Cyclone-class patrol ship

The Cyclone-class patrol ships are a class of coastal patrol boats, formerly in service with the United States Navy. Most of these ships, named for weather phenomenae, were launched between 1992 and 1994. The primary mission of these ships is coastal patrol and interdiction surveillance, an important aspect of littoral operations outlined in the Navy's strategy, "Forward...From the Sea." These ships also provided full mission support for U.S. Navy SEALs and other special operations forces. Several ships of the class were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for a time and then later returned.

USS Hurricane, USS Typhoon and USS Chinook, in the Persian Gulf in March 2015.
Class overview
BuildersBollinger Shipyards
Operators
In commission1993–present
Planned16
Completed14
Cancelled2
Active
  • 3 (Philippine Navy)
  • 3 (Egyptian Navy)
  • 5 (Royal Bahrain Naval Forces)
Retired
  • 2 - to be scrapped
  • 1 - available for sale to foreign military
General characteristics
TypeCoastal patrol ship
Displacement
  • 328.5 long tons (333.8 t) (light load)
  • 331 long tons (336 t)
Length179 ft (55 m)
Beam25 ft (7.6 m)
Draft7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Installed power3,350 shp (2,500 kW)
Propulsion
Speed35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range2,000–2,500 nmi (3,700–4,600 km; 2,300–2,900 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Crew4 officers, 24 enlisted personnel
Armament

The Cyclone-class ships were assigned to Naval Special Warfare. Of the 14 ships, nine originally operated out of the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia, and four originally operated from the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. These ships provide the United States Naval Special Warfare Command with a fast, reliable platform that can respond to emergency requirements in a low intensity conflict environment. Six ships were decommissioned and loaned to the Coast Guard. Lead ship Cyclone was on loan from 2000 to 2004, then transferred to the Philippine Navy. Monsoon was loaned to the USCG in 2004 and Tempest in 2005, with both then returned in 2008. Shamal, Tornado, and Zephyr were on loan from 2004 to 2011. Upon return to the U.S. Navy they were all placed back in commission.

The ships that were on loan to the U.S. Coast Guard were used in a variety of roles, including search and rescue, interception, boarding, and inspection of foreign freighters arriving at United States ports.

In September 2010, the decision was made to recall all of the remaining ships of the class due to fatigue damage to their hulls. The class was designed for a lifespan of roughly 15 years. All but the newest member of the class, USS Tornado (PC-14), have been in service longer.

As of 2015, ten of the U.S. Navy's 13 Cyclone-class patrol ships were deployed to Naval Support Activity Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, to deal with a potential conflict with Iran.[3] The remaining three ships of the class are slated to be transferred to Naval Station Mayport in Florida to primarily perform drug interdiction duties with U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSO) / U.S. Fourth Fleet.[4]

In March 2023, the last of the ships in this class were decommissioned and either designated for sale to a foreign military via FMS or due to be scrapped.[5]

Development and design
One of two 25mm autocannons aboard USS Chinook (PC-9)
USS Hurricane (PC-3) leads six ships of Patrol Coastal Squadron 1 in the Persian Gulf, March 2015.
Cyclone-class patrol craft USS Firebolt (PC 10) passing the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown in Virginia, USA. This starboard side view shows the vessel’s splinter camouflage scheme.

In the 1980s, the U.S. Navy developed a requirement for a replacement for the Vietnam War-era PB Mk III small (65 ft (20 m)) patrol boats used to transport SEAL teams. The first attempt to replace the PB Mk IIIs led to an order being placed in 1984 for a stealthy surface effect ship, the Special Warfare Craft, Medium, or SWCM, with a length of about 83 ft (25 m) and a displacement of 150 long tons (150 t). The SWCM, nicknamed "Sea Viking", was a failure, however, and construction of the prototype was abandoned in 1987.[6][7][8]

After the failure of the innovative SWCM, it was decided to replace the PB Mk IIIs with a simple development of an existing design rather than wait for an entirely new design to be produced and developed. Bollinger Shipyards proposed a development of the Vosper Thornycroft Province-class fast attack craft built for Oman and Kenya, and this was selected by the U.S. Navy.[6]

At 56.7 m (186 ft), the new design, at first designated PBC (Patrol Boat Coastal), and later PC, was much larger than the boats that they were to replace. It was planned to build 16 PBCs to replace the 17 PB Mk IIIs, with first deliveries expected in 1991. The program was stopped at 14 boats, however, as it was realised that the PC was too large for the SEAL delivery role.[9]

Operational career

Following the 2003 occupation of Iraq, the Cyclone-class boats were deployed to guard Iraq's offshore oil terminal.[10] When Iraq took over responsibility for the terminal's defense, in 2005, ten of the Cyclone-class boats remained in the Persian Gulf, performing other patrol duties.

