Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | March 16 – German Navy RIBs, a Japanese stealth frigate, and a US Navy expeditionary sea base

Deliveries include a patrol boat for a Texas sheriff’s department, a stealth frigate for Japan’s self-defence forces, and an expeditionary sea base for the US Navy. A UK manufacturer has meanwhile secured an order for special missions craft to be deployed aboard the German Navy’s newest warships set to enter service before the end of the decade.

New Japanese stealth frigate enters service

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) recently commissioned a new stealth frigate into service.

JS Mikuma is the fourth ship in the Mogami-class, which were developed to replace the JMSDF’s 1980s-designed Asagiri-class destroyers and Abukuma-class destroyer escorts.

As with its sisters, Mikuma has a length of 130 metres, a beam of 16 metres, a displacement of 5,500 tonnes at full load, and accommodations for 90 crewmembers. Armament includes a 127-millimetre naval gun, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, and machine guns fitted on remote weapon stations above the bridge.

The frigate was built at the Nagasaki facilities of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Expeditionary sea base John L. Canley delivered to US Navy

The US Navy has taken delivery of the future USS John L. Canley, a Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base (ESB).

The 785-foot (239-metre) ESB will be used for missions including counter-piracy operations, mine countermeasures, special operations support, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

The ship has a flight deck with four aviation operating spots capable of supporting MH-53E helicopters as well as ordnance storage areas and command and control capabilities. There is also a reconfigurable mission deck area to store equipment such as mine sleds and rigid inflatable boats.

The ESB is named for Medal of Honor recipient, retired Sergeant Major John L. Canley, who died in 2022 as the vessel’s construction was still underway. Sergeant Major Canley, who served in the US Marine Corps for 28 years, was awarded the highest US military honour 50 years after his actions during the Vietnam War.

John L. Canley was built by General Dynamics NASSCO of San Diego, California.

Texas sheriff’s office acquires patrol RIB

The Bell County Sheriff’s Department of Texas recently acquired a new rigid inflatable boat (RIB) from Florida-based Fluid Watercraft.

The 21-foot (6.5-metre) vessel utilises a design originally developed by Gemini Marine Boats of South Africa.

Key features include an anchor locker, towing points, and a self-draining, non-slip deck. Power is provided by a Mercury outboard engine.

UK firm to supply special mission RIBs for future German Navy frigates

UK-based the Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST Group) has been commissioned by the Damen Shipyards Group of the Netherlands to supply 12-metre rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) for use by the German Navy.

The scope of the supply contract includes the delivery of 12 special mission-capable RIBs along with transportation trailers and a comprehensive integrated logistics support package.

The RIBs will be embarked on the German Navy’s F126 frigates once these enter service beginning in 2028.