An American Virginia-class nuclear submarine has left the Clyde after a routine port call.

The Virginia class is a class of nuclear-powered cruise missile carrying fast-attack submarines.

The submarine was 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. 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.

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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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Paul42
Paul42
3 years ago

Are we talking about the USS Seawolf here? In which case she isn’t Virginia Class?

dan
dan
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

Hard to tell from the pic exactly what class it is.

Paul42
Paul42
3 years ago
Reply to  dan

The Virginia class USS John Warner left Faslane last month shortly before the arrival of the USS Seawolf. No reports of any other subs arriving, so assume this is Seawolf leaving. Although it is at a distance, I would say it is her.

Joe16
Joe16
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

While I agree with you, seems like a relatively long port call, especially as USS Seawolf only docked in Norway in August. Maybe the Norway visit was just a bit of flag waving, while this is morre of a maintenance and resupply stop? My understanding is that the current facilities for US nuclear boats in Norway are a bit austere…

Ian
Ian
3 years ago
Reply to  dan

The relatively small size of the sail relative to the length of the hull, and the comparatively flat profile makes me think she’s Virginia class, but I suppose that could be a perspective trick.

Jaymac
Jaymac
3 years ago

Seawolf is not as long as that.
A later Virginia I believe.
I think I saw an article stating Seawolf left last week – could be wrong.