Absalon class support ships

Returning to the Clyde for a visit at the end of Operation Joint Warrior are the two Absalon-class support ships of  the Royal Danish Navy.

First to arrive was Esbern Snare (L17) on what seemed to be a pleasant dry morning.

L17 Esbern Snare

MOD police launch Gigha visiting the local harbours

L17 Esbern Snare

L17 Esbern Snare

Some crew members relaxing

L17 Esbern Snare heading to Glasgow

Admiralty pilot launch Clyde Spirit heading for her Faslane base

Less than an hour later, HDMS Absalon arrived, at the same time as an unwanted shower of hailstones which threatened to thwart any opportunities for taking photographs. I did however manage to get a few pictures whle trying to keep the front of my lens dry.

L16 HDMS Absalon sitting under a heavy cloud of hailstones

Very poor visibility as L16 Absalon approaches Greenock

Absalon sailing into slightly brighter conditions

HNLMS Luymes

HNLMS Luymes paid a visit to Glasgow while taking part in the current Joint Warrior exercise.

She is a hydrographic survey vessel in the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Here she is on her way back down river on a rare sunny evening.

Joint Warrior - Sunday

After arriving to a wet miserable Scotland, the sun broke through for them sailing out for the start of the exercise.

A bit of sunshine also helped improve the picture quality - I hope you agree.

KNM Steil and KNM Gnist approaching Greenock

Stiel & Gnist

KNM Steil, P963

KNM Gnist, P965

Steil & Gnist depart in close convoy

FGS Rhoen with Svitzer Milford following behind

FGS Rhoen, A1443, German replenishment oiler

FGS Rhoen

FGS Rhoen

F359 HDMS Vaedderen, Danish ocean patrol vessel

F359 HDMS Vaedderen

F359 HDMS Vaedderen

Joint Warrior - Friday arrivals, part 2

Some more arrivals for Joint warrior, firstly the Glasgow bound ships, photographed from Greenock, and then around to Glen Mallan and Faslane in the afternoon.

Swedish corvette, HMS Sundsvall

ORP Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki, with local tug Battler following

HNLMS Urk, one of three Tripartite class minehunters arriving today

FGS Weilheim

Belgian Tripartite class, BNS Bellis

HNoMS Hinnoey following behind Bellis

ORP Czajka taking up the rear as the convoy heads to Glasgow

HDMS Absalon passing Faslane naval base

FGS Emden, F210 at Rhu

FGS Emden beside sister ship F207, FGS Bremen

Bremen and Emden alongside jetty at Garelochhead

Bremen and Emden with Absalon behind

German replenishment oiler, Frankfurt am Main at Glen Mallan