CONFIDENT
¥
6.
If the R. N. presence were reduced to one frigate it would be difficult to justify the full retention of Tamar and other arrangements may have to be considered, involving the loss of other useful services (e.g. underwater EOD) provided by the naval base.
(a) Patrol Craft
19.
Advantages
The main advantages are:--
because of their numbers they provide greater operational flexibility and coverage and can guarantee 2 craft always being available;
there is less of a problem with maintenance, spares etc.;
they can lift a company of troops;
they are more effective operationally than the larger frigate and can integrate better with the patrols of the Marine Police;
they spread the 'stiffening' effect wider in an emergency;
they have better endurance and sea-keeping qualities than other Government craft (they can operate totally independently at sea for up to 7 days);
they are cheaper than 1 frigate;
during a typhoon they stay on buoys and can be immediately available thereafter.
(b)
20.
G.F. 31
Patrol Craft
Disadvantages
The main disadvantages are :-
they are slow;
because of their size relative to the frigate they provide less of a visible impact and perhaps therefore not the same psy- chological/physical deterrent;
their 40 mm guns will out-match only local militia guns and are an even match for Shanghai class MGB. They have wooden hulls. In other words, they are incapable of matching escalation from CPG;
CONFIDENTIAL
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