P21-class patrol vessel
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Armed Forces of Malta Inshore Patrol Craft, P24 - Flickr - sludgegulper.jpg | Ship caption = P24 }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = Austal, Henderson, Western Australia | Operators = {{flagicon|Malta}} Maritime Squadron AFM | Class before =*Swift-class
| Class after = | Subclasses = | Cost = {{ShipCost|MLT|9.3|m|origin=AUS|r=1|qty=1}} | Built range = 2009 | In commission range = 2010-present | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 4 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 4 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships scrapped = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Inshore patrol vessel | Ship displacement = {{convert|40.0|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=in}} | Ship length = {{convert|21.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|5.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = {{convert|1.83|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship propulsion =*2 × MAN D2842 LE410 diesel engines each producing {{Convert|809|kW|hp|abbr=on}} at 2100 rpm
| Ship speed = More than {{convert|26|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = | Ship complement = 8 | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament =*1 × 12.7mm machine gun
| Ship armour = | Ship boats = {{Convert|3.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} rigid hull inflatable boat launched from a stern ramp | Ship notes = }} |
The P21 class is a class of inshore patrol vessels of the Armed Forces of Malta's Maritime Squadron. They are alternatively known as the Austal class after their builder.
Development and design
File:Malta - Floriana - Xatt it-Tiben + Sliema - Tigné Point (Xatt it-Tiben) 01 ies.jpg
The Maltese ordered four boats in 2009 from Australian shipyard Austal.{{cite web| url=http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2009/fa-s023_09.html| title= Visit to Australia by Republic of Malta Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs The Hon Dr Tonio Borg| publisher=Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs| access-date=17 April 2009}} They were due to replace the Swift-class patrol boats P23 and P24 which had been in commission since 1971 and the Bremse-class patrol boat P32 which had been in commission since 1992. The new vessels were built to Maltese specifications and were partly financed by the EU.{{cite news| url=http://www.austal.com/en/media/media-releases/09-07-03/Excellent-Relationship-Sees-Rapid-Patrol-Boat-Construction.aspx| title="Excellent Relationship" Sees Rapid Patrol Boat Construction| publisher=Austal| date=3 July 2009| access-date=15 October 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903080954/http://www.austal.com/en/media/media-releases/09-07-03/Excellent-Relationship-Sees-Rapid-Patrol-Boat-Construction.aspx| archive-date=3 September 2014}}
The first two vessels were launched in October 2009.{{cite news| url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091006/local/new-afm-patrol-boats-launched| title=New AFM patrol boats launched| publisher=Times of Malta| date=6 October 2009| access-date=15 October 2009}}{{cite news| url=http://www.austal.com/en/media/media-releases/09-10-06/Austal-Launches-Maltese-Patrol-Boats.aspx| title=Austal Launches Maltese Patrol Boats| publisher=Austal| date=6 October 2009| access-date=15 October 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903080950/http://www.austal.com/en/media/media-releases/09-10-06/Austal-Launches-Maltese-Patrol-Boats.aspx| archive-date=3 September 2014}} All four vessels were delivered to Malta in late 2009, and were officially commissioned on 18 March 2010.{{cite news|title=Patrol boats to be commissioned on Thursday|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100316/local/patrol-boats-to-be-commissioned-on-thursday.298505|access-date=29 August 2014|work=Times of Malta|date=16 March 2010}}
The vessels are armed with machine guns and they mount a firefighting water cannon on the aft fly bridge. They are mainly used for search and rescue purposes, border patrol and to rescue illegal immigrants.
