Cyclone class patrol ship

USS Hurricane, USS Typhoon and USS Chinook, in the Persian Gulf in March 2015.
Class overview
Builders:	Bollinger Shipyards
Operators:	United States Navy  Philippine Navy  United States Coast Guard
In commission:	1993 - present
Planned:	16
Completed:	14
Cancelled:	2
Active:	14
General characteristics
Displacement:	331 tons (336 metric tons) full load
Length:	179 ft (55 m)
Beam:	25 ft (7.6 m)
Draft:	7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Propulsion:	Four Paxman Diesel engines; four shafts; 3,350 shaft horsepower (2.50 MW)
Speed:	35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range:	2000-2500nm (@12knots, with transit fuel reserve)
Crew:	Four officers, 24 enlisted personnel
Armament:	2 × MK 38 25 mm autocannon 5 × .50 caliber machine guns 2 × MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launchers 2 × M240B machine guns 6 × FIM-92 Stinger SAMs 2 × MK-60 quadruple BGM-176B Griffin B missile launchers

The Cyclone-class patrol ships are a class of United States Navy coastal patrol boats. Most of these ships were launched between 1992 and 1994. The primary mission of these ships is coastal patrol and interdiction surveillance, an important aspect of littoral operations outlined in the Navy's strategy, "Forward...From the Sea." These ships also provide full mission support for U.S. Navy SEALs and other special operations forces.

The Cyclone-class ships are assigned to Naval Special Warfare. Of the 14 ships, nine originally operated out of the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia, and four originally operated from the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. These ships provide the United States Naval Special Warfare Command with a fast, reliable platform that can respond to emergent requirements in a low-intensity conflict environment. Three hulls were decommissioned and loaned to the United States Coast Guard to be returned to the Navy in 2011, and one was transferred to the Philippine Navy. Shamal, Tornado, and Zephyr were returned to the U.S. Navy in 2011 and placed back in commission.

The hulls on loan to the U.S. Coast Guard are used in a variety of roles, including search and rescue, interception, boarding, and inspection of foreign freighters arriving at United States ports.

In September 2010, the decision was made to recall all of the remaining ships of the class due to fatigue damage to their hulls. The class was designed for a lifespan of roughly 15 years. All but the newest member of the class, USS Tornado (PC-14), have been in service longer. The vessels will be inspected and a decision will be made whether to refit them or to decommission the ships.