USNS Supply at Loch Striven

Early start on a fine morning to cathc the berthing this morning.

Jetty Approach

Arrival at Loch Mouth

Canting

Checking Berthing

Stern Working

Securing Lines

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

USNS William McLean in Scotland

The USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) is shown here just before she departed the jetty at Loch Striven.

She is a US Navy vessel and part of the current Joint Warrior maritime exercise in Scotland.

The twelfth Lewis and Clark class of ship.

Her duty is to provide supplies to other ships at sea - including ammunition, food,  spare parts,  general stores, and small quantities of fuel.

Quite a Size

Preparing to Depart

 Lines are Let go

Workboat Assisting

Tugs take the Strain


First Navy Jack - Motto is 'Don't Tread on Me'

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

USS Mount Whitney in Scotland

The USS Mount Whitney arrived in the calm waters of Loch Long this morning.

She is a Blue Ridge class command ship of the US Navy and
 is named after Mount Whitney - a peak in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

She is part of the current Joint Warrior maritime exercise held in Scotland and was last here in 2010.


Note her Golden Anchor - an award given by the US Navy for sustaining superior levels of military retention.

She was assisted and safely berthed with the aid of the local Serco tugs.


Under Tow with Serco Tugs

 Coming Up to the Jetty


MH-60S Seahawk 


Bridge


Coming up Nicely


Crew at the Bow

Abeam of the Jetty


Bridge Party


 USS Mount Whitney

Slow Push  

Safely Berthed

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

Millport Visit

We expected the Joint Warrior NATO vessels to depart the Clyde today, but the force 10 gale forecast for the Minch had other ideas.

However the USNS Kanawha berth at Loch Striven was brave enough to take on the challenge and she departed around 16:00.

The dilemma was how to get some half decent photos as Loch Striven is not exactly an easy location to get to by car.

Opted to drive to Largs but too far to get anything worthwhile in poor light. The answer was to get the ferry to the Isle of Cumbrae and then the bus to Millport.

After that it was good old Shank's pony and about a mile walk around the tip of the island to get a reasonable location.

After securing the shots it was the reverse journey, so all in all a long day, and not what I expected when I left home.

 Millport Harbour

 Bus Turning Point

 Beach Shelter

Passing Cumbrae

Heading Down the Channel

 Passing Arran

 Rock Pool

 Beach

Rocks and Sea

 Converted Fisherman's Cottage

Waiting for the Bus to the Ferry

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.

Afternoon at the Gareloch in Scotland

A trip over to Faslane today resulted in a few worthwhile images of the Virginia class US navy submarine - USS Missouri (SSN-780).

Unfortunately I had quite a tumble getting on to the beach, with my camera and lens bouncing off the large rocks - as did I.

Camera seems OK but filter glass on the lens totally shattered. Lens seems OK but can't get the lens filter off as it's jammed solid.

It could have been much worse. Shame it happened but such is life I guess.

On the plus side I made a new friend at Garelochhead - so there was a silver lining.

Some shots of the ex-navy fleet tender - Aberdovey - as she is beached for some paintwork to be refreshed.

MOD Police RHIB

USN Virginia Class Submarine - USS Missouri (SSN-780) - Departs Faslane  

USS Missouri (SSN-780) Departs Faslane  

  

SD Reliable Escorts the USS Missouri (SSN-780)

USS Missouri (SSN-780)  Departs Faslane 

SD Dependable and SD Reliable on Escort Duties

 USS Missouri Departs Faslane

 USS Missouri (SSN-780) Submarine Departs Faslane 



USS Missouri in Gareloch, Scotland from Dougie Coull on Vimeo.

 'Aberdovey' at Garelochhead

 'Aberdovey' at Garelochhead

 'Aberdovey' at Garelochhead

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