Lake-class inshore patrol vessel

HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki in 2010
Class overview
NameLake class
BuildersTenix Defence, Whangārei
Operators
Preceded by
CostNZ$35.8 million (2008) per unit
Built2005–2008
In service2009–present
In commission2009–present
Completed4
Active2 (New Zealand) 2 (Ireland)
General characteristics
TypeInshore patrol vessel
Displacement340 tonnes (loaded)
Length55 m (180 ft)
Beam9 m (30 ft)
Draught2.9 m (9.5 ft)
Propulsion
  • Two MAN B&W 12VP185 engines, each rated at 2,500 kW (3,400 hp) at 1,907 rpm
  • ZF 7640 NR gearboxes
  • Two controllable pitch propellers
Speed
  • Top speed 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
  • Patrol speed 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 × RHIB with diesel-powered three-stage jet units
Complement36 (includes 4 government agency staff and up to 12 others)[1]
Armament
Notes[2]

The Lake-class inshore patrol vessel (also known as the Rotoiti class and the Protector class) is a ship class of inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) which replaced the RNZN's Moa-class patrol boats in 2007–2008. All four vessels were originally named after New Zealand lakes. Two of the ships were sold to Ireland in 2022.

Following long-running Navy retention problems in the wake of NZDF "civilianisation", two of the four vessels were tied up, inactive, in a 'Reduced Activity Period' for long periods between 2013 and 2018. In June 2019 the New Zealand Government announced that two of the patrol vessels would be withdrawn from service, and they were decommissioned in October that year. Both were later sold to the Irish Naval Service.

  1. ^ Rotoiti – P3569 (from the Royal New Zealand Navy website. Accessed 2008-04-21.)
  2. ^ Welded Blisse.nz. magazine, Engineering New Zealand, March/April 2008, Volume 9/2