Joint Warrior JW 20:01 & 20:02

Exercise Joint Warrior JW 20:01 & 20:02

*Page under construction*

Twice a year the UK hosts Exercise Joint Warrior which is designed to enable the armed forces of participating countries to practice procedures and operate as a multi-national coalition. The event incorporates a wide variety of training scenarios, and each can include small boat attacks, boarding operations, large-scale amphibious assaults, air defence and anti-submarine warfare. Although JW 20:01 went ahead in March despite the escalating Coronavirus situation, it was on a far smaller scale than usual and there wasn`t much evidence of increased activity on the upper Clyde.

Far more complex tha JW 20:01, most of the action during the second exercise, took place far out in the Atlantic, around the Western Isles, then off the northeast coast of Scotland. At its core was the new Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group. In addition to the carrier itself, the Group is thought to contain HMS Diamond (D34), HMS Defender (D36), HMS Northumberland (F238), HMS Kent (F78), USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), and HNLMS Evertsen (F805), with auxiliaries RFA Tideforce (A139) and RFA Fort Victoria (A387) providing support. (Carrier Group image © Royal Navy).

With a wide selection of photographs from the military and other organisations currently available for sharing via social media, I have supplemented my own shots with those from other sources including the Royal Navy, RAF and US Navy. Images have been credited where appropriate and and some links have been added. These otherwise unavailable photographs give a valuable insight into operations and their inclusion will hopefully proved a better overall picture of these events. (to edit)*

/ The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team joins maritime, land, and air units from NATO Allied and partner nations for this iteration, which is scheduled to include 28 ships, two submarines, 81 aircraft, and more than 6,000 service members from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the U.K., and the U.S. MCMVs ? etc

Joint Warrior JW 19:2

Joint Warrior JW 19:1

Joint Warrior JW 18:1

Joint Warrior JW 17:2

Joint Warrior 17:1

Joint Warrior 16:2

Joint Warrior JW 16:1

Joint Warrior JW 15:2

Joint Warrior JW 15:1

JW 20:01

As previously mentioned, JW 20:01, the first of 2020`s events, went ahead between Friday 28 March and Thursday 9 April 2020. These are usually large exercises with numerous warships berthing on the Clyde at either Faslane Naval Base or Glasgow`s KGV Dock before hand, but unsurprisingly the COVID-19 emergency impacted proceedings. I thought that the escalating spread of the virus would have resulted in the cancellation of the exercise altogether but several naval vessels could be tracked at the end of the month, operating in the exercise area off Scotland`s west coast.

(Image © Wikipedia / Dave Souza).

Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS Sutherland (F81) (above) and an unidentified Norwegian submarine had called in at HMNB Clyde for a briefing, while HDMS Absalon (L16) of the Royal Danish Navy and Type 704 Rhön-class tanker FGS Rhön (A1443) took up station directly. It`s thought that the aforementioned warships were joined in the exercise area by USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the British auxiliary ship RFA Tideforce (A139) and Norway`s KNM Otto Sverdrup (F312). Serco Marine`s multi-purpose auxiliary vessel SD Northern River was also operating in the area. The only image I could find online of any of the participating vessels was the above view of HMS Sutherland heading out to sea at the start of proceedings. The shot was obviously taken from Lyle Hill above Greenock, a superb viewpoint on clear days.

Following Carrier images © Reuters.com / Business Insider Magazine. Above shot of NATO MCMVs & Charles de Gaulle flight deck image © Seawaves Magazine.

It also appeared that, for the first time in years, Prestwick didn`t host any Joint Warrior aircraft. The last few exercises saw not only the usual Cobham Falcons and RAF and RN Hawks based there, but Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPAs) from various NATO member nations. The latter types usually operate from Lossiemouth during the event but as the Moray base was being upgraded to accommodate the RAF`s new Poseidons, the Ayrshire airport proved an excellent alternative. Once things got back to normal, however, this year`s second JW saw most of the MPAs back up north - having the additional planes at Prestwick was great while it lasted!

Between 19 - 22 March 2020, the French Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle conducted its first deployment to the eastern North Sea region in a decade. As part of the deployment, the carrier strike group exercised with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1) in waters off Jutland, Denmark. Earlier in the month, as Charles de Gaulle transited the Mediterranean Sea, she participated in cross-deck inter-operability exercises with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). The unique opportunity allowed pilots from both navies to land and launch on the two flight decks while the leaders of each strike group met aboard both carriers for a tour and an opportunity to observe their respective pilots operate aboard a foreign naval vessel.

