HMS Scimitar (P284)

HMS Scimitar off Gibraltar in 2016
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Scimitar
Identification:	Pennant number: P284
Status:	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Scimitar-class patrol vessel
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:	7 (1 officer, 6 ratings)
Sensors and processing systems:	Racal-Decca Bridgemaster 360, I band navigation radar
Armament:	2 × General purpose machine guns (stern-mounted)

HMS Scimitar is a Scimitar-class fast patrol boat of the British Royal Navy. She is a Lifespan Patrol Vessel type boat and formerly served in inland waterway duties in Northern Ireland as MV Grey Fox. She was acquired to serve with the Gibraltar Squadron, tasked with policing, customs and search and rescue duties. This released an Archer-class patrol vessel for tasking with the Cyprus Squadron.

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 stated that the ship had actually been shooting at a NATO maritime signal flag, which is similar in appearance.

On 3 May 2011 Scimitar was dispatched to intercept the Spanish Serviola-class patrol boat Atalaya when she entered British waters around Gibraltar and ordered ships to leave the area. The Scimitar took part in another encounter with a Spanish naval vessel on 4 April 2017. It challenged the Infanta Cristina, a Descubierta-class corvette that had entered British waters off of Gibraltar. The Infanta Cristina left without further incident.