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Vedette côtière de surveillance maritime

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Huveaune
Patrol boat Huveaune in the old harbour of Marseille.
Class overview
NameVedette côtière de surveillance maritime
Operators
SubclassesRPB 20 for export
In commission11 June 2003
Completed30
Laid up1[1]
General characteristics
TypeSwift boat
Displacement31 to 41 t (31 to 40 long tons)
Length20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Beam5.29 m (17 ft 4 in)
Draught2.89 m (9 ft 6 in)
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi)
Endurance4 days
Complement8
Sensors and
processing systems
Radar
ArmamentLight infantry weapons, FM AANF1

The Vedettes côtières de surveillance maritime (VCSM, "coastal boats for sea surveillance") are swift craft of the French Gendarmerie maritime. 24 boats of the type have been commissioned. They are based in various harbours of France, and are used for coast guard duties ranging from rescue to military tasks, including monitoring of pollution, sea police, and interception of illegal immigrants and drug traffickers.

The VCSM carry a custom-designed rigid-hull tender in a well deck. This deck can be converted into a helicopter airlift zone.

The boats do not carry heavy armament, but light machine guns can be installed when needed. In addition, infantry small arms are carried by the crew.

Ships in Gendarmerie maritime service

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The ships in Gendarmerie maritime service are named for rivers of the harbours in which they were initially based.

These ships include:

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Groizeleau, Vincent (5 December 2022). "Le Marfret Niolon emmène une vedette de la Gendarmerie maritime en Guyane". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Deux plaisanciers secourus au large de Concarneau". france3 (in French). 24 April 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Marine Nationale Dossier d'Information, pp. 19 and 23" (PDF). Cols Bleus (in French). January 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Les vedettes côtières de surveillance maritime (VCSM)". netmarine (in French). 2009. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
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