Gibraltar patrol boat HMS Scimitar left the waters of the Rock for a 450-mile round-trip to Casablanca.
The fast craft sought to test the navigational skills of her ship’s company and build on close relations with Morocco’s military during the five-day ‘mini deployment’.
The team pose in front of the entrance to the Al Hassan II Mosque – the third largest in the world
AFTER months on end helping to safeguard the waters of the Rock, HMS Scimitar made the 450-mile round trip to Morocco’s greatest city: Casablanca.
The small patrol boat normally prowls the sea around Gibraltar for a few hours at a time.
As part of their annual training regimen, the boats of the Royal Navy’s Gibraltar Squadron must spread their wings every now with extended ‘deployments’ to allow for some navigational training.
So CO Lt Rob Garner rounded up the usual suspects – his ten-strong ship’s company of sailors and Royal Marines – and headed for Morocco, leaving Gib’s waters in the safe hands of Scimitar’s sister HMS Sabre.
Then it was across the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Atlantic, hugging the African coastline as far as Morocco’s largest city and principal port.
Lt Garner and some of his ship's company with Moroccan military officers at the Casablanca Maritime Centre
The visit allowed for a mix of official engagements with the host nation’s armed forces – building on close relations already forged between the Moroccan military and Royal Gibraltar Regiment and Gibraltar Squadron on earlier visits to the African country – and a spot of sampling the sights.
The Moroccan Navy officers were surprised that a boat of Scimitar’s size – at just 24 tonnes and 16 metres long she’s among the smallest vessels in the Royal Navy’s inventory – could make the fairly lengthy journey in open seas.
The Brits visited the Moroccan capital, Rabat, and were impressed by the Al Hassan II Mosque – the third largest in the world – in Casablanca before heading to the medina to haggle and barter for suitable African souvenirs.
“We see Morocco every day from Gibraltar’s territorial waters, so it was great to get a chance to visit the country’s biggest city. Visiting Casablanca was an enjoyable change of scenery,” said AB ‘Taff’ Rogers, Scimitar’s navs yeoman.
A ship's company photograph in the rather austere surroundings of Casablanca port
Mne Euan Clark added: “Sailing 200 miles into the Atlantic and down the coast to Casablanca in a patrol boat was a novel experience.
“As a Royal Marine I wouldn’t normally do this sort of thing – I’m no longer a Strait of Gibraltar virgin!”
Lt Garner said the short visit to Casablanca had been very worthwhile on many levels.
“It gave us a great opportunity to build on our close friendship with our Moroccan allies, really test ourselves as professional mariners by taking Scimitar all the way there and back and gave everyone aboard a chance to sample a different culture,” he added.
“Flying the flag, working with our allies and seeing the world – it’s what we joined the Royal Navy.”