The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius is taking part in a routine port visit to Scotland.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, equipped with the Aegis combat system, is operating under U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and routinely deploys across the North Atlantic and European waters. Its arrival follows regular patrols and exercises in the region, with port visits forming a standard element of allied naval operations rather than an indication of any specific contingency.

U.S. destroyers have made repeated calls at the Clyde in recent years, reflecting the close maritime relationship between London and Washington and the importance of the west of Scotland as a hub for North Atlantic operations.

Commissioned in 2019, USS Paul Ignatius is among the newer ships of the Arleigh Burke class and is designed for multi-role operations, including air and missile defence, anti-submarine warfare and surface combat. The ship forms part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet’s surface combatant force, which maintains a persistent presence to support NATO deterrence and maritime security.

Routine port visits typically allow time for logistics, maintenance and crew rest, alongside professional engagement with the Royal Navy and local authorities. Such calls also support interoperability between allied navies and provide visible reassurance of transatlantic defence ties.

No details have been released on the length of the visit or any planned activities ashore.

George Allison
George Allison is the founder and editor of the UK Defence Journal. He holds a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in naval and cyber security topics. George has appeared on national radio and television to provide commentary on defence and security issues. Twitter: @geoallison

14 COMMENTS

  1. Can anyone tell me why US warships have such busy/messy upper masts compared to modern European and Japanese warships?

    There seems to be an awful lot of things hanging up there.

    Even the constellation seemed to have the same thing. Is it a function of AEGIS perhaps?

    • Hi Jim,

      Similar antennas and systems that clutter a US ship’s tripod mast are mirrored to some degree on a type 45 on the black, “steeple” mast between the stack and the S1850M. Likewise on the Type 26, they are on the two pole masts above the hangar. The sensors and antennas are all still there and exposed, just in different places.

      The Mogami class actually have a similar mast setup to the (very tall) arrangement on French FREMMs. The sensors are covered by the “unicorn horn” structure on the Mogami class, and thus look much neater and less cluttered.

  2. Should put the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd highland Haggis (parachute volunteers) Regiment on standby just in case

  3. I feel dirty. Feels like allowing nazi Germany to base its military here in the 1930s. I hope one day we can cut all dependencies and keep them at arms length.

      • No, let’s do without any of them. Just because someone is worse doesn’t mean we should associate with bad countries like the US. Tell them to go visit somewhere else.

        • Agreed. About time they took their kit and troops as well. They elected Trump and he has made them deeply unpopular. If they want someone to blame they need only look in a mirror for the current situation.

    • Someone really needs exposure to some history books if you really think that.

      That was an incredibly uneducated statement to make and I’ve seen some doozies on this site

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