Service history
=P21=
P21 takes part in various rescue operations, for example in July 2010 she took part in the search for a woman who had been reported missing. The woman was found hiding in a cave after she swam there she was surrounded by jellyfish.{{cite news|title=Updated: Rescued Briton swam away after being surrounded by jellyfish|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100704/local/briton-saved-in-midnight-rescue-at-sea-after-falling-overboard.316024|access-date=29 August 2014|work=Times of Malta|date=4 July 2010}}
The patrol boat also regularly takes part in rescuing illegal immigrants, such as the rescue of 11 migrants in September 2012 along with the patrol boats P22 and P32.{{cite news|title=11 migrants brought to Malta - others refuse rescue|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120910/local/11-migrants-brought-to-malta.436336|access-date=29 August 2014|work=Times of Malta|date=10 September 2012}}
P21 also responded to the attempted hijacking of a tanker by migrants on 28 March 2019.{{cite news|title=PR190637|url=https://twitter.com/MaltaGov/status/1111164298154389504|access-date=28 March 2019}}
On 25 May 2019, P21 assisted the P52 with the rescue of 216 migrants after distress calls were received from 2 rubber dinghies during the night. Both dinghies were inside Maltese territorial waters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2019-05-25/local-news/Armed-Forces-of-Malta-rescue-216-migrants-6736208630|title = Armed Forces of Malta rescue 216 migrants - the Malta Independent}}
On 5 June 2019, P21 made 2 rescue operations in what turned out to be a busy day for the navy. P21 responded to a group of migrants that required rescuing. The vessel firstly disembarked 63 of the migrants and then went back to rescue a further 61 migrants that couldn’t fit on the vessel. In total the vessel rescued 124 migrants. On the day P52 and P61 were also involved in further rescue operations that resulted in the navy rescuing 370 migrants in total.
On 25 July 2019 P21 was again on hand to rescue a group of 76 migrants that were found in distress in the Maltese SAR zone.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/76-migrants-expected-to-land-in-malta-this-evening/|title = Updated: 76 migrants disembark at Hay Wharf}}
On 12 August 2019 P21 evacuated 8 migrants from the NGO vessel Open Arms. The vessel carried 160 migrants which remained in limbo until a safe port was provided. The group of 8 migrants were extracted due to their ailing health which were brought to Malta aboard the P21.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/afm-to-evacuate-8-migrants-with-health-problems/|title = AFM to evacuate 8 migrants with health problems}}
=P22=
File:Malta Vittoriosa BW 2011-10-06 10-00-58.jpg in the Grand Harbour.]]
In September 2012 P22 intercepted a boat full of illegal immigrants about 25 nautical miles south of Malta and rescued 11 of them. Another 30 people on board the boat refused assistance and continued their journey north.
On 29 May 2019 P22 rescued a group of 75 immigrants clinging to a tuna fish pen. They’ve been at sea for the previous 3 days before being saved by the Armed Forces of Malta. The immigrants entered port early the following morning.{{cite web| url = https://www.timesofmalta.com/mobile/articles/view/20190529/local/75-migrants-found-stranded-on-tuna-pen.711410| title = 75 migrants found stranded on tuna pen}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.dw.com/en/migrants-rescued-in-mediterranean-taken-to-italy-and-malta-as-unhcr-acts/a-48980857|title = Migrants rescued in Mediterranean, taken to Italy and Malta as UNHCR acts | DW | 30.05.2019|website = Deutsche Welle}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/immigrants-rescued-at-night-brought-to-hay-wharf/|title = Immigrants rescued at night brought to Hay Wharf}}
=P23=
P23 takes part in various rescue operations. Her captain and crew were praised twice in August 2011, the first time for helping return a drifting cabin cruiser back to the port,{{cite news|last1=Pulè|first1=Carmel|title=Joint effort to save cruiser|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110816/letters/Joint-efforth-to-save-cruiser.380469|access-date=29 August 2014|work=Times of Malta|date=16 August 2011}} and the second time for helping and escorting a family whose boat came in distress in rough seas.{{cite news|last1=Schembri|first1=Ray|title=Grateful for prompt AFM help|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110918/letters/Grateful-for-prompt-AFM-help.385179|access-date=29 August 2014|date=18 September 2011}}