In total, two U.S. naval aviators flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet and four French aviators, flying the French Rafale M and an E-2C Hawkeye, conducted carrier operations including touch-and-go’s and one trap and recovery on each carrier. Additionally, each country moved personnel and parts between the two ships via helicopter throughout the duration of the exercise. This was not the first time that the two huge carriers have worked alongside one another though. The two vessels conducted joint operations in Support of Operation Inherent Resolve from the Mediterranean Sea in 2016.

On Wednesday 8 April 2020, the French Navy announced that their carrier was returning to its home port of Toulon after an outbreak of Coronavirus on board. The vessel was thought to have at least 40 cases of COVID-19 among its compliment of around 2,000 men and women and a screening team with specialist equipment were helicoptered in to assess the situation before the carrier docked. Although Charles de Gaulle has a hospital with a dozen beds and respirators, helicopters were on standby to transfer any sailors in urgent need of more advanced medical treatment to a mainland facility.

At least one case of COVID-19 contamination was also reported in March aboard Belgian Navy frigate BNS Léopold 1 during its deployment with the French carrier strike group.

Coincidentally, this vessel was the sole representative of the Marine Component of the Belgian Armed Forces during Joint Warrior 20:02 and berthed at Glasgow for a couple of nights before setting off for the exercise area. (Above image © NATO).

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JW 20:02

The second of this year`s Joint Warrior military exercises ran from 4 October until 15 October 2020.*

Lyle Hill // weather etc*

In the weeks leading up to the start of Europe's largest military exercise, concern was raised for the welfare of a pod of five Northern Bottlenose Whales, initially spotted in the Loch Long area. They appear to be disorientated and have entered some of the smaller adjacent sea lochs, ending up just off the Faslane naval base. As whales are particularly sensitive to underwater sound, it`s feared that the increased naval activity and associated sonar noise , may adversely affect the animals even further, have been concerned about the effect it may have on the animals." (to edit)*

"However, we have had similar incidents in recent years where animals of the same species have entered lochs, including Loch Long, that have subsequently left of their own accord without intervention, and presumably have succeeded in returning to their proper - Joint Warrior - begins on Saturday and its headquarters will be at Faslane, the naval base next to Gare Loch. Boats are being used to herd whales from a Scottish loch into the open sea ahead of a huge military exercise in the region. Experts have been monitoring the Northern Bottlenose Whales in Gare Loch in Argyll for the last month. An operation began at 10:30 on Thursday to move the whales from the sea loch over fears sonar used by warships could distress the animals. (to edit)*

There are also concerns that one of the whales is looking "skinny". The operation to move the mammals is being led by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR). It added that attempting to move them "of course does come with risks of its own and there is no guarantee it will be successful given the depth of water and distance that needs to be covered, so will be undertaken with as much care as possible. Gavin Lemon, a volunteer with the charity, said the animals would be herded from Gare Loch using a number of boats in formation. He said it was important to move the animals while they were healthy and in good condition. (to edit)*

Whales info* (Images © Forces.net; BBC / Steve Truluk; PA Media).

"We've been monitoring them - they are feeding on local fish," he said. "They usually like squid and the like, diving up to 1,000m (3,000ft). "Gare Loch is about 25m (80ft) deep. So they've not been having their normal diet, but it has been sustaining them. "However, one of them looks skinny which is not a good sign with a whale." He told BBC Scotland: "At first we thought it a real novelty with the three of them tail slapping and breaching. We thought they were fishing." But he said concern grew and whale watchers have expressed concern that the animals were in distress. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "The Royal Navy takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and continues to work with the relevant UK authorities to ensure all practical measures required to reduce environmental risk and comply with legislation are taken. "A necessary series of safety checks is observed and an environmental risk assessment is carried out before any underwater task is undertaken by MoD, to minimise any potential risk to marine life." He added that members of the armed forces who are involved in the Exercise Joint Warrior training in the area will be made aware of the presence of the whales and the latest sightings. // and we are prepared to amend the programme if these whales remain in an atypical situation. (to edit)*

Royal Navy

At the start of proceedings, HMS Sutherland (F81) was patrolling the lower Firth of Clyde and out towards Islay etc* // On Sunday 4 October, Iver Huitfeldt-class Frigate Niels Juel (F363) sailed south to meet HMCS ?? the 333, French and Portugal at the bottom end of the Minch while an unidentified US warship tagged on behind the Canadian contingent as it headed out into the Atlantic in a northwesterly direction off the west coast of Islay. Evers remained at anchor off Greenock for a few days before setting off for the exercise area. Kingdom of Fife (desc) anchored off the Esplanade just before the US supply ship left, having done some preparatory work in Luce Bay, Southwest Scotland. This location is often used by the military to practice amphibious landings. (to edit)*

(Carrier Group images © Royal Navy).

