Clyde Naval Gazing

Solitaire

Some smashing shots of pipe layer Solitaire submitted by ClydeNavalGazing correspondent Neil Robertson.

Seen berthing at Campbeltown's ferry terminal on Saturday afternoon is P&O's European Mariner which had arrived to embark a cargo of wind turbines (one of which can be made out beyond the stern) from Vesta's facility at Machrihanish which is scheduled to close later this year. Displacing 3046 tons, this ship was built by Rickmers Werft at Bremerhaven in 1978 as "Salahala". An account of European Mariner's Campbeltown "windmill run" can be found on http://larneferryweb.com/features/2007/windmills/windmills.htm.

SD Husky & SD Nimble

A rare sight in the lower Clyde these days, the veteran SD Husky (A178) is one of two remaining "Dog" Class tugs based at Faslane, the other being SD Spaniel. The "Dog" class, which originally comprised 20 vessels, were built between 1962 and 1972 for use as general harbour tugs. They displace 206 tons and have a 18.7 ton bollard pull.
The 38.2 metre SD Nimble is one of nine Adept Class "twin unit tractors" in service with Serco Denholm. Built by Richard Dunston, Hessle and completed in 1985 she was originally based at Devonport. She displaces 450 tons and has a 28 ton bollard pull.

HMS Campbeltown

HMS Campbeltown comes home. The 4380 ton Batch III Type 22 frigate is seen berthing, on Saturday morning 20 september 2008, at the NATO fuel depot at Campbeltown assisted by Serco Denholm tugs, Nimble and Husky. The design of Campbeltown and her three sisters, Cornwall, Cumberland and Chatham reflects some of the lessons of the Falklands War. A single 4.5" gun, for shore bombardment, is mounted forward. Immediately behind it, in B position, is one of two Seawolf anti aircraft launchers, the other being mounted aft, atop the hanger. Her Goalkeeper CIWS is mounted immediately in front of the foremast and below it are the cradles for eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Two single 30mm are sited on either side of the funnel. She is equipped to carry two lynx helicopters which can be armed with either ASM Sea Skua missiles or Stingray ASW torpedoes. Her triple torpedo tubes appear to have been landed.
Campbeltown was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead and completed in 1989. In May she returned from a seven month deployment to the Persian Gulf. After her visit to Kintyre she is to sail for Rosyth where she is scheduled to enter the dockyard for a year long refit.