Glaive is a French Trident class patrol boat originally built in the 1960s as the French Navy was redefining the strategic value of smaller, more agile attack craft in its fleet.
Glaive: A Premium Patrol Boat for France at Rank III
At a glance:
- 40 mm Bofors and .50 machine guns
- Good mobility
- Huge profile
- Premium bonuses
The Trident-class patrol boat was a class of fast patrol boats developed by France in the 1960s during a period of significant naval transition shaped by decolonization, Cold War tensions, and the rise of missile-armed small combatants. In the aftermath of World War II and the loss of much of its colonial empire, France reoriented its navy toward coastal defense, protection of maritime approaches, and rapid-response capabilities in overseas territories.
Historically, the Trident class reflects France’s 1960s naval doctrine which prioritized strategic independence, nuclear deterrence at the high end, and flexible conventional forces at the lower end of the spectrum. The Trident patrol boats complemented larger surface combatants and submarines by providing day-to-day maritime presence and rapid reaction in both metropolitan and overseas waters. The last of the Trident class patrol boats was decommissioned from military use in the 1980s, but the class continued serving in civil police roles until well into the 2000s.
Introducing Glaive!
Meet Glaive, a French premium patrol boat coming to the game in the Marine Gendarme naval event, which started today! This is a fairly agile coastal boat with a 40 mm Bofors turret on the bow. Let’s dive into the details!
From the onset, Glaive shares some visual resemblance to other nation’s cold war era coastal vessels in the game. This represents a deliberate choice by French naval designers as they sought to develop a simple and cost-effective vessel for patrol missions in overseas territories. As such, Glaive is fitted with a 40 mm autocannon placed in front of the bridge, featuring an excellent rate of fire and proven ballistic properties. Additionally, the vessel features a pair of bow-mounted heavy machine guns which protect the rear hemisphere which lies in the deadzone of the front-mounted 40 mm autocannon.
Despite her relatively large dimensions, Glaive stands out among other ships in the French Coastal fleet tree thanks to her excellent maneuverability. She can quickly reach her maximum speed of 26 knots (over 48 km/h), maneuvers well, and generally excels in active combat.
Glaive is obtainable in the new Marine Gendarme naval event and will speed up the research of any small French ship between the ranks of I-IV both for seasoned veterans and for those who haven’t yet begun researching the French Coastal fleet research tree. What’s especially great is that obtaining Glaive is not at all difficult! Simply complete in-game stages for the event in naval battles and claim this brand-new premium boat!
Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
