Patrol boat RFNS Puamau (402)

Patrol boat RFNS Puamau (402) 0Patrol boat RFNS Puamau (402) 1Patrol boat RFNS Puamau (402) 2

Classification

Type:

Basic information

Operator:
Country of build:
Builder:
Commissioned (service):
Status:
IMO number:
4734283
MMSI number:
520348000

Ship measurements

Length:
39.5 m
Beam:
8 m
Draft:
0.76 m

Machine

Propulsion:
  • 2 * Caterpillar 3516C diesels
  • 2 * 2000 kW and 1600 rpm
  • 2 * shafts
Speed:
20 knots
Range:
3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)

Personnel

Complement:
23

Combat assets

Boats & landing craft:
  • 1 * Work Ribs (WRH635FRB)
Electronics:
  • Communication system:
  • VHF/DSC Radios, MF/HF DSC
  • Radios, VHF Aeroband Radio,
  • UHF Military Radio, Inmarsat C,
  • SatCom,HF and VHF Radio
  • Direction Finder
  • Navigation:
  • X-Band Radar, Electronic Chart
  • System, DGPS, Gyrocompass,
  • Autopilot, Depth Sounder
Armament:
  • Space and weight reservation for a 30mm main gun
  • Port and Starboard mounts for 0.50 calibre GPMG

RFNS Puamau (402) is a Guardian-class patrol boat donated to Fiji (for the Fijian Navy) by Australia as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project. The vessel entered service on 7 March 2024. The ship is used to patrol Fijian waters.

On 11 June 2024, Puamau grounded on a reef at Fulaga Island during its maiden voyage. No one was hurt in the grounding and Australia is aiding in the salvage of the ship. It is the fourth Guardian-class patrol boat to suffer serious damage, with the Samoan Nafanua II running aground in August 2021 and subsequently being found to be beyond economical repair, replaced by Nafanua III. Vanuatu's RVS Takuare and Tuvalu's HMTSS Te Mataili II were damaged when two cyclones hit Vanuatu in March 2023. While Takuare was being repaired in Cairns, Tuvalu was scheduled to receive a replacement boat for Te Mataili II.

On 11 October 2024, Fiji's Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua, announced that it would be decommissioned.

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