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HMS Dagger leads the way in Gibraltar exercise
5 March 2025
The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron joined forces with the Rock’s other maritime authorities in a second successful combined exercise in territorial waters.
The squadron assigned HMS Dagger and two Pacific 24 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats, with the remainder of the task force involving VC7 of the Gibraltar Defence Police, HMC Searcher of His Majesty’s Customs and Bravo 3 of the Royal Gibraltar Police.
Sailing from HMNB Gibraltar, the units honed their abilities to drive in close formation, while two Royal Navy officers embarked on HMC Searcher and the Bravo 3 to gain valuable insight into how they operate.
Blessed by good weather and a calm sea, the newly-formed task group sailed to the eastern side of Gibraltar, with HMS Dagger leading the way.
First on the agenda was a gentle warm up for coxswains with a set of ‘pacing drills’. This sees one vessel maintain her course and speed whilst another comes up from behind before paralleling them in close proximity, sometimes as close as ten yards.
After a successful set of pacing drills, the coxswains were ready to further test their boat-handling skills through ‘riding off’ training. This is a more aggressive manoeuvre, used to compel another vessel off her course and away from the area.
The coxswains built on their prior experience in pacing before making gentle contact and applying pressure to the ship’s side, forcing it into a turn. A manoeuvre designed to prevent illicit activity; it is here that the coxswains reaped some serious training benefit.
The vessels were now ready for the final test; protecting a simulated high-value asset. Taking station either side of HMS Dagger, the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron and Gibraltar Defence Police RHIBs were poised to defend against their friends now turned enemies, HMC Searcher and Bravo 3.
It has been a real privilege to build on the first successful Inter-Op that occurred last year.
With some impressive tactical manoeuvring from both sides, the coxswains used a mixture of pacing and riding off at speed to ensure HMS Dagger remained unscathed, being quite literally pushed to their limits.
On completion of the serials, the units commenced a transit back to HMNB Gibraltar in formation, this time with the four RHIBS confidently leading the way.
Lt Cdr Jonathan Davies, the Commanding Officer of HMS Dagger and the exercise co-ordinator, said: “It has been a real privilege to build on the first successful Inter-Op that occurred last year.
“Although pacing and riding off are routine training for RNGS, the ability to do it with vessels outside our organisation provides huge training benefit. The addition of the protection exercises really tested our coxswains and I’m confident they came away with heightened skills and importantly, big smiles on their faces.
“Outside of improving our operational capability, these exercises also go a long way to reassure Gibraltarians that our presence on the water is significant and government organisations can co-operate effectively if required.”
Planning is already underway for the next exercise which will see the units carry out more complex serials with the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron and Gibraltar Defence Police looking to commence monthly training.