HMS Cutlass, the first of two new high-speed patrol boats, has been commissioned into the Gibraltar Fast Patrol Squadron during a ceremony at HMNB Gibraltar.

According to a news release, forming part of the Gibraltar Squadron Fast Patrol Craft, HMS Cutlass – and her sister Dagger, due to be delivered later in 2022 – are the permanent replacements for the Gibraltar Squadron Fast Patrol Craft – HMS Sabre and HMS Scimitar – that have been present in Gibraltar’s waters for the past two decades.

“Built by Merseyside-based Marine Specialised Technology, the patrol craft are twice as fast as Dasher and Pursuer with a top speed of 40 knots. Both craft have modern optical and infra-red systems, enabling users to identify and track potential threats at range and the craft are also equipped with three machine-guns. The updated systems help the crew in operations, maintenance and response to any unforeseen incidents.”

DE&S Boats Team Project Manager, James Melia, said:

“For more than hundreds of years there has been a British Armed Forces presence in Gibraltar. HMS Cutlass and Dagger will provide security in British Territorial Waters and provide protection to visiting warships, submarines and support vessels.

DE&S are extremely proud to work in partnership with MST to provide the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron with a modern, fast and effective capability for fulfilling their important role.”

You can read more on this here.

Tom has spent the last 13 years working in the defence industry, specifically military and commercial shipbuilding. His work has taken him around Europe and the Far East, he is currently based in Scotland.
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Steve
Steve
1 year ago

Soon we will see these tiny boats chasing down much larger Spanish ships. Ok it doesn’t need a bigger boat for countering Spanish games, since they are just making a point and no intention of doing anything, it does look kinda embarrassing when you see the photos.

RobW
RobW
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve

I’m more embarrassed for the Spanish. Harassing NATO ships and subs in Gibraltar waters and playing games with patrol boats. It doesn’t matter what we have to greet them, nothing will happen. Also it isn’t just the Spanish they deal with its any encroachment so they need speed first and foremost. Having heavily armed patrol boats wouldn’t change a thing.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  RobW

Exactly. Regardless what Spain do with their ships Gib remains British and the all important strategic assets on it.

I assume these have a handful of GPMG so that is fine for their role including CT.

RobW
RobW
1 year ago

They have mounts for 3 GPMGs and can take a 50 cal if needed.

Steve
Steve
1 year ago
Reply to  RobW

Yeah no argument there, just looks stupif everytime you see photos in the news. Practically it’s the right decision but doesn’t change the optics.

The Big Man
The Big Man
1 year ago
Reply to  RobW

Yeah, and Spain’s barely 1.0% GDP spend on defence.

Tommo
Tommo
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve

Steve Its quite annoying when the conquistadors arse around ots bloody worse when one Spanish frigate decided too flash up her fire control radar as one did too us in 83 when we were on our way back down south diplomatic feathers were ruffled

Dern
Dern
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve

Because in the small space of Gib’s harbour you want two 3,000t ships playing silly buggers?

Steve
Steve
1 year ago
Reply to  Dern

Yeah yeah not suggesting we waste the few ships we have, dealing with this, just annoying the Spanish act like they do. Maybe everytime they come into gib waters, we should send a ship into the waters of one of the Spanish islands and see how they like it.

If it wasnt for people being involved, no question we should give gib to the Spain, it’s clearly part of Spain, but when there are people involved it’s less easy. The will of the people should always come first

Dern
Dern
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve

I mean, it’s not “clearly part of Spain” no more than Andorra is part of Spain, Lichtenstein is part of Switzerland, or the Vatican is part of Italy. It’s been part of the United Kingdom since before there was a United Kingdom.

Or maybe Alaska should go back to Russia since it’s clearly not contiguous with the lower 48 states?

Andrew Thorne
Andrew Thorne
1 year ago
Reply to  Dern

I would agree with you Dern. Similar issue for Northern Ireland. It’s part of the UK and those thinking we should give it to Eire are making a similar mistake. Of course if those people in Northern Ireland want to be part of Eire that’s up to them but until they do we should treat them like we do any other part of the UK e.g. London, Manchester, Birmingham, Wales, Scotland etc.

Chris
Chris
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Thorne

Does the RN need to fear the new Spanish submarine?
Construction started in 1999 and delays due to a wrong decimal point doubled the cost and as it wouldn’t float had to be enlarged so much so that it wouldn’t fit into Cartagena ( its-home port)
Now completed it is Reported Spanish workforce are applying for jobs with a certain Scottish ferry building company.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago

Who will start the moans that it lacks Mk41 and at least CIWS…? 🙄

Posse Comitatus
Posse Comitatus
1 year ago

NSM and bow sonar………!!

RobW
RobW
1 year ago

Already had one! Some people wouldn’t be happy with anything less than Hypersonic missiles and a fully functioning dragonfire.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
1 year ago

Does it have SeaCeptor?