Faslane-based Sandown-class Minehunter HMS Grimsby (M108) heads down the Firth on an overcast Thursday 1 October.

NATO MCMVs, including a several from the Royal Navy, take part in most Joint Warriors but were noticeably absent from the Clyde on this occasion. It may well be, however, that the countermeasures component sailed directly to the exercise area. Meanwhile, I believe that the first unmanned minesweeping system entered frontline service with the Royal Navy in March this year. The ATLAS Remote Combined Influence Minesweeping System (ARCIMS) uses towed Coil Auxiliary Boats (CABs) that simulate acoustic or magnetic signatures of ships in order to trigger mines or confirm none are present. Initially three boats will be available, two remotely controlled and the other manned, as well as multiple underwater vehicles. The craft are not replacing MCM Vessels currently in service but are instead complementing them.

(Image © ARCIMS / Crown Copyright)

According to an MOD statement, the ARCIMS, currently based at Faslane, can search for, hunt and finally destroy mines faster than the Royal Navy’s Sandown and Hunt-class warships, while having the added benefit of keeping sailors required to operate them out of harm’s way. Modified versions of the same systems are also being looked at to carry out survey operations such as those performed by HMS Echo. Ongoing route surveys gather seabed data for shipping lanes in advance, making it easier to spot newly deposited threats. This is especially important in areas where the seafloor is very uneven with lots of Non-Mine, mine-like Bottom Objects (NOMBO) where it`s easier for a potential adversary to lay and disguise mines. Route surveys of the entrances to key ports and naval bases is an important and ongoing requirement.

In 2016, ARCIMS took part in Exercise Unmanned Warrior in Scotland, when the Royal Navy invited Atlas Electronic UK to demonstrate its capabilities. It operated admirably in varying sea states during several high-speed missions, acquiring and transmitting real-time towed sonar data to the command and control station for what’s called ‘in mission’ analysis.

Back in 2018, the new system was assessed again, this time against a number of performance requirements, including how well it cleared mines and obstacles avoidance.

Thee US Navy also operate unmanned minehunters. The Fleet class unmanned surface vessel, also called the Common Unmanned Surface Vessel, is a class of unmanned surface vessels designed for the United States Navy to be deployed from Freedom and Independence-class littoral combat ships and is intended to conduct mine and anti-submarine warfare missions. The first was delivered to the US Navy in 2008. (ARCIM images © ARCIMS / Crown Copyright).

HMS SPEY (P234)

HMS Spey (P234), seen here making her way back to BAE Systems` Scotstoun Yard on Monday 28 September, wasn`t involved in the exercise, but returning from sea trials. She is the last of five Batch II River-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) that were built on the Upper Clyde for the Royal Navy, the others being HMS Forth (P222), HMS Medway (P223), HMS Trent (P224), and HMS Tamar (P233). The latter was only deemed fully operational in August.

All vessels were built at the BAE`s Govan shipyard, then transferred to Scotstoun for fitting out. The five Batch IIs will replace the current River-class vessels Tyne, Severn, Mersey and Clyde, which were designed and built over 15 years ago. The new vessels, which are a big improvement on their predecessors, will act as the Royal Navy's eyes and ears around the UK and help to safeguard fishing stocks, potentially an even greater challenge after the Brexit transition period ends at midnight on 31 December. The OPVs can deploy to the Mediterranean and Caribbean if necessary, and one is usually based in the South Atlantic to reassure and protect Falkland Islanders.

The Batch IIs are four knots faster than their predecessors, carry a 30mm, rather than a 20mm main gun, two Miniguns, four machine-guns and two Pacific 24 sea boats. Each ship is equipped with a flight deck (only Clyde of the first generation craft can host a helicopter) and there's accommodation for up to 50 troops/Royal Marines to support operations ashore if needed.

The last shot of HMS Spey shows her back at BAE Systems` Scotstoun Yard on Wednesday 30 September 2020...

