OPV-64

	Royal Moroccan Navy Raïs Charkaoui OPV-64 patrol vessel.
Class overview
Name	OPV-64
Builders	Lorient Naval Industries; currently STX France SA;
Operators	Royal Moroccan Navy
Built	1994–1997
In service	1995–present
Completed	5
Active	5
General characteristics
Type	Offshore patrol vessel
Displacement	580 t (570 long tons) or 650 t (640 long tons)
Length	64 m (210 ft 0 in)
Beam	11.42 m (37 ft 6 in)
Draught	3 m (9.8 ft)
Installed power	7.6 MW (10,200 hp)
Propulsion	2 Wartsila Nohab 16V25 diesel engines; 2 Leroy-Somer electric propulsors;
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) max
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance	maximum 20 days
Complement	46 (incl. 6 officers) + 8 spare berths
Sensors and ; processing systems	Surface search: Decca Bridgemaster 2000; Navigation: Decca 2090 ARPA; Sonar: Commercial fathometer ;
Armament	1 × 40 mm Bofors cannon; 2 × 20 mm Oerlikon AA cannons; 2 × twin 14.5 mm guns;

OPV-64^[2] is a type of offshore patrol vessel based on a Leroux & Lotz patrol vessel concept and designed for the needs of the Royal Moroccan Navy, ordered in late 1993.^[3]

Definition of the requirements[edit]

The main propulsion systems are two Wartsila Nohab 16V25 diesel engines with 7.6 MW (10,200 hp) power produced. A secondary propulsion system is fitted separately from the main engines and used for economic mode or emergencies.^[1] The main mission is the surveillance of Moroccan exclusive economic zone and control of fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, with secondary roles including detecting illegal immigration, smuggling and drug trafficking and supporting counter terrorism and search and rescue patrols along Moroccan coasts.

Equipment[edit]

The armament was recycled from decommissioned warships and from Royal Moroccan Army's inventory, later added after reception of the ships between 1995 and 1997 in Moroccan naval bases.^[1]

Original armament:

2 x 20 mm

Added after reception:

1 x Bofors 40 mm
4 x (2 twin) KPV 14.5 mm
1 x Oerlikon 20 mm

Ships[edit]

Pennant no.	Name	Launched	Commissioned	Status	Note
P-318	Raïs Bargach	9 Oct 1995	14 Dec 1995	In service	^[4]
P-319	Raïs Britel	19 Mar 1996	14 May 1996	In service	^[4]
P-320	Raïs Charkaoui	26 Sep 1996	15 Dec 1996	In service	^[4]
P-321	Raïs Maaninou	7 Mar 1997	21 May 1997	In service	^[4]
P-322	Raïs Al Mounastiri	15 Oct 1997	17 Dec 1997	In service	^[4]

References[edit]

[CFW-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World:15th edition

[2] STX Europe main page

[3] Jane's Navy International

[GlobalSecurity-4] GlobalSecurity – Moroccan Navy equipment

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Moroccan security forces
Military	Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie Auxiliary Forces Royal Moroccan Armed Forces Army Navy Air Force Moroccan Royal Guard
Law enforcement	Ministry of Interior Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale (DGSN) (national police force) Moroccan Auxiliary Forces Urban Security Groups (defunct)
Intelligence	General Directorate for Research and Documentation (DGED) General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST)

v t e Ship classes of the Royal Moroccan Navy
Frigates	FREMM frigate Floréal class
Corvettes	FMMM Descubierta class
Offshore patrol vessels	OPV-70 OPV-64 Osprey 55 class Lazaga class Cormoran class PR-72P class
Landing vessels	BATRAL LST