On 23 June 2019, P23 rescued 24 migrants that were close to shore, near Birzebbuga. The migrants were found on a dinghy and the majority of 16 were all aged 3–16years old.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/majority-of-immigrants-who-were-brought-into-birzebbugia-yesterday-are-children/|title=Majority of immigrants who were brought into Birzebbugia yesterday are children}}{{cite web| url = https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/boat-carrying-24-migrants-intercepted-off-maltese-coast.718324| title = Boat carrying 24 migrants intercepted off Maltese coast}}
On 26 July 2019, P23 came to the aid of another group of migrants, this time numbering a total of 67 men. The rescue happened while the vessel was on a regular patrol. This extraction happened just a day after P21 rescued another 76 migrants in similar conditions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/armed-forces-of-malta-rescue-67-migrants/|title=Armed Forces of Malta rescue 67 migrants}}
On 4 August 2019, P23 entered port carrying another group of 40 migrants that were transferred from the NGO ship Alan Kurdi. The NGO vessel was due to enter the port of Lampedusa however the Italian authorities refused to provide a safe port. The Maltese government then allowed the 40 migrants to be brought to Malta, only after finalizing a deal with the EU which will take all the 40 migrants. None will remain in Malta.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/alan-kurdi-migrants-expected-to-go-to-germany-following-their-arrival-in-malta/|title = UPDATED: Migrants rescued by Alan Kurdi arrive in Malta - will be relocated to other countries}} For the 1983 explosion that occurred on the older counterpart of the P23, see the article on the C23 tragedy.{{Cite web|title=30 years since the patrol boat tragedy|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/30-years-since-the-patrol-boat-tragedy.534754|access-date=2021-09-15|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb}}
=P24=
In July 2012, the Austal-class P24 towed its predecessor, the decommissioned Swift-class P24 (formerly known as C24), from the AFM base at Haywharf in Floriana to the Malta Freeport in a handover ceremony. From here the decommissioned Swift boat was taken to San Diego where it was restored and placed in the Maritime Museum of San Diego.{{cite news|title=P24 handed over to San Diego Maritime Museum|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120720/local/p24-handed-over-to-san-diego-maritime-museum.429379|access-date=29 August 2014|work=Times of Malta|date=20 July 2012}}
In November 2012 P24 collided with a small boat in Marsamxett Harbour. The small boat sank but the man on board jumped and was picked up unhurt by the crew of the patrol boat. The boat was then lifted with slight damage and an inquiry was held.{{cite news| url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121127/local/boat-sinks-after-collision-with-patrol-craft.447096| title=Boat sinks after collision with patrol craft| publisher=Times of Malta| date=27 November 2011| access-date=5 May 2014}}
On 27 June 2019 P24 rescued a group of 66 migrants and brought them safely to Hay Wharf naval base, were they handed over to the police. Favourable weather is a big factor in the huge number of migrants arriving in Malta.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/watch-66-people-are-brought-to-malta-after-being-saved-by-the-afm/|title = Watch: 66 people are brought to Malta after being saved by the AFM}}{{cite web| url = https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/64-migrants-to-be-brought-to-malta-on-thursday.717378| title = 64 migrants to be brought to Malta on Thursday}}
On 9 July 2019, P24 rescued a group of 44 migrants that were found in distress during the night in the Maltese SAR zone. Amongst the saved there were 4 women and 3 children. The migrants were firstly saved by the Alan Kurdi and then transferred to the patrol boat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/sea-eye-says-it-rescued-44-immigrants-malta-armed-forces-denies-involvement/|title = Updated: 44 immigrants to enter Malta}}
On 26 August 2019, P24 ferried into harbour a group of 73 migrants that were found in Malta's SAR zone aboard a small dinghy. Later on that day the AFM rescued another group of 89 migrants in a similar situation. That brings the total rescued for the day to 162 migrants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/73-migrants-to-disembark-in-malta/|title = UPDATE (4): 162 migrants disembarked in Malta in two groups}}