Powered by twin 225 hp (168 kW) outboard motors, they are capable of speeds in excess of 46 knots (85 km/h; 53 mph) and have a range of 150 to 175 nautical miles (278 to 324 km; 173 to 201 mi), depending on the class.

The first C-class boats were delivered to Port Security Unit 305 in May 2008 for testing and entered operational service at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2009.

[5] With the Defender-class boats nearing the end of their ten-year service life, the United States Coast Guard issued a request for proposal for replacement design for the Response Boat-Small.

The request called for a 25–30-foot (7.6–9.1 m) boat, with weapon mounts, a minimum speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph), and a range of at least 150 nautical miles (280 km; 170 mi).

[7] In November, Metal Shark was awarded a $192 million contract for up to 500 response boats—470 to replace the entirety of the Coast Guard's 2002-built fleet, 20 for the US Border Patrol, and 10 for the US Navy.