The Republic of Fiji
Fiji, or officially the Republic of Fiji, comprising some 320 islands in
the South West Pacific Ocean, became a republic on 10 October, 1987,
following a coup d'etat. The islands cover an area of 18,130 sq km
(7,000 sq mi) and have a population of 792,441 (1997). The two largest
islands are Viti Levu, the site of Suva, the capital, and Vanua Levu. The
original Fijians, of Melanesian origin in the west and Polynesian origin
in the east, are now almost equaled in number by Indians, who first came
(1870-1916) to the islands as indentured workers for the British. The
native Fijians are largely Christian; those of Indian origin are about
three quarters Hindu and one quarter Muslim. The official language is
English; Fijian and Hindi are also spoken. The Royal Fiji Military Forces
(RFMF) raised the Naval Division on 12 June, 1975, to carry out Fishery
Protection, Surveillance, Hydrographic Surveying and Coast Guard duties.
Fiji is located north of New Zealand and north east of Australia.
Fiji
Where is Fiji? To find where Fiji is located in the South West Pacific,
just click on this link to the Map of Oceania and look up longitude 175°E
and latitude 15°S.
Displacement (tons): 162 Full Load
Dimensions (feet): 103.3 x 26.6 x 6.9 (31.5 x 8.1 x 2.1m)
Propulsion: 2 x Caterpillar 3516TA diesels, 2,820 hp, 2 shafts
Max. Speed (knots): 20
Armament: 1 x 12.7mm MG
Complement: 17
No. Name Commissioned Notes/Fate
201 Kula (II) 28/5/94 Active, Suva.
202 Kikau (II) 27/5/95 Active, Suva.
203 Kiro (II) 7/10/95 Active, Suva.
Note: Built as hull numbers 17, 19 & 20 by Australian Shipbuilding
Industries (WA) Pty Ltd, for the Australian Government, as part of the
South Pacific Forum's Defence Co-operation Programme.
Redwing Class Large Patrol Boat
Displacement (tons): 370 Full Load
Dimensions (feet): 144 x 28 x 8.5 (43.9 x 8.5 x 2.6m)
Propulsion: 2 x GM 8-268A diesels, 880 hp, 2 shafts
Max. Speed (knots): 13
Armament: 1 x Oerlikon 20mm, 2 x 12.7mm MG
Aircraft: Kula had a helicopter platform above an
aft deckhouse.
Complement: 39
No. Name Commissioned Notes/Fate
204 Kikau (I) 14/10/75 Ex-USS Woodpecker (MSC209),
comm'd 3/2/56. Deleted 1990.
205 Kula (I) 14/10/75 Ex-USS Vireo (MSC205),
comm'd 7/6/55. Deleted 1991.
206 Kiro (I) ??/6/76 Ex-USS Warbler (MSC206),
comm'd 23/7/55. Used as a
training boat from 1991.
Deleted 1996.
Note: Built as Coastal Minesweepers at Bellingham Shipyard, USA.
Levuka Class Coastal Patrol Boat
Displacement (tons): 97 Full Load
Dimensions (feet): 110 x 24 x 5 (33.8 x 7.4 x 1.5m)
Propulsion: 4 x GM 12V-71TA diesels, 1,680 hp, 4 shafts
Max. Speed (knots): 12
Armament: 1 x 12.7mm MG
Complement: 12
No. Name Commissioned Notes/Fate
101 Levuka 22/10/87 Active, Suva.
102 Lautoka 28/10/87 Active, Suva.
Note: All aluminium construction, built as oil rig support craft in 1979-80
by Beaux's Bay Craft, Louisiana, USA. Purchased in September, 1987.
Dabur Class Coastal Patrol Boat
Displacement (tons): 39 Full Load
Dimensions (feet): 64.9 x 18 x 5.8 (19.8 x 5.5 x 1.8m)
Propulsion: 4 x GM 12V-71TA diesels, 1,680 hp, 4 shafts
Max. Speed (knots): 19
Armament: 1 x Oerlikon 20mm, 1 x 12.7mm MG
Complement: 9
No. Name Commissioned Notes/Fate
301 Vai 22/11/91 Active, Suva.
302 Ogo 22/11/91 Active, Suva.
303 Saku 22/11/91 Active, Suva.
304 Saqa 22/11/91 Active, Suva.
Note: Built in the mid-1970s by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Transferred from Israel on 22 November 1991.
Latui Class Coastal Patrol Boat
Displacement (tons): 85 Full Load
Dimensions (feet): 67 x 17 x 7 (20.4 x 5.2 x 2.1m)
Propulsion: 1 x 8V-71 diesel, 1 shaft
Max. Speed (knots): n/a
Armament: n/a
Complement: 10
No. Name Commissioned Notes/Fate
-- Latui 1/82 Ex-Bulikula. Deleted.
Note: Built by Fiji Shipyard for Mineral Resources Dept in 1978.
Transferred to RFMF(N) in January 1982.
Hydrographic Survey Vessel
Displacement (tons): 920 Full Load
Dimensions (feet): 171 x 38 x 11 (52.6 x 11.7 x 3.4m)
Propulsion: 2 x Caterpillar D399 diesels, 2250hp, 2 shafts
Max. Speed (knots): 12
Armament: n/a
Complement: 41
No. Name Commissioned Notes/Fate
-- Tovuto 4/1987 Ex-Babale, ex-Eugene McDermott II.
Note: Built by Carrington Slipways in 1971 as a commercial exploration
vessel. Civilian manned.
Survey Vessels
Displacement (tons): 100 Full Load
Dimensions (feet): 94 x 17.5 x ? (28.7 x 5.3 x ?m)
Propulsion: n/a
Max. Speed (knots): n/a
Armament: n/a
Complement: 14
No. Name Commissioned Notes/Fate
-- Ruve (I) ? Ex-Volasiga, ex-Marinetta.
Deleted January 1979.
Note: Built in 1929.
Displacement (tons): 303 Full Load
Dimensions (feet): 91.8 x 22 x 6.6 (28 x 6.7 x 2m)
Propulsion: 2 x Rolls-Royce diesels, 2 shafts
Max. Speed (knots): 10
Armament: n/a
Complement: 17
No. Name Commissioned Notes/Fate
-- Ruve (II) 12/9/79 Ex-MV Vuniwai. Deleted?
Note: Built at Fiji Shipyards in 1970 and converted for surveying in 1979.
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Copyright � 1 January, 2003,
Terry M. Walsh,
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