Pictured is HMS Ambush returning to HMNB Clyde in Scotland. © Crown Copyright 2013. Photographer: CPOA(Phot) Thomas McDonald
Favourite photos of 2013 #9: Royal Navy submarine HMS Ambush returning to HMNB Clyde
Tag Archives: Clyde
Political deals & management apathy sound death knell for Portsmouth shipbuilding
Criminal. Bloody criminal.
High politics ends Navy shipbuilding in Portsmouth
What would Nelson have made of it? Before Trafalgar he signalled “England Expects.” But it is the argument over Scotland’s independence that has left ship-building holed below the waterline in the Royal Navy’s headquarter port.
Most people who’ve lobbied hard for Portsmouth now believe the writing is on the wall.
I am told that the announcement has been brought forward to this morning due to leaks in the media.
Everyone expects it to be curtains for shipbuilding. Some wonder whether BAE may also lose some of the maintenance contract for the surface fleet, perhaps to Babcock.
It has become clear that while BAE is keen to work on low-risk ventures like the Type 26 it sees ship services, not ship building, as its future and so it is natural for them to rationalise facilities.
The only good news could be an impending city deal worth at least £100m to help widen the marine industry in Portsmouth, with Rolls Royce Marine, Qinetiq maybe involved. Perhaps private refit work could provide some income at Basin 3.
There have been radical ideas in the past. The Conservative MP for Portsmouth North, Penny Mordaunt, is Phillip Hammond’s PPS, a navy reservist and named after a warship, HMS Penelope!
Her ideas outlined in a letter to the Prime Minister included putting Royal Navy crews on commission, “sell what you sail and get a bonus”.
Considerations of the vote on Scottish independence seem to have trumped the hi-tech yard run by BAE in Portsmouth. The move of Vosper Thornycroft from Southampton to Portsmouth meant the kit was amongst the best in the world. But the Clyde carries more weight at the moment.
Nevertheless, the Royal Navy could still do well from new deals with Babcock. Perhaps the two ocean patrol vessels as well as 13 Type 26s – perhaps a permanent replacement for HMS protector or HMS Ocean’s successor.
Even Nelson could not have turned a blind eye to Alex Salmond. But there could still be plenty for Pompey to be proud of.
HMS Ambush berths alongside new Valiant Jetty at Faslane
Six berths. Speaks volumes to how few submarines the RN will have. {sigh} Oh well. Like Johnny Mercer sang, you’ve got the ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive. So let’s concentrate on what a nifty piece of engineering the floating jetty is. And it is. So nifty, in fact, that the idea could be a nice little export earner.
Faslane nuclear submarine jetty trial ‘a success’
HMS Astute at sea and HMS Ambush berthing alongside Valiant Jetty for the first time.
The Royal Navy has successfully trialled a new state-of-the-art floating jetty at its submarine base on the Clyde.
The Valiant Jetty is designed to move with the tide and will be used to berth nuclear subs at Faslane. A Trafalgar-class sub was berthed on Saturday, followed on Monday by one of the Navy’s new Astute-class subs.
The 200m-long jetty is vital to operations at HM Naval Base Clyde, according to the Navy.
Commander Nick King said: “The Valiant Jetty is world class: the most modern facility for berthing nuclear submarines in the world.
“Previous submarine berths were static whereas the Valiant Jetty moves with the tide. This provides a huge advantage to the submarines alongside as there is no longer the regular need to adjust lines and cables with tidal movement. Both vessel and jetty move together which means a much neater, efficient and safer layout.
“The Valiant Jetty is already attracting the attention of navies around the world who are looking to utilise the technology for berthing their own submarines.”
The 44,000-tonne jetty has six berths and is designed to serve the Navy for the next 50 years.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/faslane-nuclear-submarine-jetty-trial-a-success-1.142556
Empire’s Shield – Royal Navy silent film collection from 1914-1918
EMPIRE’S SHIELD Royal Navy Main Title (IWM 551).
- (Reel 1) The training of a naval cadet – Pangbourne, HMS Worcester, HMS Medway.
- (Reel 2) Scenes from the building of a merchant vessel. Shots of a Standard Tanker being launched on the Clyde, female dockyard labour, dazzle painted merchant ships, etc.
- (Reel 3) Various types of cargo unloaded at the East India Docks. Grimsby trawlers unloading and preparing for the next voyage. Medium shot groups of merchant officers and crews.
- (Reel 4) Episode portraying the bombardment of Zeebrugge, 11 May, 1917 – a compilation using stockshots and some actuality material.
- (Reel 5) Preparation and execution of a sweep by drifters. Close-ups of HM.TMS Atalanta II.
- (Reel 6) Dramatic reconstruction of the clearance of a recently laid minefield – swept mines are destroyed by rifle and MG fire. Close-ups of the crew of Atalanta II.
- (Reel 7) The Royal Naval Air Service. Probationary flight officers under training at Cranwell. Squadron ‘scrambles’ at Manston. Aerial views of south coast. Balloons on anti-submarine patrol.
- (Reel 8) Construction and wheeling out of a Short 184. Seaplane bombed up. HMS Furious. Felixstowe flying boats. King George V visits the fleet – he meets the crews of various ships.
- (Reel 9) HMS Vindictive and material relating to the Zeebrugge raid.
- (Reel 10) Scenes onboard HMS Canada.
- (Reel 11) First Battle Squadron sorties for live firing practice.
Naval Matters 