Scimitar-class patrol vessel
The Scimitar class is a class of fast patrol boat in service with the British Royal Navy.
HMS Sabre, 2011 | |
Class overview | |
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Builders: | Halmatic |
Operators: |
|
Preceded by: | Archer class |
In commission: | 2003 – |
General characteristics | |
Type: | Patrol boat |
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: | 5 (1 officer, 4 ratings) |
Sensors and processing systems: | Racal-Decca Bridgemaster 360, I band navigation radar |
Armament: | 2 × General purpose machine guns (stern-mounted) |
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] Both vessels were reported as "no longer operational" as of July 2020, having been replaced, on an interim basis, by two Archer-class patrol boats. The long-term plan is to replace the existing Gibraltar Squadron vessels with two new-build boats that were ordered in July 2020.[3]
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 |
References
- "Patrol Boats - Scimitar class". Royal Navy. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- "Royal Navy decommissions inshore survey vessel HMS Gleaner". Naval Today. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/order-placed-for-new-royal-navy-gibraltar-squadron-patrol-boats/
External links
- "Patrol Boats - Scimitar class". Royal Navy.