the plus side they can traverse land and very shallow water, on the down side they've only got a GPMG strapped to the roof.

[EOD_Security-2252]

Thanks Bob, but that would make it a bit unfair, unless we're going to ditch all vessels for hovercrafts? (I don't like the idea, but then again, I don't like hovercrafts).

[Masaq]

Thanks Bob, but that would make it a bit unfair, unless we're going to ditch all vessels for hovercrafts? (I don't like the idea, but then again, I don't like hovercrafts).

As Eddie said above, get past the idea that every faction has to have the same equipment

[Celestial1]

Would be awesome to see these ships as a 'first assault' option for landbased maps. Delay air vehicles spawning for just a couple minutes to allow for boats to move in.

Or, depending on if Scenario mode works this way, that the boats must be used until coastline AA is taken out, would be interesting to see how it plays out.

[Tannhauser]

There is a map like that in the makings ; Dragons mouth by Hughass and Romagnolo.

Otherwise, I think boats would be welcome on coastal maps and marshland maps : Shongua Stalemate style or in a port town.
The BEST location for PT boats to be used is Guadalcanal styled maps : Lots of flooded jungle, marshlands and tons of small and big rivers. Another good spot would also be in Vietnam, along river deltas for example.

[EOD_Security-2252]

That sounds like a really good idea. For example, the Coalition could spawn on a carrier offshore and nearby the beaches would be heavy AA emplacements (like those big SAMs from USI that are at some of the uncaps), which would make it practically impossible for aircraft to pass. So, small crews of Engineers and SF would need to go ashore and destroy the AA emplacements before the aircraft could proceed. And the AA guns would never spawn again once destroyed.

[Kenny]

ya I would love to see some more boats for amphibious assults at the moment i'm moddling a boat for my first project when im still learning using gmax and when im finished ill post some pics in the modding section

[single.shot (nor)]

i like the idea of light ships but the ribs ingame or OK the only thing they need is to replace the lmgs to the correct one.

ENDORSED 5/5

[EOD_Security-2252]

RIBs just need to be replaced, they aren't used really. If you still want a Zodiac type boat make a good-old fashion inflatable without guns, but really only SEALS, Force Recon and Recon use those.

[torenico]

and what about the Brits, PLA, MEC etc?

China have some Light Destroyers.. i think..

Ha common, you can make this war like you want! there is no restriction

China gets some Patrol Ships.. would be awesome!

Mec.. Mec.. forget about mec

[Bob_Marley]

Thanks Bob, but that would make it a bit unfair, unless we're going to ditch all vessels for hovercrafts? (I don't like the idea, but then again, I don't like hovercrafts).

Reread what I just said and look once again at the craft in the original post. The American craft seem to have at least 2 M60s or M240s, often suplimented with M2s, and I've seen patrol craft equiped with automatic grenade launchers and gatling guns. by comparison the British get 1 GPMG on an exposed roof position but greater mobility/flexibility.

And as for the MEC, well, they can take to the high seas in thier Vodnicks and BTRs. Just like in good old BF:V - the yanks with thier PBs and Tangos, vs Charlie with thier PT-76s hehe

Asymetric balance.

[Eddie Baker]

RIBs just need to be replaced, they aren't used really. If you still want a Zodiac type boat make a good-old fashion inflatable without guns, but really only SEALS, Force Recon and Recon use those.

RIBs come in many different flavors, and every US navy ship has at least one of them. One of their uses is for carrying the VBSS team, so any of these boats can most definitely see combat. Also, an MEU(SOC) recently experimented with having a 2 x RIB detachment (recycled NSW 11m RIBs with Marine crews) as part of the unit. For amphibious / riverine assault landing, you would want something more substantial, but you must work with what you have.

Zods/CRRCs are also used by the designated "boat company" of an MEU's battalion landing team. Any Marine rifleman or infantry unit leader can be trained as a CRRC coxswain. They are not just limited to Recon, Army LRS, EOD and SOF units.

[WNxSarge]

I would love to see the rib replaced

Is it just me or is it meant to be that slow in RL?
Ever since playing BF2V it's always seemed too slow and too much of an easy target.
Would be great if the speed was increased