The recently delivered Yemeni fast patrol boat P-1022, here undergoing sea trials in June 2004, is one of ten built by Austal Ships of Henderson, Western Australia, all of which are expected to be in service by the end of 2004. The vessels are armed with a 25-mm twin-barrel naval gun and two 12.7-mm machine guns, measure 37.5 meters in length, and are constructed with “deep V” monohulls. They are a simplified version of the Australian Customs Service’s Roebuck Bay –class patrol boats built during 1999 and 2000. The Yemeni craft are powered by twin 1305kW Caterpillar V12 diesels. They have a maximum range of more than 1,000 nautical miles and are capable of 29-knot top speeds. The first four were delivered in June 2004. Two more were delivered in August, and the remaining vessels are expected to be completed in pairs, two in October and two in December. Typical crew is three officers and 16 enlisted sailors.
