Vedette côtière de surveillance maritime

Patrol boat Huveaune (P619) in the old harbour of Marseille.
Class overview
Name: Vedette côtière de surveillance maritime
Operators:
Subclasses: RPB 20 for export
In commission: 11 June 2003
Completed: 30
General characteristics
Type: Swift boat
Displacement: 31 to 41 tonnes
Length: 20 metres
Beam: 5.29 metres
Draught: 2.89 metres
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h)
Range: 500 nautical miles (1,000 km)
Endurance: 4 days
Boats & landing
craft carried:
Tender One 490 boat, by Raidco marine
Complement: 8
Sensors and
processing systems:
Radar
Armament: Light infantry weapons, FM AANF1
Armour: Bridge

The Vedettes côtières de surveillance maritime (VCSM, "coastal boats for sea surveillance") are swift craft of the French Gendarmerie maritime. 24 boats of the type have been commissioned. They are based in various harbours of France, and are used for coast guard duties ranging from rescue to military tasks, including monitoring of pollution, sea police, and interception of illegal immigrants and drug traffickers.

The VCSM carry a custom-designed rigid-hull tender in a well deck. This deck can be converted into a helicopter airlift zone.

The boats do not carry heavy armament, but light machine guns can be installed when needed. In addition, infantry small arms are carried by the crew.

Ships in Gendarmerie maritime service

The ships in Gendarmerie maritime service are named for rivers of the harbours in which they are based

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