On 30 March 2022, the Royal Bahrain Naval Forces commissioned five Cyclone-class patrol vessels that were decommissioned by the USN at Manama. [11]

The U.S. Navy decommissioned the last two Cyclone-class patrol coastal ships stationed at Naval Support Activity Bahrain on 28 March 2023.[5]

Ships in class
ShipHull No.Commissioned–
Decommissioned		HomeportStatusNVR Page
CyclonePC-11993–2000
(USCG 2000-2004)		PhilippinesTransferred to the U.S. Coast Guard in February 2000 as USCGC Cyclone (WPC-1), transferred to the Philippine Navy in March 2004. Now BRP Mariano Alvarez (PS-38).PC-1
TempestPC-21993–2005
(USCG 2005-2008)
2008-2022		Manama, BahrainLent to the U.S. Coast Guard as USCGC Tempest (WPC-2), returned to Navy and recommissioned in 2008
Decommissioned on 7 March 2022[12] Transferred to the Royal Bahrain Naval Forces and commissioned on 30 March 2022		PC-2
HurricanePC-31993–2023EgyptTransferred to Egyptian Navy on 21 March 2023.[13]PC-3
MonsoonPC-41994–2008
(USCG 2004-2008)
2008-2023		PhilippinesDecommissioned on March 28, 2023, transferred to the Philippine Navy as BRP Valentin Diaz. [14][15]PC-4
TyphoonPC-51994–2022Manama, BahrainDecommissioned on 14 March 2022.[16] Transferred to the Royal Bahrain Naval Forces and commissioned on 30 March 2022, now RBNS DamsahPC-5
SiroccoPC-61994–2023EgyptTransferred to Egyptian Navy on 21 March 2023. [13]PC-6
SquallPC-71994–2022Manama, BahrainDecommissioned on 14 March 2022. [12] Transferred to the Royal Bahrain Naval Forces and commissioned on 30 March 2022PC-7
ZephyrPC-81994–2004
(USCG 2004-2011)
2011-2021		Mayport, FloridaDecommissioned on 17 February 2021,[17] and set to be scrapped.[18]PC-8
ChinookPC-91995–2023PhilippinesDecommissioned on March 28, 2023, transferred to the Philippine Navy as the BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS-178). [14][15]PC-9
FireboltPC-101995–2022Manama, BahrainDecommissioned on 23 February 2022[19] Transferred to the Royal Bahrain Naval Forces and commissioned on 30 March 2022PC-10
WhirlwindPC-111995–2022Manama, BahrainDecommissioned on 21 March 2022[12] Transferred to the Royal Bahrain Naval Forces and commissioned on 30 March 2022, now RBNS Al SakheerPC-11
ThunderboltPC-121995–2023EgyptTransferred to Egyptian Navy on 21 March 2023. [13]PC-12
ShamalPC-131996–2004
(USCG 2004-2011)
2011-2021		Mayport, FloridaDecommissioned on 16 February 2021,[20] and set to be scrapped.[18]PC-13
TornadoPC-142000–2004
(USCG 2004-2011)
2011-2021		Mayport, FloridaDecommissioned on 18 February 2021.[21] Currently awaiting sale to a foreign military partner.[22]PC-14

Zephyr, Shamal, and Tornado were homeported at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek (Virginia) but shifted homeport to Naval Station Mayport (Florida)[23] All three were decommissioned in February 2021. Zephyr and Shamal are set to be scrapped while Tornado will be made available for sale to a foreign military.[18]

Users

Current

Former

See also

References
  1. "Paxman Secures U.S. Navy Contract To Supply 32 Diesel Engines For New Patrol Boat Program". magazines.marinelink.com. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  2. Raytheon Developing Longer-Range Griffin Missile - Seapowermagazine.org, 14 April 2014
  3. Axe, David. "Congress Hates On the Navy’s Tiniest Warships" War is Boring. 21 April 2015.
  4. https://warriorlodge.com/pages/cyclone-class-patrol-ship
  5. "U.S. Navy Decommissions Last Patrol Craft Stationed in Bahrain". U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  6. Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 627.
  7. Moore 1985, p. 734.
  8. Prézelin and Baker 1990, p. 828.
  9. Baker 1998, pp. 1030–1031.
  10. David Axe (20 February 2020). "Forget Big Ships: These Cyclone Patrol Boats Would Fight The Navy's War On Iran!". National Interest magazine. Retrieved 20 February 2020. If the United States and Iran go to war in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy's smallest warships could be the first to see combat.
  11. Binnie, Jeremy (4 April 2022). "Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships". Janes. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  12. Burgess, Richard R. (9 July 2021). "Navy Details 2022 Ship Retirement Schedule". Seapower. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  13. "U.S. Navy Transfers Three Patrol Craft To Egyptian Navy". navalnews.com. 22 March 2023.
  14. "U.S. Navy Decommissions Last Patrol Craft Stationed in Bahrain". U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  15. "2 ex-US Cyclone patrol boats to join BRP Mariano Alvarez in Navy fleet". Philstar Global. 30 March 2023. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  16. Burgess, Richard R. (8 March 2022). "Patrol Ship USS Tempest Decommissioned in Bahrain". Seapower. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  17. "USS Zephyr was decommissioned today after 26 years of service".
  18. "Navy Decommissions 3 Cyclone Patrol Craft; Looking to Shelve Mark VI Patrol Boat". usni.org. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  19. "Firebolt Crew Marks End of Ship's U.S. Navy Service at Decommissioning". United States Navy. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  20. "USS Shamal Decommissioned at NS Mayport".
  21. "Patrol Coastal Ships Decommissioning Ceremony".
  22. "The Navy wants to get rid of its nearly brand new patrol boats".
  23. "U.S. Navy Trading Destroyers for PCs in 5th Fleet." UNSI News. Published 3 Jul 2013. Accessed 8 Jul 2013.
  24. "Philippines receives two patrol vessels from USN | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  25. "Three US Cyclone-class patrol boats handed over to the Egyptian Navy". Arab News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  26. Nepomuceno, Priam (29 March 2023). "PH Navy gets 2 ex-Cyclone patrol ships from US Navy". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 15 September 2023.

Sources
  • Baker, A.D. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1998. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
  • Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Moore, John. Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1985. ISBN 0 7106-0814-4.
  • Prézelin, Bernard and Baker, A.D. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.

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