HMS Scimitar off Gibraltar with Type 45 Destroyer HMS Daring in 2016 | |
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Scimitar |
Builder | Halmatic Ltd, Portsmouth |
Launched | December 1992 |
Commissioned | 2003 |
Decommissioned | 30 March 2022 |
Identification |
|
Status | Awaiting disposal |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Scimitar-class patrol vessel |
Displacement | 24 tonnes (24 long tons) |
Length | 16 m (52 ft 6 in) |
Beam | 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) |
Draught | 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) |
Propulsion | 2 × MAN 2480LXE diesels, 2 shafts |
Speed | 32 knots (37 mph; 59 km/h) |
Range | 260 nmi (480 km) at 19 kn (35 km/h) |
Complement | 7 (1 officer, 6 ratings) |
Sensors and processing systems | Racal-Decca Bridgemaster 360, I band navigation radar |
Armament | 2 × General purpose machine guns (stern-mounted) |
HMS Scimitar was a Scimitar-class fast patrol boat of the British Royal Navy. She is a Lifespan Patrol Vessel type boat and formerly served in inland waterway duties in Northern Ireland as MV Grey Fox. She was acquired to serve with the Gibraltar Squadron, tasked with policing, customs and search and rescue duties. This released an Archer-class patrol vessel for tasking with the Cyprus Squadron.
Scimitar was involved in a diplomatic incident between the United Kingdom and Spain in November 2009 after being alleged by the Spanish to have been using the Spanish flag as a target during gunnery practice. The Ministry of Defence stated that the ship had actually been shooting at a NATO maritime signal flag, which is similar in appearance. [1]
On 3 May 2011 Scimitar was dispatched to intercept the Spanish Serviola-class patrol boat Atalaya when she entered British waters around Gibraltar and ordered the Spanish ship to leave the area. [2] Scimitar took part in another encounter with a Spanish naval vessel on 4 April 2017. It challenged Infanta Cristina, a Descubierta-class corvette that had entered British waters off of Gibraltar. Infanta Cristina left without further incident. [3]
On 8 November 2017, HMS Scimitar intercepted the Spanish corvette Infanta Elena trying to enter British territorial waters off Gibraltar. [4]
In July 2017 it was revealed that the Gibraltar Squadron would receive two new warships which will be more "capable", "faster" and have "bigger guns", to replace Sabre and Scimitar "within the next two years". [5]
On 24 July 2020, an announcement was made that the promised two new warships have been ordered from Marine Specialised Technology (MST Ltd) with the first to be delivered in (Q3 2021/22) and the second in (Q1 2022/2023). The contract is expected to cost at least £9.9 million. The patrol vessel replacements are initially going to be armed with X3 General Purpose Machine Guns (1 on the foredeck and 2 on the aft deck) as well as being fitted for but not with a 0.50 cal Heavy Machine Gun. The ships are going to be 19 m (62 ft 4 in) long, carry 6 crew and 6 passengers and travel at 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph). [6]
In September 2020 Scimitar, along with her sister ship Sabre, returned to Portsmouth aboard MV Anvil Point having been replaced temporarily by HMS Dasher and HMS Pursuer. [7]
After a period operating in UK waters Scimitar and Sabre were decommissioned in a joint ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base on 30 March 2022. [8]
In 2024 it was reported that the former HMS Scimitar had been converted to medical vessel, MV Lady Jean, and was transported to Tanzania to serve as a medical vessel supporting remote island communities on Lake Victoria. [9]
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and a component of His Majesty's Naval Service. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the English Navy of the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service.
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The Gibraltar Squadron is a unit of the British Royal Navy. It is the only seagoing Royal Naval unit based in Gibraltar, attached to British Forces Gibraltar. It currently includes two Cutlass-class fast patrol boats with a maximum speed of up to 41-knots. The squadron also uses three Pacific 24 rigid-hulled inflatable boats and deploys one diving support boat. The 2021 defence white paper indicated that henceforth, one River-class offshore patrol vessel, HMS Trent, would also be permanently based in Gibraltar for operations in the Mediterranean and in the Gulf of Guinea. As of 2023, 28 personnel were assigned to the squadron, along with additional personnel assigned to HMS Trent.
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The Archer class is a class of patrol and training vessel in service with the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, commonly referred to as a "fast training boat". Most are assigned to Coastal Forces Squadron. HMS Tracker and HMS Raider are armed and provide maritime force protection to high value shipping in the Firth of Clyde and are most commonly employed as escorts for submarines transiting to Faslane. Pursuer and Dasher were also armed during their deployment on maritime force protection duties with the Gibraltar Squadron from 2020-2022.
HMS Sabre was a Scimitar-class fast patrol boat of the British Royal Navy. She was commissioned into the Gibraltar Squadron on 31 January 2003 along with her sister Scimitar, and used for police, customs and rescue purposes. The two boats allowed the two Archer-class patrol vessel of the squadron, Trumpeter and Ranger, to be reassigned to the Cyprus Squadron in April 2003 and April 2004 respectively.
The Scimitar class were a class of fast patrol boat formerly in service with the British Royal Navy.
British Forces Gibraltar constitute those elements of the British Armed Forces stationed in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is used primarily as a training area, thanks to its good climate and rocky terrain, and as a stopover for aircraft and ships en route to and from deployments East of Suez or in Africa.
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HMS Cutlass is a Cutlass-class fast patrol boat of the British Royal Navy. She is a fast patrol boat with a maximum speed around 41 knots designed for sovereignty protection and coastal security duties. She is part of the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron and arrived in the territory in November 2021 after undergoing sea trials in Liverpool. The boat was formally handed over to the Royal Navy in March 2022.
The Cutlass class is a class of fast patrol boat of the British Royal Navy.
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