Hms Spartan

Following the paying off of HMS Sceptre at Plymouth (on Wednesday 26 May 2010) there are no longer any S-Class (Swiftsure Class) in service.

I was lucky enough to get onboard a Police launch escorting HMS Spartan when she sailed from  HM Naval Base Clyde for the last time following 28 years of service with the Royal Navy (Wednesday 25th January 2006). Sailing out of the Gareloch with her 45 m decommissioning pennant blowing in the breeze Commander Paul Halton, the Captain of Spartan said: "It is sad leaving Faslane for the last time. Over the years the teams in the base have given us exceptional support to keep Spartan ready for operations and of course keeping the crew fed, watered and happy when alongside." 

Prior to her last sailing, and as is traditional in the Navy, a decommissioning ceremony was held on 20th January to mark the successful completion of her service and to thank the men who have served in the Swiftsure Class Submarine over the years. Guest of honour at the ceremony was former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Raymond Lygo, KCB who's late wife, Lady Emily Lygo, was the boat's Sponsor having originally named and launched her in 1978. 

Spartan

Spartan's last patrol was one of the most successful yet, having completed a five month long global deployment which saw her cover some 30,000 miles, transit three oceans and visit four continents before returning home just in time for Christmas 2005.

Fs Marne

The Marne is the fourth of five Durance class replenishment oiler, originally designed and built for service in the French Navy.  Besides the five ships built for the French Navy, a sixth was built for the Royal Australian Navy  (Hmas Success AOR 304) and the leading ship of the class Durance now serves with the Argentine Navy under the name Patagonia.

Five ships of the class were built for the French Navy:

Durance (A629), Meuse (A607), Var (A608), Marne (A630) and Somme (A631)

In French service, the ships are dubbed Bâtiment de commandement et ravitailleur (BCR, "command and replenishment ship"): in addition to their role as a fleet tanker, than can harbour an entire general staff and supervise naval operations.

Three ships of the class (the Marne, the Somme and the Var) are fitted out as flagships and can embark and an admiral and his staff. 

In October 2009, the Somme repelled an attack by Somali pirates. 

She is seen here arriving Leith (around 08:30am) today 23 April 2010

Seen here coming on to the Ocean Terminal Berth quite some time later, I think the Pilot was new

Also seen doing their excellent work tying up the ships (with no golf clubs in sight) are the Leith Boatmen. 

Fs Latouche Tréville

Latouche Tréville is a George Leygues class and she is a F70 type anti-submarine frigate of the French Marine Nationale.  They are polyvalent (multi-role), due to their Exocet and Crotale missle complement, making them especially suitable for defense of strategic positions, demonstrations, or highseas escorts.

The superstructures were built as to optimise resistance against nuclear explosion blasts.

The F70 is internationally labelled an "anti-submarine destroyer" (hence the "D" in the hull numbers), though the French don't use the term and refer to the ships as "frigates".

The last three ships of the class had their bridges raised one deck to overcome problems experienced by the first four in bad weather, as well as being equipped with DSBV 61 passive linear towed array sonar and several other upgraded systems.

The Cassard class AA frigates are an air defence variant of the Georges Leygues class.

Latouche Tréville is the third French vessel named after the 19th century politician and admiral Louis René Levassor de Latouche Tréville.  

She is seen here arriving in Leith early today (around 06:45am!) 23 April 2010

Forth Ports Tugs II

Here are a few of the tugs taken today whilst working with the arrivals of the two French Naval vessels..

See here for previous tugs shots.

Firstly with the French naval ship Marne in the background

MT Fidra

MT Seal Carr

MT Beamer

and some others..

MT Fidra

MT Seal Carr and MT Beamer

with the Marne

Fs Chevalier Paul

The French Horizon Class Destroyer Fs Chevalier Paul seen alongside in Leith today.

Seen also here

HrMs De Zeven Provinciën

HrMs De Zeven Provinciën is the first of the De Zeven Provinciën class of air defence and command frigates in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy.  There are three more in the class- Tromp, De Ruyter and Evertsen.  The class was designed in co-operation with Germany and Spain.

De Zeven Proviciën is the eith ship in the Royal Netherlands Navy to carry that name.  The name refers to the original seven Dutch provinces which together formed the Union of Utrecht.

HrMs De Zeven Provinciën is seen here arriving Leith 7 February 2003

HrMs De Zeven Provinciën is seen here arriving Leith 10 April 2010

HrMs Van Amstel

The Karel Doorman class wss made up of eight multi purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy.  The class is also know as the "Multi-Purpose" or M Class.

The ships are named after famous Dutch Naval officers, the first of the class was called Karel Doorman

Karel Doorman and Willem Van der Zaan were sold to Belgium in 2005

Tjerk Hiddes and Abraham van der Hulst were sold to Chile in 2004     

Van Nes and Van Speijk were sold to Portugal in 2006

Only Van Amstel  and Van Speijk remain in service.

HrMs Van Amstel is seen here arriving Leith 10 April 2010

Her bow is seen here in a reflective shot