The USS Maryland, a US Navy ballistic missile submarine, has departed Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde.

The US Navy say the port visit was to strengthen cooperation between the United States and United Kingdom, and demonstrate US capability, flexibility, and continuing commitment to NATO allies.

The Maryland, home ported at Submarine Group Ten at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.

Recently another US nuclear submarine, the USS New Mexico, also visited the base which is home to the United Kingdoms nuclear missile and hunter killer submarine fleets.

The Ohio class is a class of nuclear powered submarines used by the United States Navy. The navy has 18 Ohio-class submarines, 14 ballistic missile submarines and four that were later converted to guided missile submarines.

HMNB Clyde 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.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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KM
KM
5 years ago

Does anyone know how this fantastic base is protected from missile attack? Am I right to be worried we are pooling all our resources in the one place? I.e. a russian bomber and we lose the lot?

Peder
Peder
5 years ago

Amusing to see that huge American submarine accompanied by a tiny RN power boat.

Andy G
Andy G
5 years ago
Reply to  Peder

It looks so vulnerable, a sniper could disable it by the looks of it.

MnTHo1
MnTHo1
5 years ago
Reply to  Andy G

The P200s used on the Clyde carry add-on armoured protection as well as being armed. They are a lot less vulnerable than they look.

andy reeves
andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Andy G

woopadee doop, real news………..not.

andy reeves
andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

type 31? what about a batch 2 type 21, with all the issues that led it to be retired fixed and afull 2000’s equipment fit?

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Peder

What did you expect? A Battleship?

That P200 is providing security escort against the likes of CND and Greenpeace protesters and saboteurs, much like the MDP do with their RIB and the RM with their Island Class OPV’s Mull and Rona.

But then, when you’re only interested in digs and putting the UK’s military down little details like that would escape you.