PM-15
The PM-15 is a Defiant-class patrol vessel, built by the United States and given to El Salvador, in 2021.[1] She is the 3rd of 13 vessels the USA plans to give to some of its smaller neighbors.[2] She is intended to police El Salvador's borders, countering drug-smuggling, undocumented immigrants, human trafficking and play a counter-terrorism role.
Design
The vessel is based on the Damen 2606 small patrol vessel design of Dutch shipbuilding firm Damen Group, built with modifications, by US shipbuilders Metal Shark, of Louisiana. The Defiant class strongly resemble the United State Coast Guard's Marine Protector class cutters, which were also based on the Damen 2606 design. She has a crew of ten. Her pursuit boat can be deployed or retrieved through a Stern launching ramp without first bringing the vessel to a stop. Her armament is modest - up to three machine guns.
Operational career
She was commissioned on July 22, 2021.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mauricio Pineda, David Carpio. El Salvador estrena el buque PM-15 para combatir el tráfico de drogas, Diario El Salvador, 2021-07-22. Retrieved on 2022-03-26. “La Fuerza Armada de El Salvador recibió esta tarde el buque durante una ceremonia realizada en la base Naval de La Unión. El buque costó $6 millones de los cuales EE. UU. aportó $4.2 millones.” mirror 2021-08-29
- ↑ Chinmay Kohad, Vinod Kumar. Honduras and El Salvador commission first Near Coast Patrol Vessels, Jane's Defense Weekly, 2021-08-21. Retrieved on 2022-03-26.