View source for R-class patrol boat

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
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|Ship image= Patrol Boat 55 in Tampere May2010.jpg
|Ship caption=Former patrol boat ''Röyttä'' in private ownership
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{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=R class
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship type=[[Patrol boat]]
|Ship displacement=*'''51, 52''': 90 tons, 110 tons full load
*'''53, 54, 55''': 110 tons, 130 tons full load
|Ship length=*'''51, 52''': {{convert|31.1|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*'''53, 54, 55''': {{convert|33.0|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam=*'''51, 52''': {{convert|5.7|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*'''53, 54, 55''': {{convert|5.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}
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|Ship draught= {{convert|1.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}
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|Ship propulsion=*'''51, 52''': 2 × Mercedes-Benz Diesel; {{convert|1,044|kW|abbr=on}}
*'''53, 54, 55''': 2 × Mercedes-Benz Diesel; {{convert|1,864|kW|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed=*'''51, 52''': {{convert|15|kn|lk=in}}
*'''53, 54, 55''': {{convert|17|kn}}
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|Ship crew= 20
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|Ship armament=*1 × 40 mm Bofors
*1 × 20 mm Madsen
*1 × Squid ASW mortar
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|Ship notes=Ships in class include: ''Rymättylä'' (51), ''Rihtniemi'' (52), ''Ruissalo'' (53), ''Raisio'' (54), ''Röyttä'' (55)
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The '''R-class patrol boats''' was a class of [[Finland|Finnish]] [[patrol boat]]s, originally constructed as coastal [[minesweeper]]s. They were modified into patrol boats by the end of the 1960s and transferred to the Patrol Flotilla and later to the 7th Missile Flotilla. They were then used for sea patrol and  as anti-submarine warfare vessels. They were stricken from the [[Finnish Navy]] list in the 1990s. The three later vessels, ''Ruissalo'', ''Raisio'' and ''Röyttä'', were somewhat larger and the vessels are therefore sometimes referred to as the '''''Rihtniemi''''' and '''''Ruissalo'' classes'''. However, the Finnish Navy used the designation '''R class''' for all five vessels.

The R class was much liked in the Finnish Navy, due to their low fuel consumption and their good seagoing qualities. They were in principle unsinkable (the vessels could have a list of 115 degrees without sinking and still return to upright position).

== Vessels of the class ==
* ''Rymättylä'' (51) / ''Suurop'' (P 421): Ordered in July 1955 from [[Rauma-Repola]] in Rauma, launched in 1956, and entered service on 20 May 1957. She was sold to the [[Estonian Navy]] in 1999 as the EML ''Suurop''.
* ''Rihtniemi'' (52) / ''Ristna'' (P 422): Ordered in July 1955 from Rauma-Repola in Rauma, launched in 1956, and entered service on 21 February 1957. She was sold to the [[Estonian Navy]] in 1999 as the EML ''Ristna''.
* ''Ruissalo'' (53): Ordered from [[Laivateollisuus]], Turku. Taken into use on 11 August 1959. Scrapped in the early 2000s.
* ''Raisio'' (54): Ordered from Laivateollisuus, Turku. Taken into use on 12 September 1959. Sold on the private market.
[[File:Vartiovene 55 from the side.jpg|thumb|right|''Röyttä'', now known as ''Vartiovene 55'', in her current home port Helsinki.]]
* ''Röyttä'' (55): Ordered from Laivateollisuus, Turku. Taken into use on 14 October 1959. ''Röyttä'' was transferred to the marine reserve training units in 2000 and is used for training. She was renovated in both 1980 and 2000. She was later sold to a private adventure company in Tampere. She currently operates as the commercial cruise ship ''[[Vartiovene 55]]'' in Helsinki.
* ''Carlos Alban'': Built in 1971. In use 1971-1997. ''Ruissalo'' class patrol boat, operated by the Colombian Coast Guard.
* ''Nito Restrepo'': Built in 1971. In use 1971–1990. ''Ruissalo'' class patrol boat, operated by the Colombian Coast Guard.
* ''Jorge Soto del Corval'': Built in 1971. In use 1971–1984. ''Ruissalo'' class patrol boat, operated by the Colombian Coast Guard.

==Operators==
* {{COL}}: Three ''Ruissalo''-class patrol boats
* {{EST}}: Two ex-Finnish ''Rihtniemi''-class patrol boats
* {{FIN}}: Two ''Rihtniemi'' and three ''Ruissalo''-class patrol boats

==External links==
{{Commonscat|R class patrol craft}}
* [https://archive.today/20041110012219/http://www.srs.fi/roytta/ ''Röyttä''] {{in lang|fi}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930082349/http://www.sininenreservi.fi/gallery/view_album.ph?set_albumName=koululaiva_roytta The Finnish Navy reserves web page on the ''Röyttä''.] {{in lang|fi}}

[[Category:Ships of the Finnish Navy]]