Sea trials complete, HMS Spey left the Clyde for Portsmouth on Wednesday 28 October. Further upriver, at BAE`s Govan yard, progress on HMS Glasgow, the first of the new* etc for the Royal Navy continues with the first section of the hull now positioned outside the main shed. etc

company`s latest construction project on the Clyde, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, could be seen both inside and outside the assembly shed. In August 2019, a ceremony was held at Govan to mark the formal start of manufacture on the second of the class, HMS Cardiff. This comes two years after steel was cut on the lead ship, HMS Glasgow. Momentum on Glasgow continues with over one half of the ship now in production and she remains on track to enter service in the mid-2020s. BAE Systems also won the contract to build nine units of a modified version of the Type 26 concept vessel for the Royal Australian Navy in Adelaide. These warships will be designated as Hunter-class. (All artist`s impression images © BAE Systems). (to edit)*

These artist impressions ( © BAE Systems) show how the vessel will eventually look etc* (Image below right, also Copyright BAE).

Only eight of the original total of 13 requested for the UK`s Royal Navy will now be built with HMS Belfast on order to complete Batch 1. Batch 2 will comprise Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Edinburgh and London. The famous Second World War era light cruiser HMS Belfast (C35), currently a museum ship on the Thames owned and operated by the Imperial War Museum, will be renamed as "HMS Belfast (1938)" to avoid confusion. The previous HMS Glasgow and HMS Sheffield became household names due to their service in the Falklands War of 1982. (to edit)*

The City-class Type 26 will build on the pedigree of the Royal Navy’s current Type 23 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates which have served the Nation well. Each Type 26 will be equipped with a range of capabilities including the Sea Ceptor missile defence system, a 5-inch medium calibre gun, flexible mission bay, Artisan 997 Medium Range Radar, powerful bow and towed array sonars and a vertical launch silo capable of hosting a variety of weapons. (to edit)*

Military aircraft seen at Glasgow and Prestwick, whether Joint Warrior related, are included under their respective nationalities. etc

(Above image © MOD/Crown Copyright)

Less than a week after Joint Warrior 20/2 ended, it was revealed in the press that a Royal Navy officer, had been sent home from the US after reporting to take charge of a submarine's Trident nuclear missiles while unfit for duty. Colleagues reportedly raised concerns when the weapons engineering officer, (WEO) a Lieutenant Commander, arrived for work on HMS Vigilant (above & right) last month. Vigilant, one of Britain's four Vanguard-class submarines which carry up to eight Trident missiles armed with nuclear warheads, was docked at a US naval base at the time. It`s thought that the officer had been drinking heavily the night before and was carrying a bag of leftover chicken from a barbecue for his lunch. An investigation into the incident is underway at Faslane. (Right hand photo: BBC News / AP).

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

(RFA Images © Royal Navy)

RFA Tideforce is the last of four Tide-Class Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Tankers, the others being Tidespring, Tiderace and Tidesurge. At 39,000 tonne, these vessels are the largest ships currently in service within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. They can carry 19,000 cubic metres of fuel and 1,400 cubic metres
of fresh water. All were built by DSME in South Korea.

Tideforce entered service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary on 30 July 2019, and in September, she joined the UK Carrier Strike Group on its three-month Westlant 19 deployment to the United States. This year, in June, Tideforce carried out the first night time replenishment at sea with a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, then in August 2020 she rendezvoused with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) to provide replenishment.

The above photo, taken off the South Coast of England in early May this year. shows RFA Tidesurge, Tideforce and Fort Victoria trialling their equipment. Marine diesel, aviation fuel and water were all successfully passed between the ships. Although this was just a trial, it is not entirely unusual for RFAs to transfer fuel to each other as one may serve as a support tanker for very long range missions.

Royal Air Force

Above: tanker called in at Prestwick most days during the exercise. This is ??call-sign `Madras ??` etc on the ??

Military visitors to Glasgow International while Joint warrior was running included PA-8A Poseidon ZP801 `Stingray 05` which did some training on Thursday 8 October, plus RAF BAe146 ZE700 (below left) called in for a time. ZE700 reappeared the following day when I managed this distant shot of it parked up on the Royal Pan from Walkinshaw Road. Ongoing roadworks in Abbotsinch Road have ruled out parking anywhere near the executive ramp for photographs and by the end of the month a double row of fencing had been erected, ruling out shots from that location altogether. A400M Atlas ZM412 `Ascot 481` did a couple of go-arounds touch-and-gos on Tuesday 12 October.

