On January 20, 2025, in the presence of Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, the Hellenic Navy (HN) officially received and commissioned four upgraded Island-class coastal patrol vessels at Salamis Shipyards. Over the course of approximately one year, these vessels underwent extensive modernization, upgrades, and modifications by the Salamis Shipyards and Virginia Electronic Systems, under the supervision of the United States Coast Guard and HN personnel. Each vessel was named in honor of distinguished HN heroes: HS Mantouvalos Ioannis (P197), HS Galanis Georgios (P198), HS Liaskos Antonios (P288), and HS Gialopsos Ektoras (P289).
The 110 feet Island-class patrol boats are U.S. Coast Guard modifications of a successful British design by Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. Known for their excellent range and seakeeping capabilities, they represent a valuable addition to Greece’s maritime forces. Greece is now the sixth country to operate Island-class vessels, following Pakistan, Georgia, Costa Rica, Ukraine, and the United States. Colombia and Ecuador may soon acquire Island-class cutters as well. In U.S. service, these cutters are gradually being replaced by the larger and more advanced Sentinel-class cutters (also known as Fast Response Cutters or Webber-class), designed by the Netherlands-based Damen Group (Stan Patrol 4708).
The first two Island-class cutters, the former Adak (WPB-1333) and Aquidneck (WPB-1309), were decommissioned by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on June 15, 2021, and transferred to the HN. They arrived in Greece on July 3, 2023. The last pair, the former Monomoy (WPB-1326) and Wrangell (WPB-1332), decommissioned on March 22, 2022, reached the Salamis Naval Base on September 1, 2023. All four vessels were previously stationed at Naval Support Activity Bahrain in Manama, where they served as part of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA), providing combat-ready assets to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.
The HN aims to acquire at least two additional Island-class vessels to replace its aging coastal patrol fleet fully as Naval News has already reported. Note that of the six USCG Island-class patrol boats assigned to PATFORSWA, four have been transferred to Greece, while the remaining two, Maui (WPB-1304) and Baranof (WPB-1318), were decommissioned on March 22, 2022, and September 26, 2022, respectively.
Technical characteristics and equipment of Island Class
The four Island-class vessels, are between 36 and 39 years old. Measuring 34 meters in length with a 6.4-meter beam and a full-load displacement of approximately 170 tons, they are capable of speeds up to 29 knots. Their operational range is approximately 3,000 nautical miles, and they can endure up to five days without resupply. Each vessel accommodates a crew of 16, including two officers, with additional space for up to 18 personnel. The boats feature a steel hull with an aluminum deck and superstructure, a flush deck, and a round-bilge planing hull equipped with an active fin stabilization system. The vessels carry a small RIB behind the mast. Despite their age, these vessels are significantly larger and more capable in terms of armament, sensors, accommodations, and overall performance compared to the patrol boats currently in service.
Specifically, the Island-class vessels will replace some of the oldest coastal patrol boats in the Fleet. These include the remaining Norwegian-built Nasty-class (Toxotis, Pigasos, and Andromeda), former 24-meter torpedo boats acquired in 1967, and the French-built Antoniou-class (Diopos Antoniou and Kelefstis Stamou), commissioned in 1975. Both the Nasty-class and Antoniou-class vessels feature wooden hulls and are now considered obsolete.
The Island-class cutters have undergone several upgrades, including the installation of a Hensoldt-Kelvin Hughes Mk5 SharpEye X-band surveillance radar, a Furuno X-band navigation radar, a Miltech Hellas MLT-SUR-200 electro-optical sensor, CCTV systems, tactical mission system, platform systems, extended communications equipment, and other advanced sensors.
Their current armament consists of two twin M2HB 12.7mm heavy machine guns. FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS and potentially missile launchers will be included in their arsenal. However, as first revealed by Naval News during the DEFEA 2023 exhibition in Athens, the Island-class boats will soon be equipped with a state-of-the-art 20mm remote weapon station (RWS) at the bow—the LIONFISH 20 by Leonardo. The integration of these weapon systems will be carried out by MSI Defense Solutions in the coming months. Notably, the same RWS will serve as the secondary gun armament for the three under-construction Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates, with each frigate equipped with two RWS units.