Sean
Sean
1 year ago

Superfiring 16” gun turrets…

Rob Richardson
Rob Richardson
1 year ago
Reply to  Sean

18″ surely the minimum ?

Darren hall
Darren hall
1 year ago

Where is the flight deck??

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  Darren hall

Right! That’s flushed the armament questions out! 😆

Armchair Admiral
Armchair Admiral
1 year ago

Just a small point. The picture shows the boat FFAW (fitted for AND with) armaments!! She must the most heavily armed asset we have…
AA

Tommo
Tommo
1 year ago

Cloaking device and maybe at a stretch Photon torpedoes

Geoff Roach
Geoff Roach
1 year ago

What about “my” extra F35’s…at least two   :wpds_cool: I hope.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  Geoff Roach

Add a zero to that Geoffrey!

Geoff Roach
Geoff Roach
1 year ago
Reply to  Geoff Roach

When I posted this it was in response to your armament joke. Apparently It had to be approved! On the real note I’m sticking with my 75 minimum.😉

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  Geoff Roach

😀 We’ll get close to that, hopefully more.

David Flandry
David Flandry
1 year ago

OK, I will. Needs 15, no 18-inch guns too. Those pesky Spanish frigates need to be stopped.

Dern
Dern
1 year ago

Not enough F-35s for it.

Something Different
Something Different
1 year ago

It needs 15 x 18” guns in five triple turrets, 24 x 4.5” guns in twelve double turrets, 192 x Aster 30 silos, 96 x Seaceptor silos, 12 x 20mm M61 mounts, Mk 41 launchers to provide 96 tubes for tomahawk/Asroc/SSM of your choice and up to 24 inches of Composite armour on the turrets, 16 inches on the belt and 9.2 inches on the deck. Speed must be at least 32 knots. Also we need 48 of these things to remain competitive with the Russian Navy

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago

😆

Ryan Brewis
Ryan Brewis
1 year ago

It’s not an arsenal ship capable of sinking an entire US CVBG by itself.
Clearly useless.

Coll
Coll
1 year ago

Love posting this image when this subject comes up

Marked
Marked
1 year ago

Should have kept Warspite for Gibraltar. Just the sight of the turrets turning would send the Spaniards running home crying for mummy…

Some of these so called nato allies don’t exactly inspire confidence… Good job we keep good links with the US.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
1 year ago
Reply to  Marked

I wouldn’t have advocated keeping Warspite, she was in a terrible physical state after WW2- HMS Vanguard on the other hand should have been retained- she was scrapped after a pitiful few years service.

Andrew Thorne
Andrew Thorne
1 year ago
Reply to  Marked

I don’t any of the continental countries including Poland, Hungary etc. We are defending them and they are still messing us around by supporting France and Germany with the punishment after we left the EU. I think we should make our military support of these countries conditional on supporting us on other issues e.g; NI protocol.

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Thorne

Got to remember the EU will do what’s best for them (as should be expected) Not what’s best for a country outside of the EU. Especially one that left recently. This was to be expected. Our defence obligations are out with the EU and come from other treaties etc.

David Barry
David Barry
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew Thorne

Oh yes, division. Russians willl offfer you a red star.

Dern
Dern
1 year ago
Reply to  Marked

The US that was such a good ally during the Suez Crisis you mean?
Or the US that funded the IRA for 30 years?
Or the US that wanted us to give the Falklands up?

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
1 year ago

Honestly, I’d like to see more protection for the gunners.

The size of weapons is fine for what they are supposed to do.

If there is a bigger threat then a River2 or T23GP/T31 can be sent.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago

The ORCs have plating around the firing positions pity nothing on these as you say.

David Flandry
David Flandry
1 year ago

There is a River-class OPS to be based there.

Jon
Jon
1 year ago
Reply to  David Flandry

Trent already is. Having the Med and N Africa to cover, she might not always be at hand.

jason
jason
1 year ago

Another addition to our illegal migrant taxi service!

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
1 year ago
Reply to  jason

Hopefully that issue will be addressed courtesy of the one way air bridge to Rwanda courtesy of Patel airlines.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  Mr Bell

Sadly not, the left wing lawyers will probably torpedo the lot with years of legal challenges and delays.

Starmer has a solution, it’s called free passage for unlimited numbers, or “safe routes” as he calls it.

To me if one knows you will be definitely be offshored that has to act as some deterrent.

As it is, they know the vast, vast majority will never be removed and job done and the smuggling rackets still rake it in. They’ve said as such on TicToc.

Frank62
Frank62
1 year ago
Reply to  Mr Bell

That’s a sick & immoral solution, belonging to the 18th or 19th centuries rather than the 21st. Priti is abdicating responsability & her parents came to the UK in exactly the same circumstance that these people she’ll deport 1,000s of miles came here.
Migrants are one thing, but refugees & asylum seekers another entirely.

