The patrol fired a small flare in the man's direction, and he fled.

WSJ: When the Fighting Stops: Troops Coming Home from Afghanistan

And we have small Coast Guard patrol boats that can actually do scouting, work with the vessels of opportunity, to identify the small patches of oil and deal with it there.

WHITEHOUSE: Daily Press Briefing

In London, the Ministry of Defense said the soldier, who was attached to the 21 Engineer Regiment, was killed by small arms fire at Patrol Base Hazrat.

NPR: Afghan Soldier Kills British Soldier, Wounds 6

No German soldiers or planes were involved in the airstrike, but a German patrol made it to the site about 10 hours after the attack and came under small-arms fire, the German military said.

CNN: NATO begins probe into deadly Afghan airstrike

Six Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Marine Enforcement Officers serving aboard the Australian Customs and Border Protection Vessel Triton, and 12 members of the Australian Defence Force serving on the patrol boat HMAS Pirie, nominated by Australia, for rescuing 41 survivors from a small wooden vessel which had smashed against rocks off Christmas Island, in December 2010, with an estimated 70 to 100 persons on board.

FORBES: Korean Ship Captain Honored for Extraordinary Bravery at Sea

The hope is that such vehicles could patrol the coastline, or serve as a first defense against pirates, and other such small, fast-moving seafaring dangers.

ENGADGET: US Navy tests first 11-meter missile-firing sea drone (video)