Unrelated to Joint Warrior, the German Air Force made numerous training sorties to Glasgow during October, the first of which was Bombardier Global 5000 14+03, call-sign `GAF 612` on Tuesday 13th which did a go-around of Runway 05. Two more German Air Force Global 5000s appeared for training the next day, (14th), namely 14+02`GAF 686` and 14+07`GAF 648` with the action taking place around noon. Unlike one of the Globals the previous day, rather than a low beat-up of the runway, 14+06 (above right) on the 15th did two very high go-arounds, breaking off early and climbing even more sharply on its second pass. Then, on Monday the 19th, 14+03, followed by 14+06 on the 20th, each made their second visit of the month. On the 22nd it was 14+04 `GAF 686`. German Air Force training flights continued on Friday 23 October: I saw Global 5000 14+03 climbing after a `23` go-around as I drove past Glasgow Airport mid-morning. Airbus A340-313 serial number 16+01,`GAF 898`, carried out a similar manoeuvre later.

RAF Lossiemouth in Moray has been reopened to aircraft following a £75m revamp of the station's runways. The runways were constructed for fast jets such as Tornadoes and more recently Typhoons. After being stripped and resurfaced, they can now handle the take off and landings of larger, multi-engine aircraft.

RAF Lossiemouth is to be the base for a fleet of nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes, as well as Typhoons. The first of the US-built Poseidon aircraft have been stationed at nearby Kinloss Barracks, a former RAF station, and arrived at Lossiemouth on Tuesday afternoon. (Lossiemouth images © RAF/BBC).

It is 10 years since the RAF's last maritime patrol aircraft were scrapped. The last of those jet aircraft, called Nimrods, flew out of RAF Kinloss in 2010. New Nimrods were dismantled for scrap as part of defence cuts, but not replaced by another type of plane until now. Typhoons, whose crews carry out quick reaction alert (QRA) missions, are to return to Lossiemouth after being temporarily based at Leuchars in Fife. QRAs frequently involve interceptions of Russian military aircraft detected flying near airspace of "NATO interest". Also, returning to Lossiemouth are Typhoons flown on training sorties and have been temporarily stationed at Kinloss. The first of the Typhoons were back at the Moray station on Monday.

Station commander, Gp Capt Chris Layden, said RAF Lossiemouth would be "right at the centre" of the RAF's air combat power with four squadrons of Typhoons and two squadrons of Poseidon aircraft. Wg Cdr James Hanson said the primary function of the Poseidon was anti-submarine and surface ship warfare, but he added the aircraft could be used in any military maritime mission. Work on the runways began at the start of the year and continued through the coronavirus lockdown. Separately, a £132m facility has been constructed for the Poseidon aircraft. It can house three aircraft for maintenance while the remainder of the fleet can be parked outside. (to edit)*

Above: Pipe Major Barry Ashby, RAF Lossiemouth Pipes and Drums, heralds the new resident`s arrival while Group Captain Chris Layden (left) and Wing Commander James Hanson pose in front of their new charge (Above shots: © The Northern Scot / Becky Saunderson).

Cobham Falcons

Most of the aircraft involved in Joint Warrior have operated from RAF Lossiemouth // Prestwick Airport has been adopted as a temporary base for Royal Navy Hawk T.1s of 763 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) and Dassault Falcons of Cobham Aviation Services. Although the Cobham jets are civilian, they work closely with the MOD and play a major role in proceedings. They`re equipped with onboard systems and special electronic warfare mission pods for radar and communications jamming, threat simulation and electronic surveillance. The Falcons also act as hostile airborne targets for the warships by running in at low-level to simulate a sea skimming missile, or 'launch' simulated missiles electronically which the navy can track and respond to with their defensive systems.

dates: Wednesday 7 October 2020:

ZJ191 AH64 AAC ZJ197 AH64 AAC MACHETE
ZH862 EH101 TIGER02
09-0624 MC12W JM10 arr 2122ish . // On 7 October, `Darkness 21`, Tail Code `08`, an F-35B Lightning II, made an emergency landing at Kinloss after broadcasting a Mayday, apparently as a result of a fuel issue. Fortunately both pilot and plane touched down without incident.

Belgium

BNS Leopold I (F930) was the only attendee from Belgium and the one of the Glasgow contingent that I didn`t manage to photograph, either on the way in or when she headed out to sea. Unlike the other warships, Leopold I didn`t show up on ship tracking websites at all. As a substitute I`ve included this shot which I took in the autumn of 2016 prior to the start of Joint Warrior JW16:02. From 18 November 2015 to 4 January 2016, she formed part of the Charles de Gaulle Task Force which launched strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In March this year, Leopold I was again operating as part of the Charles de Gaulle Task Force when a crew member tested positive for COVID-19. The sailor was evacuated via air after he began showing symptoms. As a precaution, the Belgian warship broke off from its mission and returned to Zeebrugge about a month earlier than planned.

