HMS Scimitar Makes Short Trip to North Africa to Work with Moroccan Navy

Gibraltar guardian HMS Scimitar left the Rock behind to make the short trip to North Africa to work with the Moroccan Navy and honour wartime personnel buried in the country.

The patrol boat, one half of the two main vessels in the Royal Navy’s Gibraltar Squadron, headed the three dozen miles across the Strait to Tangier, carrying representatives from the Royal Air Force, the Royal Gibraltar Police and a bugler from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.

Following a surprisingly smooth passage, Scimitar was met by the UK’s Defence Attaché in Morocco, Lt Col Simon Barnett, as well as representatives of the Royal Moroccan Navy.

Scimitar’s CO Lt Tom Knott then called upon the Commandant Naval Operations in Tangier, Capitaine de frégate Abdul Majid Zerbane, where they took the opportunity to strengthen relations and plan a passage exercise with Royal Moroccan Patrol Boat 113 en route back to Gib.

The focal point of the ship’s weekend in North Africa was a service of remembrance at Church of St Andrew in Tangier, which once featured in Michael Palin’s Sahara TV series.

More importantly, it is the last resting place of 12 RAF personnel and a Gibraltar Service policeman killed during service in the country in WW2.

Following a moving and poignant service inside the 107-year-old Anglican church, the congregation moved outside to the adjacent cemetery where wreaths were laid.

“I took great pride in laying a wreath and paying my respects to those that fell in Tangier and was moved by the level of attendance from the local community,” said Lt Knott.

HMS Scimitar left Morocco the next day Tangier the following day and during the transit back to Gibraltar she carried out two hours of communications and manoeuvering exercises with PB113 as far east as Tanger-Med, a purpose-built new commercial port 20 miles along the coast from Tangier.

“This rare opportunity to operate with the Royal Moroccan Navy was a change from routine operations for the crew and an interesting experience for Scimitar’s embarked guests,” said Lt Knott.

“I was particularly impressed by the professional ship handling of Patrol Boat 113 and the ability of our navies to co-operate seamlessly in a common operating area.

“Our visit exceeded all expectations. It was a privilege to be part of the Remembrance Service and conduct a valuable training exercise with a highly-professional navy.”

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Naval Today Staff, December 03, 2012; Image: RN