Scimitar-class patrol vessel

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Gibraltar Based Patrol Boat HMS Sabre MOD 45153356.jpg
HMS Sabre, 2011
Class overview
BuildersHalmatic
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded by Archer class
Succeeded by Cutlass class
In commission2003–present
General characteristics
TypePatrol boat
Displacement24 tonnes (24 long tons)
Length16 m (52 ft 6 in)
Beam3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Draught1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
Propulsion2 × MAN 2480LXE diesels, 2 shafts
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range260 nmi (480 km; 300 mi) at 19 kn (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement5 (1 officer, 4 ratings)
Sensors and
processing systems
Racal-Decca Bridgemaster 360, I band navigation radar
Armament2 × General purpose machine guns (stern-mounted)

The Scimitar class is a class of fast patrol boat in service with the British Royal Navy.

The two vessels of this class are of a commercial design known as the Lifespan Patrol Vessel built by Halmatic (now BAE Systems Surface Ships), and formerly served in an inshore waterways anti-terrorist role in Northern Ireland. They were acquired for the Royal Navy in 2003 for service with the Gibraltar Squadron, releasing two Archer-class boats that had filled this role for service with the Cyprus Squadron.[1]

With the decommissioning of the survey launch HMS Gleaner in February 2018, the two Scimitar-class boats became the smallest commissioned vessels in the Royal Navy.[2] The two vessels were returned to the U.K. from Gibraltar in 2020, having been replaced there by two Archer-class boats, but were reported as still operational in Portsmouth at the end of 2020.

Vessels in the class[]

Name Pennant number Builder Commissioned Status
Scimitar
(ex-MV Grey Fox)
P284 Halmatic Ltd, Portsmouth 2003 Active in service
Sabre
(ex-MV Grey Wolf)
P285 Halmatic Ltd, Southampton Active in service

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Patrol Boats - Scimitar class". Royal Navy. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Royal Navy decommissions inshore survey vessel HMS Gleaner". Naval Today. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.

External links[]

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