She is one of two Karel Doorman-class frigates purchased from the Royal Netherlands Navy at the tail end of 2005. Prior to 29 March 2007, when the Belgians formally acquired the vessels, Leopold I had been known as HNLMS Karel Doorman (F827). She had been named in honour of Dutch Rear-Admiral Karel Doorman, the Allied Strike Force commander who lost his life during the Battle of the Java Sea, a decisive naval battle of the Pacific Campaign during World War II. The Allied navies suffered a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Japan went on to occupy the entire Netherlands East Indies.

The Karel Doorman-class frigates have a displacement of 2,800 tonnes and are just over 122 metres in length. They have a top speed of 30 knots (56 mph) and usually operate with a compliment of 15 officers, 70 NCOs and 60 sailors. Their main armament is an Oto Melara 76mm deck gun supplemented by up to 10 machine guns with a Goalkeeper CIWS for close-in defence. Other weapons systems comprise 16 x VLS firing RIM-7 Sea Sparrow Anti-air Missile, 8 x Launcher firing Boeing Harpoon Anti-Ship missile and 2 x Twin torpedo tubes firing Mk.46 Torpedoes.

Canada

No less than four Canadian warships took part this time round with three Halifax-class frigates berthing at Glasgow and Canadian Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix (below right) tying-up alongside Greenock`s Ocean Terminal. All had sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia. If things had went according to plan this year, I`d have visited Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in May but the pandemic resulted in cancellation of the holiday.

Last time I was in Halifax, I went on a couple of harbour tours. These trips are good value and sail past the Naval Dockyards allowing for some great photo opportunities. The Coastguard facilities on the opposite, Dartmouth side of The Narrows are also within range of a decent telephoto lens.

HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332), HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337) and HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339) were among the Halifax-class frigates berthed.

One of the most comprehensive shipping blogs I`ve found is Mac Mackay`s Shipfax which deals primarily with with nautical matters on Canada`s east coast, particularly those related to Halifax and other locations in Nova Scotia. The site provides daily updates of not only civilian and naval shipping movements but ongoing construction and development. It also features a wealth of archive material and is well worth checking out: Shipfax.blogspot.com.

On Sunday 20 September this year, Mac managed to capture the morning departure of three of the Canadian Clyde-bound Joint Warrior vessels. The ships initially went to Bedford Basin, the innermost part of the harbour, where they formed up in line then sailed back past the naval dockyards to take the salute as they headed out to sea. In addition to several military and civilian helicopters watching the proceedings, an Aurora Maritime Patrol Aircraft from CFB Greenwood did a flypast.

NRU Asterix info* etc

On Saturday 3 October, Asterix tagged on at the end of the line, behind the Canadian frigates and NATO warships etc. If it wasn`t for a few palm trees on the left hand skyline, this released US Navy shot on Wikipedia could almost have been taken on the upper Clyde. It was, however, taken at Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam, Hawaii, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in 2018. It ran from late June 27 until early August with the action centred in and around the Hawaiian Islands, and off Southern California. Twenty-five nations, 46 ships, five submarines, approximately 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel took part, making RIMPAC is the World's largest international maritime exercise. (Image US © Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jimmie Crockett).

HMCS Preserver, seen here in June 2008 at her Naval Dockyard base in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ship. Along with her west coast-based sister HMCS Protecteur (AOR509), Preserver`s role is to resupply other Canadian Navy vessels at sea with food, munitions, fuel and spare parts. At 172 metres these ships are the largest (?)* currently (?)* in service with the Canadian Navy and have been operational since 1969 (?). (to edit);

HMCS Halifax (FFH 330)

Departure day:-

HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332)

HMCS Toronto (FFH 333)

I last photographed HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) back in late November 2018 as she made her way downriver on her way out to sea, after a visit to the KGV. The warship had been engaged in NATO's Canadian-led Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP), a multinational military operation in Poland and the Baltic States intended to deter Russian aggression. After completing Intermediate Multi-Ship Readiness Training (IMSRT), and enjoying a visit to Reykjavik, Iceland, HMCS Toronto came to the Clyde.

On 29 Monday 2018, as she sailed up the west coast of Scotland, she experienced a power outage and spent several hours adrift before the ship’s technicians were able to restore power. The warship put in to Belfast for repairs. Earlier that year, in October, HMCS Halifax experienced a minor fire in its forward engine room. The fire broke out in a gas turbine enclosure and was quickly extinguished by the crew. HMCS Halifax was underway in the Norwegian Sea as part of NATO exercise Trident Juncture at the time. No injuries were reported as a result of either incident.

