American warship arrives in Scotland

The USS McFaul, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the United States Navy, was spotted this morning on the River Clyde as it made its way toward Faslane Naval Base.

Such visits by American warships to Faslane are common.

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Launched in 1997 and commissioned a year later, the USS McFaul is part of the Arleigh Burke class of destroyers, one of the most versatile and heavily armed surface vessels in the US fleet. Named after Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Donald L. McFaul, who was killed in action, the ship is equipped with a range of advanced systems, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and sophisticated anti-air and anti-submarine defences.

More recently, the USS McFaul made headlines in July 2023 when it prevented Iranian naval forces from seizing two commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman. In both incidents, the destroyer responded swiftly, forcing Iranian vessels to withdraw after they attempted to board the tankers.

The ship’s arrival in Scotland today is part of routine operations. However, it underscores the close naval partnership between the US and UK, with Faslane—home to the UK’s nuclear deterrent—frequently serving as a stopover for American naval vessels operating in European waters.

Faslane, officially known as Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, is located on the Gare Loch and is home to the UK’s fleet of Vanguard-class submarines, which carry the nation’s nuclear deterrent. As the Royal Navy’s principal base in Scotland, it also houses Astute-class submarines and regularly hosts visiting vessels from allied nations such as the United States.