Patrol boat RFNS Puamau (402)
Basic information
Ship measurements
Machine
- 2 * Caterpillar 3516C diesels
- 2 * 2000 kW and 1600 rpm
- 2 * shafts
Personnel
Combat assets
- 1 * Work Ribs (WRH635FRB)
- 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
- 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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