An American Virginia class nuclear submarine is conducting a routine visit to HMNB Clyde at Faslane, near Glasgow.
The US Navy say that port visits “strengthen cooperation between the United States and United Kingdom”, and “demonstrate US capability, flexibility, and continuing commitment to NATO allies.”
This isn’t a new occurrence, in fact, it is quite routine. For those remarking ‘this isn’t new’, that’s right but people only know this happens often because it is reported often and we believe that it’s important to report even mundane things like ‘Submarine visits submarine base’ in order to pre-empt sensationalist headlines. If people know it’s routine then no one panics.
The below image was captured by Sheila Weir, a maritime photographer based in the area. You can find her on Twitter here, I recommend you give her a follow.
Dolphins escorting US submarine inbound on the Clyde today @USNavy @USNavyEurope @RCAINSWORTH @greenocktele #dolphins #firthofclyde #wemyssbay #scotland pic.twitter.com/6PI66Yg9bW
— Sheila Weir (@SheilaLWeir) June 2, 2022
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.
One question I get it that you want to report US subs visiting Faslane as it reinforces the “nothing special to see here folks”. But why was the deployment of 2 Norwegian Skjold class corvettes last week to Plymouth reported.
i don’t think that is a normal happening.
Yes it is very normal for foreign warships to visit Plymouth, especially for FOST.
As DMJ says, very routine. The Skjolds are around for FOST every 3 years or so. All broadcast on the daily movements online and in the press.
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Did that submarine run over that Dolphin? very Team America 😀
Dolphins are much smarter than humans. lol
Always good news to read that we are brother nations still.
“The Virginia class is a class of nuclear-powered cruise missile-carrying fast-attack submarines”
“The Virginia class is a class of nuclear-powered, cruise missile-carrying, fast-attack submarines”
Fixed it for you, just in case anyone thought the cruise missiles were nuclear powered. 😃
Its official now, UK will be providing an unspecified number of M270.
https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-uk-pledges-to-send-missiles-to-kyiv-as-russia-warns-of-expanded-conflict-12626173
I think we bought 42 launchers back in the day. Maybe we supply one Battery plus a few spares? Not sure how many are in a battery – US has 9 per battery
BA had planned on upgrading 44 launchers –
https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/03/mlrs-upgrade-agreement/
Just check my “British Army a pocket guide 2008-2009 and we had 54 out 63 available. Mind you at that point we also had 146 AS90 as well. The Germans at that point had 154 MLRS
Thanks Simon. Wiki said we had 42 MLRS in service – so we clearly procured more than that originally. Surprised it was as many as 63.
Not too sure how many M107/110 we had ? MLRS was the replacement. Conventional Armed
Forces in Europe Treaty documents give some idea of number (well in Europe anyway)but I cant find any prior to 2013
Hi Simon, Can’t find out those numbers either. MLRS only replaced M107. AS-90 replaced M110.
Wiki: ‘M110A2 firing high explosive and nuclear shells only. (The FV433 Abbot SPG, the M109A2, and the M110A1 were replaced by the AS-90 in the early-mid-1990s.)’
That’s ridiculous. We haven’t enough for our own RA and now we give them away… I’m not debating Ukraines need for them, but I am also guessing that they will not be replaced. Just because the US has 1500 and is giving away a few, doesn’t means the U.K. should out of its 40 something stockpile. Other day I was driving down the Highway that runs between LA and Las Vegas and I saw a train carrying what looked like two or three batteries of M270s. I think the US has about 9 per battery meaning that one train has… Read more »
US isnt giving M270, they are giving the M142 HIMARS which is a truck rather version with half the firepower of the tracked version. They use the same rockets though. Another country is giving M270 as well, cant remember which at the moment though, I think it was the Netherlands which has them in storage but not in active service.
Could be Norway that has then in storage?
The ones given will be the spares in U.K. storage. The U.K. bought more than they use now. Same with the 179 AS90 originally bought. Although I think the spares were found to be needing a bit of work done and couldn’t be shipped straight away.
Hopefully replacements are being bought for equipment that is required that’s been given away.
The British Armies “Future Soldier” report talked of a 2nd RA Regiment forming on GMLRS replacing one of the gun regiments. So there was a modest expansion on the cards. Now?
We do like to mimic everything the US does, even renaming MoD/ military organisations with US inspired titles. The “Security Force Assistance Brigade” is a high profile one, but there are many I have found more obscure within MoD. What was wrong with the BATT which we have used for decades!?
Not sure what the original UK purchase number were? Germany also seem to have about 40 units, so may be they have some in store? One of the largest users seems to be Saudi with 184 units
No too worry. Sleep Joe is only sending 4. In a country the size of Ukraine it won’t make any difference.
Maybe the UK MLRS are unmodernised one from storage?
Hopefully it will be more that the paltry 4 Sleepy Joe is sending.
America? It’s not “cooperation” its more like occupation ! Why don’t we get it?
Always good to see visiting cousins