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HMS ''Scimitar'' was a
''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
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".
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 long, carry 6 crew and 6 passengers and travel at .
In September 2020 ''Scimitar'', along with her sister ship ''Sabre'', returned to Portsmouth aboard having been replaced temporarily by and .
After a period operating in UK waters ''Scimitar'' and ''Sabre'' were decommissioned in a joint ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base on 30 March 2022.
fast patrol boat
A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and they ...
of the British Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. 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 Fr ...
. She is a Lifespan Patrol Vessel type boat and formerly served in inland waterway duties in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is #Descriptions, variously described as ...
as MV ''Grey Fox''. She was acquired to serve with the Gibraltar Squadron, tasked with policing, customs and search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
duties. This released an patrol vessel for tasking with the Cyprus Squadron.
Operational history
''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
{{unsourced, date=February 2021
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in state ...
stated that the ship had actually been shooting at a NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two N ...
maritime signal flag, which is similar in appearance.
On 3 May 2011 ''Scimitar'' was dispatched to intercept the Spanish patrol boat when she entered British waters around Gibraltar and ordered the Spanish ship to leave the area. ''Scimitar'' took part in another encounter with a Spanish naval vessel on 4 April 2017. It challenged ''Infanta Cristina,'' a that had entered British waters off of Gibraltar. ''Infanta Cristina'' left without further incident.
On 8 November 2017, HMS ''Scimitar'' intercepted the Spanish corvette ''Infanta Elena'' trying to enter British territorial waters off Gibraltar.
Replacement
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".
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 long, carry 6 crew and 6 passengers and travel at .
In September 2020 ''Scimitar'', along with her sister ship ''Sabre'', returned to Portsmouth aboard having been replaced temporarily by and .
After a period operating in UK waters ''Scimitar'' and ''Sabre'' were decommissioned in a joint ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base on 30 March 2022.
References
External links
* * Scimitar-class patrol vessels 1992 ships {{Gibraltar-stub