Cutlass-class patrol vessel

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HMS Cutlass (P295).jpg
HMS Cutlass, 2022
Class overview
NameCutlass class
OperatorsNaval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
Preceded by Scimitar class
Cost£9.9m for two, including 4 years support
In service2021–present
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
Type Patrol boat
Displacement35  t (34 long tons) (full load) [1]
Length19 m (62 ft 4 in)
Propulsion3 × Volvo D13 engines (1,000 hp, 750 kW) driving 3 × MJP 350X Waterjets
Speed41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph)
Complement6 personnel and up to 6 passengers
Armament3 × general purpose machine guns (bow & stern-mounted)
Aircraft carried"Quadcopter" light reconnaissance/surveillance UAVs can be embarked [2] [3]

The Cutlass class is a class of fast patrol boat of the British Royal Navy.

Contents

The two vessels of this class are a commercial HPB-1900 design, built to military specifications by Merseyside-based Marine Specialised Technology [4] at a cost of £9.9m for two (including 4 years support). [5] The vessels are being assigned to serve in a sovereignty protection and coastal security role with the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron. [6] The first vessel, HMS Cutlass, arrived in Gibraltar in November 2021 while the second, HMS Dagger, arrived in Gibraltar in March 2022. [7]

As of 2023, the Cutlass class are the smallest commissioned vessels in the Royal Navy, being slightly lighter, in terms of displacement, than the Royal Navy's survey vessel HMS Magpie.

In 2025, "Quadcopter" light reconnaissance/surveillance UAVs, operated by a team from 700 Naval Air Squadron, were integrated into the operations of the Cutlass-class vessels and the Gibraltar Squadron. [8] [9]

Vessels in the class

HMS Dagger at HM Naval Base, Gibraltar HMS Dagger (P296) mooring in HM Naval Base, Gibraltar.jpg
HMS Dagger at HM Naval Base, Gibraltar
NamePennant No.BuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedStatus
Cutlass P295Marine Specialised Technology, Merseyside July 2020 [5] [10] 4 May 2022 [11] Active [12]
Dagger P296July 2020 [5] [10] 14 July 2022 [13] [14] Active [15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Cutlass Class Patrol Boat, United Kingdom". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Extra eyes on the Rock as Navy's Gibraltar Squadron embraces drone technology". Royal Navy. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  3. ↑ "UK Royal Navy's 700X NAS develops new uncrewed quadcopter". Naval Technology. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "UK's patrol boat HMS Cutlass completes initial trials". Naval Today. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Scott, Richard (24 July 2020). "MST wins UK MoD contract for new Gibraltar fast patrol craft". Janes.com. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "HMS Cutlass, Gibraltar Squadron's new patrol boat, undergoes sea trials". Gibraltar Chronicle. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  7. ↑ @NavyLookout (31 March 2022). "The second new @RNGibSqn patrol boat, HMS Dagger has been delivered to Gibraltar" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 March 2022– via Twitter.
  8. ↑ "Extra eyes on the Rock as Navy's Gibraltar Squadron embraces drone technology". Royal Navy. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "UK Royal Navy's 700X NAS develops new uncrewed quadcopter". Naval Technology. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Marine Specialised Technology (MST) Selects MJP Waterjets for UK Mod Gibraltar Squadron Contact" (Press release). Marine Jet Power. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  11. ↑ @MODGibraltar (4 May 2022). "Today HMS Cutlass was officially commissioned at @RNGibSqn" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 May 2022– via Twitter.
  12. ↑ "Gibraltar Squadron Welcomes HMS Cutlass". Seawaves Magazine. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "UK Royal Navy receives patrol boat HMS Dagger". naval-technology.com. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  14. ↑ @NavyLookout (14 July 2022). "HMS Dagger formally commissioned into the Fleet today @RNGibSqn" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 July 2022– via Twitter.
  15. ↑ @NavyLookout (13 June 2022). "Newly commissioned HMS Dagger keeps an eye on 🇪🇸Spanish frigate Blas de Lezo close to #Gibraltar territorial waters" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 July 2022– via Twitter.


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