Duke Class - Type 23 Frigate

Hms Somerset F82

HMS Somerset is a Type 23 Frigate of the Royal Navy. She is the eleventh ship of the class to join the fleet since 1989. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd on the River Clyde, in Scotland and was launched in June 1994 by Lady Elspeth Layard, wife of then 2nd Sea Lord Admiral and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command Admiral Sir Michael Layard.  She entered service in 1996. Lady Layard is the ship's sponsor. 

Somerset is seen in Leith on her final port visit before heading back to Plymouth for some maintenance which should she her alongside for the reminder of the year.

She visited the port between 24th - 27th April 2015 during which time she was open to visitors on the Sunday where nearly 5,000 visitors went around her deck.

Holland Class Offshore Patrol Vessel

HrMs Groningen

The Holland-class offshore patrol vessels are new oceanic patrol vessels for the Royal Netherlands Navy. They are designed to fulfil patrol and intervention tasks against lightly armed opponents, such as pirates and smugglers, but much higher level electronic and radar surveillance roles with great capabilities for military stabilisation and security roles, short of outright war. With no sonar or long range weapons they utilise, the surveillance capabilities of the plug in modular, Thales integrated mast which integrates communication systems and two 4 faced phased arrays for air and surface search advanced as those of the combat systems of many USN combatants.

Groningen is seen alongside on 25th April 2015

Bay Class - RFA Lyme Bay L3007

RFA Lyme Bay L3007

RFA Lyme Bay is a Bay-class auxiliary landing ship dock (LSD(A)) of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). Ordered from Swan Hunter in 2000, the ship was launched in 2005. However, cost overruns and delays saw the shipbuilder removed from the project, and the incomplete ship was towed to Govan for finishing by BAE Systems Naval Ships. Lyme Bay entered service in late 2007; the last ship of the class to join the RFA.

Lyme Bay was dedicated on 26 November 2007; the last ship of the class to enter RFA service.

She is seen here alongside Leith before departing on the 12^th April at 05:45.

Georges Leygues Class - Fs Primauguet D644

Fs Primauguet D644

Fs Primauguet is fifth ship of the Georges Leygues class (Type F70) is a class of anti-submarine destroyers of the French Navy. They are multi-role ships due to their Exocet and Crotale missile armament, making them especially suitable for the defence of strategic positions; show of force operations, or as high seas escorts. The F70 is internationally labelled an "anti-submarine destroyer" (hence the "D" in the hull numbers), though the French do not use the term and refer to the ships as "frigates".

She is seen outboard of the Spanish Frigate Sps Méndez Núñez over the weekend 10^th – 12^th April 2015.  Both ships were participating in Joint Warrior 151.

Álvaro de Bazán Class - Sps Méndez Núñez F104

Sps Méndez Núñez F104

Sps Méndez Núñez F104 is the fourth in the Álvaro de Bazán class (also known as the F100 class of frigates) they are a new class of Aegis combat system-equipped air defence frigates entering service with the Spanish Navy.

Sps Méndez Núñez is seen alongside the French Frigate Primauguet over the weekend 10^th – 12^th April 2015.  Both ships were participating in Joint Warrior 151.

 

 

Snellius Class Hnlms Luymes A 803

Hnlms Luymes A 803

Hnlms Luymes (A803) is one of two Hydrographic Survey Ships in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The primary role of these vessels is to map changes in the seabed and shipping lanes and pass the data onto the Hydrographic Service for the preparation of sea charts.

She has made numerous visits to Leith in the past but she is seen here arriving at the port on the 4^th April 2015.

Alkmaar Class - Hnlms Schiedam M 860

Hnlms Schiedam M 860

Hnlms Schiedam is the 11^th ship of the Alkmaar class.  They class were conceived in the 1970s and built in the 1980s. France built the mine-hunting equipment, Belgium provided the electronics, and the Netherlands constructed the propulsion train. France and the Netherlands originally bought 15, with Belgium buying 10. Now the Netherlands have only 6 left.

All three countries' Tripartite ships contribute at times to 's Standing Maritime MCM capability groups (SNMCMG1 or SNMCMG2).

Hnlms Schiedam is seen arriving in Leith on the 20^th March 2015.

Flamant Class - Fs Cormoran P 677

Fs Cormoran P 677

Fs Cormoran was the first naval ship to visit Leith in 2015.

Fs Cormoran is the second of three Flamant Class Patrol Vessels (OPV 54), of the French Navy.

They are used for fishery protection, search and rescue patrolling the French coast up to 200 nautical miles.

The boats entered service in October and December 1997. They are based at Cherbourg.

P676 Flamant Entered service 18 December 1997

P677 Cormoran Entered service 29 October 1997

P678 Pluvier Entered service 18 December 1997

Fs Cormoran is seen alongside in Leith over the weekend 6^th – 9^th March 2015:

Fgs Brandenburg

The Type 123 Brandenburg Class frigates were ordered in June 1989 to replace the Hamburg Class. The frigates are primarily tasked with anti-submarine operations, but they also contribute to anti-air defence, the tactical command of group forces and surface operations. The ships form part of the Wilhelmshaven-based 6th frigate squadron.

Drawing on the experience of the aborted 'NATO frigate for the nineties' project and the construction of the German Type 122 multi-mission frigate, as well as German modularisation techniques, Hamburg shipbuilders Blohm + Voss developed a combined Meko and improved serviceability Type 122 design.  

The all-steel ship has stealth features, extra space for task group personnel and fin stabilisers. It is designed to carry two Agusta Westland Sea Lynx mk88 helicopters and a rigid inflatable boat for boarding operations.

The first ship, Brandenburg (F215), was built by Blohm + Voss and commissioned in October 1994; the second, Schleswig-Holstein (F216), was built by Kiel-based shipbuilder Howaldtswerke and commissioned in November 1995; the third, Bayern (F217), was built by Emden-based Thyssen Nordseewerke and commissioned in May 1996; and the fourth, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (F218), by the Bremen-based builder, Bremer Vulkan, commissioned in November 1996.  

The Brandenburg has a displacement of 4,700t fully loaded and an overall length of 138.9m. The ship has a maximum speed of 29 knots using the gas turbines and 18 knots using the diesel engines, with a range of 4,000 nm at 18 knots. The ship can accommodate 118 crew (including 19 air crew).  

Brandenburg is seen in Leith during her visit 7^th – 10^th November.