According to a video published by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on October 27, 2023, a maritime infiltration attempt by Hamas activists was foiled by the Israeli Navy.
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Israeli Navy's fast patrol boats. (Picture source: IDF)
The infiltration attempt unfolded off the coast of Zikim, where Israeli Naval commandos detected activists emerging from a tunnel into the Mediterranean Sea, aiming to infiltrate Israeli territory.
Upon confrontation, the activists were eliminated by the Israeli Navy forces, who subsequently scoured the area for any additional threats. The images broadcast are of very poor quality, but we can assume that the Israeli Navy used Dvora class fast patrol boats.
About the Dvora class
The Dvora-class fast patrol boat, crafted by Israel Aerospace Industries for the Israeli Sea Corps, derives its design from the Israeli Dabur class. The patrol boat, with a full load displacement of 45.0 tons, measures 21.80 metres in length, 5.50 metres in beam, and has a draught of 1.1 metres.
Its propulsion system comprises two diesel engines that collectively generate 4,570 horsepower (or 3,410 kilowatts) and is paired with two Arneson ASD-16 articulating surface drives. This enables the boat to reach a maximum speed of 37 knots. The Dvora-class boat has a range of 560 nautical miles.
The armament on board includes an Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and two 12.7 mm machine guns. The Israeli Sea Corps initially had 10 of these vessels, but one was decommissioned following a collision with a rocky shoal, leaving nine in service.
The Dvora-class boats also found their way to other nations. For instance, Sri Lanka acquired six, though three were sunk in the mid-90s. The Republic of China Navy also acquired two original Dvora-class boats in the 1980s, and additionally manufactured 48 local variant Hai Ou-class boats, which were phased out between 1999 and 2012, making way for the Kuang Hua VI-class missile boats.
