Scimitar Class Fast Training Craft

During the 1960s concern were raised regarding the threat posed to the Royal Navy by Fast Attack Craft. Although small in size they could be versatile and powerfully armed and were becoming ever more numerous in small navies. Consequently, three Fast Training Craft were ordered in January 1969. They were designed by Vosper Thornycroft, built at their Portchester shipyard and delivered to the Navy between 1969 and 1970. Upon commissioning Scimitar, Sabre and Cutlass formed the First Fast Training Boat (F.T.B) Squadron, based at Portland.

In terms of design, the Scimitar Class were a development of the successful Brave Class Fast Attack Craft. Constructed from laminated wood they displaced 102 tons and measured 30 metres in length, 8 metres in breath and 2 metres in draught. For cruising and careful manoeuvring they had two Foden Diesel Engines but for high speeds of over 40 knots they were powered by three Proteus gas turbines. They had a complement of twelve and were unarmed, although should the need have arisen, they could have been equipped with light armaments.

As Fast Training Craft, the Scimitar Class, were mainly employed in exercises and simulations with the fleet, in order for surface vessels and aircraft to gain experience and develop tactics in combating enemy Fast Patrol Craft.

All three vessels attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead. In 1979 Scimitar left the United Kingdom aboard MV Happy Pioneer bound for Hong Kong where she was employed in anti-immigration operations in order to combat the flow of illegal immigrants, especially Vietnamese boat people, into the Colony. She returned to the United Kingdom in 1981 and all three vessels were placed on the disposal list before being sold to Greek interests.

Ship	Pennant No.	Deck Code	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned
Cutlass	P274	CA	Vospers (Portchester)			1970
Sabre	P275	SA	Vospers (Portchester)			1970
Scimitar	P271		Vospers (Portchester)			1970

Craft	History
Cutlass	Cutlass attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review. She was sold in February 1982 to a Greek buyer.
Sabre	Sabre attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review. In 1980 she damaged her wooden bow when she struck a breakwater in the Channel Islands. Sabre was sold in 1983, refitted and later resold to a Greek buyer and renamed El Condor.
Scimitar	In 1977 Scimitar attended the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review. In 1979 Scimitar left the United Kingdom aboard MV Happy Pioneer bound for Hong Kong where she was employed in anti-immigration operations in order to combat the flow of illegal immigrants, especially Vietnamese boat people, into the Colony. She returned to the United Kingdom in 1981. She was sold to a Greek buyer and renamed Aquilon.

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