MK-IV
Displacement:
Length:
Beam:
Draft: X
Propulsion: 3-12V71
Speed:
Range: Crew:
Guns:
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HISTORY:
(12-11-02) I believe the Mk IV PB is an improved Mk III PB. I found a really neat site that has a table of Navy small combatant craft including year of mfr, number built, serial numbers, etc. Do a Google search on grafton boats and then look for the entry that says "numbered patrol craft." From the table, there were 3 Mk IV's built by Peterson (builders of the Mk III PB) in 1985 and she was 68 feet long. I'd need to see additional shots of the boat for a better analysis.
If this boat shows a Mk IV in Panama, then the boat was probably attached to SBU-26 (now decommissioned). SBU-26 had PBR's to defend the Panama Canal, but it would not surprise me to learn they got Mk IV's. I would bet the boat got turned over to the Panamanians when the SBU went out.
I just got an e-mail from Jim Gray on the Mk IV. He confirms that the Mk IV was a product improved Mk III with 12V71 diesels (vice 8V71), new electronics, and had the Mk 38 Mod 0 25mm "chain guns" instead of the usual Mk III PB armament. All three boats went to SBU-26 in Panama. Before SBU-26 was decommissioned, they go the pre-standardized paint jobs used on the Mk V SOC.
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