Showing posts with label Gareloch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gareloch. Show all posts

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Busy Day - Military Shipping in Scotland


Early start and drove over to Glen Mallan in time to see HMS Iron Duke arrive in lovely sunshine.

A quick drive down to the Gareloch and lucky enough to catch the German U-Boat as she came back in to Faslane after the Joint Warrior exercise.

Time for home and pleased to have caught both vessels in pleasant weather.

Decided to take another run across in the afternoon and again was lucky as an American submarine was departing.

Transpired that she was the USS Dallas - the submarine featured in the movie "The Hunt for Red October".

A very early build of the Los Angeles class and very probably one we'll not see here again - but then who really knows.

 Arriving at Loch Long


Bridge Activity


 Tug Assistance


 Helicopter in Hanger

 Approaching the Jetty


Beautiful Setting at Glen Mallon

U 34 Heading for Faslane Naval Base

Navigating the Gareloch

 Faslane Bound


Busy Office

Heading Out 
Bound for Sea

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.com - better resolution and options to licence.

Wednesday, 19 August 2015

HMS Artful - Faslane Arrival


The Royal Navy's latest nuclear-powered submarine HMS Artful arrived at Faslane today - the first of many visits to her base.

She is the third in the Astute Class and will join 'Astute' and 'Ambush' once accepted by the navy from BAE Systems.

It's a pity the weather closed in just as she arrived, but I've managed a few images and hope you enjoy them.

 Passing Gourock inbound for Faslane


Royal Marines Ready to Escort

 MOD Police Boat 'Harris' Prepares to Meet Artful


 Approaching Rhu Spit


 Inbound


 Passing Rhu


Heading Up the Gareloch

SD Impulse Puts on a Show

 Marines Escort


Entourage Nears Faslane Naval Base

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.com - better resolution and options to licence.

Thursday, 9 October 2014

HMS Ambush Returns from Patrol


HMS Ambush arrived back at her home base this afternoon from patrol.

Family and friends were out in numbers at Rhu Spit to give welcoming waves and cheers as she passed.

The Serco tugs SD Resourceful and SD Dependable escorted her up the Gareloch to the Faslane Naval Base where she safely berthed at the jetty.

Family and Friends Welcome Home

Serco Tugs Escort to Faslane Naval Base

 SD Resourceful Escorts

 Passing Rhu

 Friendly Waves


Passing the Spit

 Heading to Faslane

 Progressing Up the Gareloch

 Faslane in Sight

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Thursday, 2 October 2014

"HMS" Onyx - Update


I popped in to the yard today and documented a few more images of 'Onyx' as the dismantling continues.

I've been disappointed to read incorrect comments on the entire scenario of the factual details of how the sad demise of her have been documented in various places on the web.

 I can discount this - "the yard had sold the rights to photograph the vessel" - as complete nonsense and with no evidence to support such a statement. So how many other statements have been made without foundation comes to my mind?

 I have a trustful and respectful relationship with the yard management that allows me to take images, and without their very kind approval we would not have secured images below decks before the dismantling began.

 For that I personally am very grateful, as I believe others should be.

 Unlike many who have gone to the yard without permission and any heed to safety issues, I have always ensured I have been respectful of the working environment and followed safety rules completely.

 As much as I would like to have seen 'Onyx' preserved it is clear that sufficient monies were never raised for what would have been a massive outlay. 

Also bear in mind that she lay at Barrow-in-Furness for about seven years but unfortunately the project there was unsuccessful. So past efforts were an indication of what could happen.

 In the absence of anything happening here I believe that it is good that the local workers at least have employment in the dismantling process, and that the job did not go to another country.

 Dismantling Continues


 High and Dry


 Beached View


 From the Beach Area


 From the Pier


Decay and Rust is Evident

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Joint Warrior Exercise - Day One Arrivals


This was day one of the vessels arriving for the upcoming Joint Warrior exercise.

The tally was very low and as the minesweepers opted to drop anchor rather than head up to Faslane it was a bit frustrating.

To add to the woes, the Spanish ship arrived a very long time after the two Americans so there was a lot of hanging around.

Thankfully I had my good friends around to help pass the time as we chewed the fat.

One nice touch was the USS Vicksburg playing bagpipes as she passed Rhu Narrows - thanks guys - much appreciated.

I'll add more images to this Blog later so feel free to pop back in a day or two.

I've included the 'Shackleton' purely for interest as she is an unusual visitor here.

 USS Vicksburg 


 Deck Party

Decks Manned for Arrival

MOD Police Boat 'Jura' Escorting

USS Vicksburg Bound for Faslane

HMS Tyne

 USS Jason Dunham

ESPS Cristobal Colon


Shackleton Survey Vessel

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Monday, 16 June 2014

Gareloch Today


A drive over to the Gareloch early doors this morning and caught a French visitor to our waters in lovely warm sunshine.

I spoke with a number of German tourists staying at a Rhu hotel and they were thoroughly enjoying their visit to Scotland - it was nice to hear.

Headed across to see how the dismantling of the submarine Onyx was progressing and managed a few shots courtesy of DRB Marine.

French Frigate 'La Motte-Picquet' (D645) 


Passing Rhu

 Bound for Faslane Naval Base

 Severe Decay

 Escape Hatch Showing Heavy Rust

 Work has Begun

 Vey Poor Condition

 Inside the Fin

Fin

 Empty Battery Compartment

Empty Battery Compartment 

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.