(May 2001)
Clyde Submarine Celebrations
- Report and Photographs by Charlie Tennant.
Excellent
weather greeted the foreign visitors to HMNB Clyde. I took a
morning boat trip up the Gareloch to view the assembled
submarines. These trips were provided by the Clyde Marine vessels
Rover and Cruiser but I was slightly disappointed they did not
get a bit nearer to the base. I have sailed a lot closer on the
Waverley.
In the afternoon I obtained a different perspective by taking a
bus tour (Parks of Hamilton) - in the South Gate and out the
North Gate with a 20/30 minute stop in a secure compound on the
jetty from where it was possible to view and photograph most of
the foreign guests. Those that could not be seen fully were
visible on either the way in or out of the base. Some of these
buses had as few as 12 people on board as a decision was taken
late last week to only allow pre booked and obviously security
checked persons onto the base. This proved a great source of
frustration and anger to people who arrived expecting to purchase
tickets on the day. It would seem that those who tried to book
after the closing date and were told in good faith at the time
that tickets would be available on the day.
In between I squeezed a visit to HMS Monmouth (F235) which was
anchored of Helensburgh Pier tendering duties being performed by
Oban (A283) for the general public and Omagh (A284) for the
VIP's.
I list all those present starting from the south and working
north :-
| HMS Inverness (M102) | Sandown Class MCMV (Britain) |
| HMS Penzance (M106) | Sandown Class MCMV (Britain) |
| HMS Bridport (M105) | Sandown Class MCMV (Britain) |
| HMS Brecon (M29) | Hunt Class MCMV (Britain) |
| HMS Brocklesby (M33) | Hunt Class MCMV (Britain) |
| H(SW)MS Belos (A214) | Salvage Ship (Sweden) |
| H(SW)MS Gotland | Gotland Class SSK (Sweden) |
| ORP Orzel (271) | Kilo Class SSK (Poland) |
| SPS Tramontana (S74) | Agosta Class SSK (Spain) |
| FS Saphir (S602) | Rubis Class SSN (France) |
| HNLMS Brunvis (S810) | Walrus Class SSK (Netherlands) |
| FGS U24 (S173) | Type 206A SSK (Germany) |
| FGS U28 (S177) | Type 206A SSK (Germany) |
| RFS Vologda | Kilo Class SSK (Russia) |
| NRP Delfim (S166) | Albacora Class SSK (Portugal) |
| HNOMS Svenner (S309).. | Kobben Class SSK (Norway) |
| HMS Splendid (S106) | Swiftsure Class SSN (Britain) |
| HMS Sovereign (S108) | Swiftsure Class SSN (Britain) |
| HMS Vanguard (S28) | Vanguard Class SSBN (Britain) |
| HMS Superb (S109) | Swiftsure Class SSN (Britain) |
| USS Tennessee (734) | Ohio Class SSBN (USA) |
| HMS Monmouth (F235) | Duke Class Frigate (Britain) |
A number
of the scheduled visitors failed to appear perhaps the most
notable being HMCS Windsor (SSK 878) formerly HMS Unicorn which I
understand broke down en route and is currently alongside at
Campbletown.
A terrific day out and a truly unique event unlikely to be
repeated - 15 subs from 11 countries plus 7 other naval vessels
on show.
Another American sub arrived at Faslane on Monday 4th June and was still there on the evening of Wednesday 6th June. She is a 'Seawolf Class Attack Submarine' - USS Connecticut (SSN 22) built 1998. I am reliably informed that she was not a late arrival for the Centenary Celebrations of last week but had put in for some essential repair work and should be back at sea within in a few days.
Above: FS Saphir (S602), HNLMS Brunvis (S810) plus FGS U24 (S173) and FGS U28 (S177). Photograph courtesy of Charlie Tennant.
Above: RFS Vologda, NRP Delfim (S166) and HNOMS Svenner (S309). Photograph courtesy of Charlie Tennant.
Above: High powered discussion aboard RFS Vologda. Photograph courtesy of Charlie Tennant.
Above: USS Tennessee (SSBN 734). Photograph courtesy of Charlie Tennant.