a small boat or combat ship. Cutters range in length from 1.5 to 40 m and are up to 7 m in width, with displacements from a few dozen kilograms to 150 metric tons. Cruising speeds are from 3 to 70 knots (5.5– km/hr). The underwater body of a cutter may be of a keel type or a flat-bottom type with or without planing steps. Cutters may have displacement, hydroplane, or hover propulsion and may be powered by steam, internal combustion, or gas turbine engines or by sails and oars. Screw, airscrew, or water jet propellers may be employed.
In navies, cutters are used as combat ships, auxiliary vessels, and base floating facilities. Combat cutters of modern naviesinclude rocket, gun, and torpedo boats, antisubmarine vessels, minesweepers, patrol boats, and landing craft. Cutters areequipped with rockets, cannon, and torpedoes, depending ontheir function. Cutters employed as auxiliary vessels or basefloating facilities include tugboats and hydrographic, diving, am-bulance, rescue, and passenger boats. Passenger and rescue craftcan be part of the equipment of large warships and of auxiliarycommercial and industrial boats. In commerce, cutters are usedfor transporting passengers, carrying small cargoes, towing smallbarges, and fishing, as well as for scientific investigation, pilottransit, and patrol duty. In motorboating, racing and pleasureboats with stationary or removable motors are used. Cuttersequipped with sails and oars have ten to 14 oars, double masts, and a transom stern.
B. F. BALEV