The Navy Vol_37_Part1 (Feb-Mar-Apr, May-June-July 1975)

the weather decks in the superstructureand throughout the accommodationspaces Acoustic insulationis titled to the engine room bulkheadsMachineryThe 142ft fast patrol boats can bepowered by two separate machineryarrangements:The diesel version has four NapierDeltic or Maybach diesels. giving amaximum speed ol about 40 knots.The CODOG version has three RollsRoyce Proteus gas turbines alsogiving a maximum speed of about 40knots, with Paxman or Maybach 6-cylinder diesels on the wing shaftsfor manoeuvring or cruising atspeeds up to 15 knots.The engine control room containsall the controls for the main enginesand electrical generating plant Fullalarm and protection equipment forall machinery is fitted together withVosper Thomycroft private venture fast patrol boat Tenacity. This142 foot, 40 knot, gas turbine-diesel fast patrol boat, armed with anadvanced weapons system of powerful modem guns and guidedmissiles, represents a new generation of fast patrol boats capable ofengaging major warshipt and modern aircraft.complete instrumentation.The main switchboard is situatedin the same compartment, so thatone man can maintain completesurveillance of all machinery. Engineorder and revolution telegraphs arefitted between the wheelhouse andthe control roomTriple screw 142ft fast patrol boat powered by three Rolls Royce Proteus gas turbines and cruising dieselson the wing shafts. The forward gun is an Oerlikon twin 35mm controlled by Contraves Sea Hunter Mk 4,which also controls the four Contmves Sea Killer missiles in two fixed mountings on the aft deck.Page Twenty-four THE NAVY Kay/June/Juty, 1975WKiiliflf'ii' rf'i. • - .—. • • ' 1 - • iQuadruple screw 142ft fast patrol boat powered by four diesel engines. The forward gun is an Oto Melara76mm controlled by Contmves Sea Hunter Mk4, complete with stabilised optical sight, which also controlsthe five Sea Killer missiles in a rotatable mounting on the aft deck. Two torpedoes or other weapons canalso be fittedVosper Thomycroft FastPatrol Boat Design forVenezuelaVenezuela's new squadron of six37 metre fast patrol boats is nearingcompletion at the Portsmouth shipyardsof the designers and builders.Vosper Thomycroft Limited. Two ofthe boats have already sailed torVenezuela and the remaining fourare at various stages of fitting outand trials.The FPBs were designed by VosperThornycrott to meet the specificrequirements of the VenezuelanNavy. The contract for their designand construction was placed inApril. 1972. and valued at over £6million.The 37 metre boats have steelhulls driven by two diesel engines atspeeds of up to 30 knots. Three ofthe six carry a gun armamentconsisting of a 76mm Oto Melaragun mounting with associatedNuova San Giorgio NA 10 fire controlsystem and smaller weapons, whilethe remaining three are to carry atwin Otomat anti-ship missile systemand 40mm gun.The 76mm Oto Melara gun isa fully automatic weapon capableof rates of fire from single shots upto 85 rounds a minute. It is a veryaccurate, well tried gun,comparatively light in weight andvery suitable for the larger types offast patrol boat. It has a range ofover 16.000 metres. Where used inconjunction with ELSAG fire controlequipment, as in these boats, it iseffective against missiles, aircraft orships and can also be used forbombardment.When the mounting is ready to fireand switched to remote control thefirst 80 rounds can be fired with thegun completely unmanned, afterwhich it is only necessary to reloadthe revolving magazine. Thecomplement of each boat is Captain.three officers, four petty officers andten ratings, with spare accommodationfor two more.The hull design is a development ofearlier Vosper Thomycroft steel FF*Bforms, having modified round-bilgesections, a spray-deflecting knucklein the tops ides forward, and a spraystrake between this and thewaterline. the afterbody has a firmrounded bilge and deadrise reducingto about 3 degrees, straight buttocklines and a substantial skegThe aim has been a good reserve ofbuoyancy forward, deflection ofspray and solid water, and goodrunning characteristics at speedand in following seas. Thesecharacteristics have beenconfirmed on trials.The hull structure is of wektodsteel, on the longitudinal systemwith deep framing and longitudinalgirders and stringers. The hull IsMay/JuoV July. 1975 THE NAVY r«j» Tumi. II..