The Navy appears poised to sunset the Mk VI and Cyclone-class patrol craft programs in rapid succession, with no replacements on the horizon. The Navy has done this throughout history, only to discover after hostilities have begun that the decision was misguided. The torpedo boats of World War II were instrumental in ensuring the success of the Pacific island-hopping campaign. The Vietnam War saw a need for riverine boats to patrol deep inland and support ground troops. And the Navy needed riverine forces to patrol the Tigris and Euphrates rivers during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Yet once again, as competition with a rival great power increases, the Navy finds itself on the verge of having no small patrol craft. If the Mk VI was gone before we even knew her, perhaps it is time to ponder what a Mk VII design should entail.

The Mk VII should be larger—closer in size and capability to the outgoing Cyclone class. A vessel in the 500-ton range with an overall length of 200 to 250 feet would be ideal. It should be capable of remaining at sea without resupply for 10 to 14 days. The vessel would be commanded by an O-4 surface warfare officer and have a crew of 40–50. Unlike most recent acquisition programs (the Constellation-class frigates being a tentative exception), the Mk VII must eschew any new, revolutionary, modular, forthcoming, or other buzzword-laden technology. It would rely instead on well-proven off-the-shelf systems to drive down risk and cost. The Mk VIs cost roughly $15 million each, and the Cyclones $50 million (in today’s dollars). A reasonable Mk VII cost target would be $100 million per hull.