Scimitar

The Scimitar class was a small Royal Navy fast patrol boat class built by Halmatic from a commercial Lifespan Patrol Vessel design. The two boats, HMS Scimitar and HMS Sabre, had previously served in Northern Ireland waterways before being acquired for Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron service in 2003. Their acquisition allowed other patrol craft to move to Cyprus duties while preserving a dedicated Gibraltar patrol force.

Scimitar-class boats displaced about 24 tonnes and used twin diesel engines driving two shafts for speeds around 32 knots. Their shallow draught and small crew made them suitable for rapid patrols, escort work, and interception around Gibraltar's confined waters. Armament was limited to machine guns, reflecting a maritime security mission rather than corvette or frigate combat.

Operationally, the class supported Gibraltar Squadron by patrolling British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and helping safeguard Royal Navy or allied vessels using the naval base. The boats returned to the United Kingdom after replacement by newer patrol craft and were decommissioned together at Portsmouth in March 2022. Their service illustrates the Royal Navy's use of very small commissioned craft for persistent local security tasks.