Showing posts with label NATO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NATO. Show all posts

Sunday, 10 April 2016

Exercise Joint Warrior 16-1

Time has come around again for the first of NATO's Joint Warrior exercises for 2016.

There seemed to be less naval participants than in some previous gatherings, however I was pleased to have seen vessels which I have not previously photographed.

More pictures are available in my Picasa galleries.

Spanish frigate ESPS Alvaro de Bazan passing Roseneath
RFA Wave Ruler A390 being escorted up Loch Long
C130 Hercules flying low over US supply ship Robert E Peary at entrance to Loch Striven
Three ships lying at the Roseneath anchorages
German submarine U34 enters the restricted waters of Gareloch
A spot of fishing going on perhaps? Danish support ship Absalon heading for Glasgow
German support ship FGS Donau A516 leaving Faslane after the Sunday briefing
KDM Peter Willemoes passes the Rhu spit escorted by two Svitzer tugs

Sunday, 5 October 2014

Operation Joint Warrior 142

The second NATO Joint Warrior exercise of 2014 has brought participants from the participating navies to the west of Scotland once again.

After an early start on Thursday morning we were disappointed to hear that many of the ships had gone to anchor instead of berthing at Faslane naval base.

Only 3 foreign ships came into Gareloch with many hours spent waiting in vain for the anchored vessels to take shelter in the base.

Only 2 ships headed for Glasgow, with KDM Peter Willemoes going up on Friday morning to join fellow Danish ship HDMS Hvidbjørnen which arrived the previous day.

With news over the weekend of impending bad weather, the departures were delayed from the usual Sunday till Monday, meaning I would not be around for them sailing.

After hearing on Sunday of the American oiler planning to leave ahead of the remainder of the ships, we headed for Cumbrae to catch her sailing down the Firth of Clyde from Loch Striven.

USS Vicksburg is the first arrival in Gareloch
The crew are all presented on deck
USS Vicksburg making her way to Faslane
USS Jason Dunham, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer is the next visitor
Looking forward to getting into port
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Blyth being followed by SD Eva, a SERCO personnel carrier
Spanish frigate SPS Cristobal Colon arriving on Thursday afternoon
SPS Cristobal Colon
KDM Peter Willemoes, an Iver Huitfeldt class frigate of the Royal Danish Navy passing Greenock on Friday
KDM Peter Willemoes heading to Glasgow
US support oiler USNS Kanawha
USNS Kanawha passing through the Cumbrae Gap

Friday, 11 April 2014

HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl

After completing her role in the  NATO Joint Warrior exercise, the Norwegian Frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl spent some time in Glasgow.

She passed Greenock in the early morning sunshine on her way upriver.


Sunday, 14 April 2013

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

Friday, 12 April 2013

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