Today we said goodbye to HMS Sabre and HMS Scimiter after nearly 30 years in service. The patrol ships were decommissioned at HMNB Portsmouth after long careers, which notably saw them serve as guard ships in Gibraltar.

HMS Sabre and HMS Scimiter were Patrol Boats based in Gibraltar.

HMS Sabre together with sister ships HMS Scimitar formed the core of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron. The small team – the two Scimitar-class patrol boats, 19 personnel, and three Arctic 24 rigid-hulled inflatable boats – is one of only two permanently deployed sea-going units.

The only other is HMS Clyde on permanent station in the Falklands. The role of the boats and people of the Gibraltar Squadron is to safeguard Gibraltar’s shores, while contributing to joint operations.

In addition, the Gibraltar Squadron provides a maritime Quick Reaction Force to support ships in the local area, and keeps a watchful eye over shipping passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. The craft of the squadron are often busy supporting British and NATO exercises in the region, or indeed other nations’ maritime forces.