The U.S. Navy delivered two more 35-meter patrol boats (PB-310 and PB-311)
to the Iraqi Navy at the Umm Qasr naval facility in Iraq, Feb. 17, after
each craft successfully completed reactivation in Bahrain.
These are the 10th and 11th vessels in the 12-boat procurement which
will assist in reconstituting Iraq's ability to enforce maritime sovereignty
and security in the northern Arabian Gulf. |
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"Our Navy shipbuilding team has again succeeded
in working closely with their Iraqi counterparts to deliver these important
assets to the Iraqi Navy," said Frank McCarthey, Program Executive
Office (PEO) Ships' program manager for Support Ships, Boats and Craft.
"Together with the nine patrol boats previously delivered, these
two new vessels are a significant step toward meeting Iraq's security
requirements in the northern Arabian Gulf."
The U.S. Navy and Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, Morgan City, La., are
supporting the Iraqi Navy in the procurement and construction of the
patrol boats. The boat is armed with a 30mm gun weapon system, provides
for a crew of 25 and is capable of reaching 30 knots.
The Support Ships, Boats and Craft Program Office in the U.S Navy's
PEO Ships, is managing the acquisition of the patrol boats as a foreign
military sales case, with the final patrol boat planned for delivery
later this year. In addition, the program office delivered two 60-meter
offshore support vessels to the Iraqi Navy in December 2012.
PEO Ships currently manages the design and construction of all U.S.
Navy destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships,
as well as a wide range of small boats and craft for U.S. agencies and
allied nations.
From: Team Ships Public Affairs
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