On this occasion, it looked as though face coverings on board were optional.

Bombardier CC-144 Challenger of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) arrived on Thursday 1 October and night-stopped. No doubt its appearance was connected with the exercise. etc*

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Denmark

HDMS Triton (F358) is one of four 3,500 ton Thetis-class Ocean Patrol Vessels, all built and commissioned in the early 1990s, and each has taken part in numerous Joint Warriors over the years. These ships are primarily tasked with maintenance of sovereignty, search and rescue, fishery inspection and support to local (mainly Greenlandic) authorities. An aft helicopter deck and hangar can accommodate a single Sikorsky MH-60R which is usually carried. The Triton has been operational since 2 December 1991. The other Thetis-class OPVs currently in service are lead-ship Thetis (F357), Vædderen (F359) and Hvidbjørnen (F360). The latter ship`s name means `Polar bear` in Danish. As previously mentioned, at least one other Danish warship, Iver Huitfeldt-class Frigate Niels Juel (F363), took part in this exercise but remained out at sea throughout and did not visit the Clyde at any point.

France

FS Premier-Maître L'Her (F792) was the first warship to berth at Glasgow prior to the exercise, sailing upriver on a gloomy Wednesday 30 September. The vessel`s name translates as `First Master L`Her`, a tribute to Jean-François L'Her ( 24 January 1904 - 25 May 1940), who rose through the ranks to become an officer in the French Navy. In May 1940, during the German invasion of France he, along with his men, fell back on Boulogne. Two British Guards battalions and some pioneers had been tasked with attempting to defend the city during the mass evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk and other coastal locations. Rather than embark, L'Her volunteered to remain to assist but despite fierce fighting, the British were overwhelmed and the survivors were evacuated by Royal Navy destroyers while under direct German gunfire. L'Her`s lightly armed unit was no match for the German panzers and they were forced to disperse. As an enemy soldier was about to raise the Nazi flag atop a prominent landmark, L`Her took aim and killed him but was in turn shot. He was made a knight of the Legion of Honour posthumously in April 1941.

NATO classes Premier-Maître L'Her as a Frigate, but the French Navy lists her as a A69-class Aviso. This is an old term dating from the age of sail and originally described a small armed sailing vessel which was light and fast, such as a brig or cutter. Their main role was liaising between the various vessels in the fleet, between ships and the land, or from port to port. They also transported parcels and mail, and transmitted orders and intelligence.

With the widespread use of radio, and the introduction of mechanical power, the term Aviso remained to designate a fast vessel of medium size such as a torpedo boat, but now. although falling into disuse elsewhere, the French still use it as an alternative name for small antisubmarine corvettes.

A few locals had gathered on the south side of the river to photograph the French warship as she passed the Renfrew / Yoker Ferry slip.

The French Navy had a pair of French Navy Atlantics temporarily based at Prestwick. The serials were No.3 and No.16. Info*

Weather conditions when FS Premier-Maître L'Her left the KGV on the Saturday were even worse than when she arrived. Heavy rain and a light mist made for a grey scene, so this was another JW participant shot from the comfort of the car as she passed the Newshot Island reed bed at Erskine...

Portugal

The Portuguese Navy only take part in Joint Warrior intermittently but NRP Corte-Real (F332), a Vasco da Gama-class frigate, attended this time round.

Above: CMS Boxer and CMS Wrestler wait off Greenock to escort the Portuguese warship upriver to Glasgow on 1 October.

NRP Corte-Real is one of three ships of this class currently in service with the Portuguese Navy, the others being Vasco de Gama (F330) and Alvares Cabral (F331). All are based on the German MEKO 200 design and were built in Hamburg by Blohm + Voss (B&V) and by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, using modular construction techniques.

NRP Corte-Real was laid down on 20 October 1989, launched on 22 November 1991, and commissioned on 1 February 1992. The ship is named in honour of the explorers of the 15th century Corte-Real family: João Vaz Corte-Real, Gaspar Corte-Real, Miguel Corte-Real, and Vasco Anes Corte-Real. All were involved in navigating the east coast of North America, particularly Newfoundland and Canada`s Labrador coast.

Above: Passing Dumbarton Castle.

The Vasco da Gama-class frigates are Portugal's major surface ships.

