(HMS) Defender - Heading to Sea

'Defender' - Type 45 Destroyer - down from Glasgow and heading to sea for the first of her sea trials.

Photos as she passed Greenock on a blustery morning.

'Defender' on First Sea Trials - Off East India Harbour 

'Defender' on First Sea Trials - Off East India Harbour

 'Defender' on First Sea Trials - Off East India Harbour

'Defender' on First Sea Trials - Off East India Harbour

'Defender' on First Sea Trials - Off East India Harbour 

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

Joint Warrior - Glasgow Ships Depart

 Wet and gusty winds was the order of the day.

Photos were taken from the rear seat of my car through an open window.

I had the privilege of being aboard the Van Amstel  a few years ago and enjoyed the company and friendliness of the officers and crew.

 HNLMS Van Amstel - F831 - Dutch Karel Doorman Class Frigate

 HNoMS Otra - Minesweeper M351 - Norwegian Navy

 HNLMS Vlaardinge - M863 - Dutch Minesweeper

Joint Warrior - Faslane - April 2011 from Dougie Coull on Vimeo.

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

HMS Ark Royal - Heads Out of the Clyde

Well today HMS Ark Royal departed after off-loading her munitions at Glen Mallon.

Sadly she left in atrocious weather conditions on this, her final voyage in the Clyde.

So sad to see her leave as part of the savage cuts that our military are enduring at this time.

We wish her well on her final tour.

 HMS Ark Royal Canting off Glen Mallon Jetty

 Ark Royal passing Portincaple - Outbound on her final Visit

Ark Royal passing Portincaple - Outbound on her final Visit

 Tugs Returning from HMS Ark Royal Duty

HMS Ark Royal - Departing from Dougie Coull on Vimeo.

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

Launch of Duncan

At 15:47 this afternoon  the sixth and last of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 Destroyers was launched from BAE Systems shiyard in Govan, Glasgow.

The 7,500 tonne warship - Duncan - will enter service in 2014. 

She will join the other Type 45 Destroyers - Daring, Diamond, Dauntless, Dragon and Defender.

The wife of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet Vice Admiral Richard Ibbotson - Marie Ibbotson - sent her down the slipway in traditional fashion.

Duncan is named after Admiral Adam Duncan who defeated the Dutch fleet in 1797.

Around 14,000 people watched this historic occasion and sadly this may be the last ship launched here. 

Certainly we will not see another launch for many years to come.

 Parade

Duncan Getting Wet

 Almost Secure

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

Joint Warrior Military Exercise Ships Passing Greenock

 Made my way to Greenock today - a short journey compared to my sojourns to Faslane last week.

Nice bright morning and the warships came down on time, and as expected.

Called time at Noon and enjoyed a late lunch with Chris before he left to catch his plane back home to Plymouth.

I've been on the go since last Thursday so it's been quite demanding to say the least.

Wonder which ships will return to the Clyde after the exercise is complete?

 German Navy Frigate - Bremen - F207

 Italian Navy Frigate -  Aviere - F583

Busy Exercise Traffic on the Clyde

Turkish Navy Frigate - TCG Barbaros - F244

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

Joint Warrior Military Exercise Ships at Faslane

Another day of mixed weather. This is the third day and the ships are coming in and going out without any apparent order.

Spent most of the day in the company of Chris and Michael with some good conversions in between arrivals and departures.

This will likely be my last day at Faslane as will try and catch the Frigates coming down from Glasgow on the Monday.

 HMS Triumph - Submarine

 USS Stout - DDG55

 SD Dexterous - Serco Tug

 USS Stout - DDG55

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

Joint Warrior Military Exercise Ships

Up bright and early - headed to Erskine Bridge to catch this convoy but too misty.

Later on I carried on up to Braehead - and the sun shone.

HNLMS Zierikzee - M862

 BNS Crocus - M917

ORP Kontradmira Xawery Czernicki

FGS Rottweil - M1061

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

(HMS) Diamond - Type 5 Destroyer

Although not an "HMS" till she's handed over, here she is on trial and must be close to getting handed over to the Royal Navy.

(HMS) Diamond on Trials

 (HMS) Diamond on Trials

 (HMS) Diamond on Trials

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

Another Trip to the Gareloch

A few vessels returning early from the Joint Warrior exercise  - perhaps due to the volcanic ash disrupting the world's air transport schedules.

French Submarine Perle (S606)

Flying Flags

USS Barry (DDG-52) - Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer

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

Wee Run Out

Just a wee run out today, and grabbed these two images along the way.

HMS Shoreham - M112 - Minesweeper off Cloch Lighthouse

 Inquisitive Pigeon

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

Defender (HMS) - Launched at BVT Yard in Govan Today

The launch of the Royal Navy's latest anti-air warfare destroyer took place this afternoon at 15:20

The Type 45 ship - named Defender - took to the water at BVT Surface Fleet's Govan shipyard.

Defender is the fifth of a fleet of six destroyers to be built, and is the eighth ship to bear the name.

The ceremony was broadcast live to the Transport Museum in Glasgow, where visitors to the museum watched the event on big screens.

The new ship is being affiliated with Glasgow and Exeter, and the launch ceremony was performed by Lady Massey, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey

(HMS) Defender is due to come into service next year

Crowds start to gather

Balloons and Fireworks go off as she slides down the slipway

Defender Hits the Water

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

Faslane Naval Activity - Departures

Some departures from Faslane Naval Base - mostly after the debrief from the recent Joint Warrior Maritime Exercise

USS Warship Cole DDG 67

USS Warship Ramage DDG 61

 

USS Warship John L Hall FFG 32

 

HMS Shoreham - Minehunter - M112

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

Joint Warrior Maritime Exercise - October 2009

After  the last departure at Faslane I was heading back home. On my way I saw that the Canadians were late in leaving Glasgow so carried on down to Greenock.

Rewarded with these three images.

 HMCS Halifax Canadian FFH330 Frigate

 

 HMCS Athabaskan Canadian DDH282 Destroyer

 

HMCS Montreal Canadian FFH336 Frigate

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

Joint Warrior Maritime Exercise - October 2009

Early morning start to get to Faslane Naval Base to see departure of HMS Illustrious and the others

MOD Defence Police in Support at Faslane

USS Ramage American - DDG 61 Destroyer

HMS Illustrious Departing Faslane Naval Base

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

Joint Warrior Exercise - 2009

Many arrivals today - but the weather was bleak and dreich. Not ideal for anyone but makes picture taking very hit 'n' miss.

Svitzer Tug Anglegarth escorting Canadian Warship to Glasgow

HMCS Athabaskan passing Port Glasgow on her way to Glasgow

Svitzer Tug Brunel on duty escorting warships to Glasgow

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