Last edited 1 year ago by Frank62
Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank62

With you there. Plenty of islands or areas of the U.K. that places could be built to house migrants. Or heres a crazy idea! speed up the process so we don’t have to accommodate people for years.

OldSchool
OldSchool
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank62

It’s a solution that’s been forced onto the UK govt by dogooders, the useful idiots in the HoL and the EU who allows people to swan across their borders to the UK.

The UK should pull out of the Internal Convention on Refugees, refuse passge of such into UK from third party countries ( France anyone) and push those that get here from EU onto the ROI ( the UK acting itself then as an intermediary). Dublin will be thrilled.

farouk
farouk
1 year ago

MOD reveals new cost effective replacement for the Type 45, say hello to the type 4.5 which the MOD has stated has been designed with a eye on quicker engine changes if the need arises:

Last edited 1 year ago by farouk
Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago
Reply to  farouk

So long as it has modular, world beating and can catch a cricket ball at 3000mph in the sales pitch the U.K. will want it.

Dave G
Dave G
1 year ago

There was a Cutlas in my day. Sword class fast patrol boats operated out of Dolphin I believe. 1954

Rob Richardson
Rob Richardson
1 year ago

Has it got the latest Russian spec Bluetacked GPS & Binatone comms system?

geoff
geoff
1 year ago

On matters vexillogical, I see they are lowering the Red Ensign and raising the White. When she is handed over from the shipbuilders before comissioning into the RN, she should have flown the Blue Ensign surely in the interim?

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
1 year ago
Reply to  geoff

Depends on owns it. If it is the yard, and it usually is before it is handed over, then it is the Red Ensign.

Blue is for government owned assets other than the Royal Navy e.g. Royal Fleet Auxilliary uses the Blue Ensign with a golden anchor in the fly.

Cheers CR

geoff
geoff
1 year ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

Hi CR-hope you are well. I have an image of a Batch 2 OPV flying the Blue ensign prior to commissioning so as you say it might still have been in the hands of the shipyard before the handover in which case Cutlass would still ‘belong’ to the builder and thus fly the civil Red Ensign. In the case of the OPV I should have imagined it fell under the banner of the MoD or Navy doing last minute trials after accepting from the builder, so in this case flew the blue and anchor prior to commissioning!

Last edited 1 year ago by geoff
ChariotRider
ChariotRider
1 year ago
Reply to  geoff

I’m well thanks geoff, hope you are too mate,

As you suggest I think the Blue Ensign means owned by the government (MoD), but not yet a commissioned ship in the RN…

The UK does use a lot of different flags, the flag that Grant Shapps has behind him when he does interviews is apparently the UK civil aviation ensign..!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Civil_Air_Ensign

Cheers CR

geoff
geoff
1 year ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

Thanks CR! I will be flying the Union Jack in Durban for the Queens Jubilee!👍

Dern
Dern
1 year ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

Or the British Army Navy.

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
1 year ago
Reply to  Dern

Hi Dern, Yeh, that flag appears on small boats and may be mexeflotes these days, but back in the day the Army operated the Mk8 Land Craft Tank. Which was in fact a small ship of about 1000tons. I read somewhere (also a looonnnng time a ago) that the commander was called a Captain Major.!? At one time or another, the Army has had or has its own navy and its own airforce; the RAF used have its own navy (Air Sea rescue) and still has its own army; and well the Navy has its own airforce and its own… Read more »

geoff
geoff
1 year ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

Hey CR-how about Major Major. If he had a younger brother also a Major they would be Major Major major and Major Major minor 😂

Last edited 1 year ago by geoff
Lusty
Lusty
1 year ago
Reply to  geoff

She has been flying the blue ensign ()there are images of it during the work-up period in Gibraltar’s waters). No idea why it was changed in the interim!

I wonder if it has something to do with being commissioned in Gib? I haven’t been able to find an answer.

Last edited 1 year ago by Lusty
geoff
geoff
1 year ago
Reply to  Lusty

Hi Lusty-nice to hear from you. Maybe the Rating in charge of the ceremony did not read the brief😂 Case for keel hauling?

Lusty
Lusty
1 year ago
Reply to  geoff

You too, Geoff.

Maybe! That said, it would be a good ship to be keelhauled on. Imagine if it was QE or POW?!?!

geoff
geoff
1 year ago
Reply to  Lusty

😂No barnacles on Cutlass although QE would be a better one for the CV!!

Longtime
Longtime
1 year ago
Reply to  Lusty

If my memory is right, been a few year since I done flag etiquette. A HMS will fly a blue on trials because it is under government ownership and operated for, despite the captain being RN they’re under token employment by the builder. Red would then be flown for commissioning ceremony because the vessel is back in builders ownership and operation until commissioning.

if memory is correct

geoff
geoff
1 year ago

HI CR-herewith OPV with Blue ensign

Last edited 1 year ago by geoff