Royal Navy Cutlass-Class Patrol Boat, HMS Dagger (P296), Docks in Gibraltar

Royal Navy’s New £5 Million Patrol Boats

The Royal Navy has unveiled its latest addition to the fleet, the HMS Cutlass (P295) and HMS Dagger (P296), as part of their “Guardians of the Rock” initiative. These patrol boats, valued at £5 million each, are set to bolster the maritime security of the United Kingdom’s waters and safeguard the English Channel.

Commissioned by Her Majesty’s Coastguard, these vessels will operate in close coordination with the Royal Navy and support the protection of vital sea trade routes and safety checks upon the waves. Delivery is expected by mid-2022, with construction led by Marine Specialised Technology, Dagger and Cutlass will be based in HM Naval Base Gibraltar, serving as robust assets in the protection of British interests and operations in the area and will keep close watch over Gibraltar’s shores.

Commander of Forces Command, Lieutenant Simon Holden, said, “The arrival of HMS Dagger and HMS Cutlass is the culmination of many months of hard work by our commercial partners, the Ministry of Defence, and the Royal Navy. This is an incredible product of modern maritime engineering, and as Head of Force Protection for the Royal Navy, I am looking forward to putting HMS Dagger through her paces and getting her operational as soon as possible.”

HMS Dagger (P296) is a Coastguard-class patrol boat of the British Royal Navy, built to maximum speeds of around 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) designed for sovereignty protection and coastal security duties. The arrival of these patrol boats marks a significant step in fortifying the security posture around the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, reinforcing the region’s defenses.

The Coastguard-class vessels are fast patrol boats equipped with two versatile HPTB-1900 diesel engines, built to withstand high-speed pursuits by nefarious actors on the sea. The role of the Royal Navy’s Guardians of the Rock initiative is to conduct maritime operations to provide security in the Strait of Gibraltar, ensuring the safety of shipping and deterring threats in the area and demonstrating the commitment to safeguarding British interests. They are also prepared for search and rescue operations and to support environmental protection efforts in the region.

These patrol boats will play a pivotal role in enforcing maritime sovereignty and conducting coastal surveillance, keeping a watchful eye over Gibraltar’s waters, and responding to any potential threats promptly. This marks a significant enhancement of the United Kingdom’s maritime capabilities, ensuring the safety and security of its maritime borders for years to come.

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