A Virginia class nuclear submarine has arrived in Faslane, near Glasgow.
The US Navy say that the port visits “strengthen cooperation between the United States and United Kingdom”, and “demonstrate US capability, flexibility, and continuing commitment to NATO allies.”
https://twitter.com/WeirSheila/status/1346400329965957128
The Virginia class is a class of nuclear-powered cruise missile carrying fast-attack submarines. Designed by the General Dynamics Electric Boat and the Huntington Ingalls Industries, the Virginia class submarines are the US Navy’s primary undersea warfare platform incorporating stealth, intelligence gathering and comprehensive weapons systems technology.
The submarine is now berthed at HMNB Clyde. The base is sited at Faslane in the west of Scotland not far from Glasgow, one of Britain’s largest cities.
It’s one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy, the others being HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth. It is best known as the home of Britain’s nuclear weapons, in the form of nuclear submarines armed with Trident missiles.
Faslane was first constructed and used as a base in World War II. During the 1960s, the British Government began negotiating the Polaris Sales Agreement with the United States regarding the purchase of a Polaris missile system to fire British-built nuclear weapons from five specially constructed submarines. In the end, only four were constructed; HMS Resolution, HMS Repulse, HMS Renown and HMS Revenge. These four submarines were permanently based at Faslane.
Faslane itself was chosen to host these vessels at the height of the Cold War because of its geographic position, which forms a bastion on the relatively secluded but deep and easily navigable Gare Loch and Firth of Clyde on the west coast of Scotland. This position provides for rapid and stealthy access through the North Channel to the submarine patrolling areas in the North Atlantic.
Faslane is the second largest single-site employer in Scotland, after the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Aircraft carriers in the Gulf and now nuclear submarines to another political trouble spot? 🙂
Now, now behave…this is just a call to certain trouble makers on both sides.
Yes dad.:-)
Thought the Scots would be happy now they have a firm date. 17th September 2054. Forecast is good so there should be an excellent turnout.
There is an USN P-8 deployment at Prestwick & another at Lossiemouth (so ~8 in total plus our own 4 delivered so far) so perhaps there is something afoot under the surface of the N. Atlantic?
interesting they use both Prestwick and Lossie. I still don’t understand why they don’t use Kinloss rather than Prestwick
Kinloss is in the middle of nowhere, Prestwick is near Glasgow.
When the US SSBNs were based in Scotland the US resisted having them based further up the coast, for the same reason.
kinloss is the old nimrod base and next to Elgin which has a large base at Lossie. Thought they may want to keep the crews close…
because Kinloss is just down the road from Lossie (it’s now mainly maintained as a divert for Lossie) & is an Army Barracks (39 Engineer Regt). Why would you use Kinloss when all the new P8 facilities are at Lossie, under 15 miles away? Flying from Prestwick gets you to a more western search area a whole lot quicker.
so sounds like Prestwick should just become a military airfield then. Why didn’t they just base the RAF P8s there then if it is a better location than Lossie?
Prestwick is a civilian airport, they just use it for refueling
The US used to fly troops to Europe through Prestwick so they could get a medal for flying over a war zone – NI.
I do hope that is true!
???
Part used to be RN. RNAS Prestwick, sadly cut.
No, they don’t. The USN P8s have been deployed there for weeks. It’s also regularly used for exercises like Joint Warrior.
well, “back in the day” we had ASW helicopters based at Prestwick as well as Nimrods at Kinloss until budget cuts did for both. 🙁 The Boeing P8 facilities at Lossie I believe are also going to see use by USN & Norwegian P8s (& presumably any other European nations that buy them) & recently released that our Wedgetails will be there too. Much easier to move an airframe around to another airfield than a major depot servicing facility.
🙂 On a less mischievous note, I presume that if Scotland was ever to become Independent that such visits would be banned from that time on.
I am quite happy to have them.
I think all of the retired boats should be stored at Faslane as well.
Boring…..
Dear Harold, please don’t be sooo self reflective and put upon yourself so.
Just bugger off, we’re all ‘guests’ on this website.
Who does H think he is?
God!
Quote from Rambo 3 that!
I Never seen Rambo 3!
I will look into it.
OMG Merion. Lol.
Yes, during the “interogation” scene. so close to yours I thought you’d lifted it direct.
“Who does this man think he is…..God?’
?
I believe you Daniele!
I will find some time to watch it.
A Scottish fascist nationalist, who names himself after an 11th C Anglo Saxon king….you couldn’t make it up could you…lol
No he’s English he just pretends to be from the motherland ?
Not a steaming pile of shites chance in a vegetarian shitehoose that he’s from any of the Clans he’s an engerlander alright . ?
???????????
No way, he is definatly an SNP sheep troll, stalking normal peoples interests, in order to make himself feel more important and bigger then he is. Never promoted to the position he though he should be….
I agree!
Did not know Scotland can now defend themselves. How do they manage that?