Surface Forces: January 22, 2000

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Australia built 22 Pacific Forum-class patrol boats in the late 80s and gave them to various island nations (such as Tonga). They are used for police work, mostly fisheries protection, rescue, and counter-smuggling. The 31.5-meter boats were designed for 15 years of life, but are aging better the expected and Australia plans to refit the boats to extend their lives to 22 years.--Stephen V Cole