Does the Fast Patrol Boat Have a Future in the Navy?

<p>The post-Cold War era has posed new priorities to the United States Navy. The absence of a naval threat capable of challenging the Navy for control of the seas has allowed the Navy to refocus its efforts to littoral operations. A majority of the Navy leadership's efforts during the past decade has been directed at redefining the capabilities and roles of the Cold War fleet rather than seeking new alternatives for littoral operations. More and more the Navy has found itself involved in Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) missions in the littoral. These missions have called into question the operational and financial prudence of employing its high technology high cost fleet in low-end operations. This thesis evaluates the use of fast patrol boats as an alternative means for conducting littoral MOOTW missions. This thesis uses the operational and financial histories of the Cyclone (PC-1) class patrol coastal and the Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) class guided missile frigates as the basis for a historical study. This study concludes that fast patrol boats are relevant to the Navy of the future and should be included in the force structure.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>