USA

According to the Press page on the US Navy website, assets from the U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, taking part in this Joint Warrior were Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and USS Ross (DDG 71), FDNF assigned to CTF 65 based in Rota, Spain; Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), based out of Mayport, Florida, and attached to the Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group; Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Medgar Evers, assigned to CTF 63 and operating in the Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations; and two P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and a reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) from CTF 67, based in Sigonella, Italy. Participating U.S. Marine Corps assets are “The Wake Island Avengers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, eight F-35 Lightning aircraft, and a detachment from 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company embarked aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth.

USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE-13), pictured here at anchor off Greenock, is one of 14 Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ships currently in service with the United States Navy`s Military Sealift Command. Launched on 29 October 2011, this vessel replenishes ships at sea with ammunition, food, repair parts, stores and small quantities of fuel. Two dedicated sister ships provide these supplies to the U.S. Marine Corps. During the course of the exercise, Evers departed Greenock, sailed up the west coast to assist with operations there, then repositioned to the east side of the country to do likewise there. By the end of proceedings, Evers was showing as berthed at the MOD facility at Crombie, just upriver from the Rosyth Naval Dockyard on ship tracking website Marine Traffic.com

USNS Medgar Evers is named in honour of Medgar Wiley Evers (2 July 1925 – 12 June 1963), a Mississippi-born World War II veteran and civil rights activist. He served in the US Army from 1943 to 1945 and fought in the Battle of Normandy in June 1944. In the 1950s he worked to overturn segregation at the University of Mississippi and enact social justice and voting rights. He was shot and murdered in June 1963 by Byron De La Beckwith, a white supremacist and member of the Ku Klux Klan. All-white juries failed to reach verdicts in the first two trials and it wasn`t until 1994 that Beckwith was convicted in a further state trial, based on new evidence.

These shots were taken on Saturday 3 October 2020 as Arleigh Burke-class Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), a frequent Joint warrior participant, transited the Irish Sea en route to the exercise area. A small boat exercise allowed the crew to further hone their skills. (USS Donald Cook images © US / Seaman Christine Montgomery).

RFA Tideforce (A139) and USNS Laramie (T-AO-203) (below) appeared on the Clyde on Friday 16 October, the latter vessel having sailed from Rota in Andalusia. The Spanish town, in the Province of Cadiz, hosts the country`s largest military establishment, a US Navy base which houses US Navy and Marine Corps personnel. The Laramie, a Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler, was escorted to the MOD facility on Loch Striven by a selection of SERCO tugs.

Boeing C-40A Clipper (737-7AFC) of the US Navy make frequent appearances at Prestwick. This is 168981 which touched down on 7 October.

I believe the vast majority of the Clipper flights are personnel transfers between the USA and the NATO Base at Sigonella in Sicily, Italy.

Year-round, irrespective of Join Warrior, there`s always a chance of an outstanding military visitor at Prestwick. The latest came on Wednesday 21 October 2020 in the shape of Israeli Air Force Boeing 707-3L6C, serial number 272, which stopped in for fuel. It arrived about 09:00 hrs and was only on the ground for 1 hour 20 minutes. I didn`t see it on that occasion but managed a couple of photos of it on the ramp at Krakow Airport, Poland, a few years ago as I exited my Ryanair flight on arrival...

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Law Enforcement, Tugs & Support Craft

Above: MOD Police launch Barra off Dunoon. Friday 2 October 2020.

SD Northern River left on Saturday 3 October along with the participating vessels from the Clyde. The majority of the warships headed right out into the Atlantic beyond the Western Isles, but several, along with this SERCO Marine vessel, continued north up the MInch. etc*

Above: On 29 September, Tugs CMS Wrestler and CMS Boxer head upriver just ahead of French warship FS Premier-Maître L'Her to assist her into the KGV.

Conditions were far better on when CMS Boxer headed upriver to Glasgow along with ?? (F332).

Below: CMS Boxer and CMS Wrestler head back to Greenock after assisting with departures at the KGV on 3 October...

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Other Vessels on the Water

Of all the non-military ships to appear on the Clyde while Joint Warrior 20:02 was running, by far the most interesting was Southern Star. This hardy wee vessel, made her way upriver to the Clyde Boatyard at Rothesay Dock on Wednesday 30 September at 18:00 hrs, just after French etc* // had passed. Southern Star was built in 1973 by Carrington Slipways in Tomaga, Australia, as a Patrol Vessel for the Australian Government. She entered service the following year, operating along the country`s North East coast, which includes the Great Barrier Reef, transferring lighthouse and pilot station personnel while supplying necessary equipment and provisions.

In 1988, she was sold to the Falkland Islands Government and after extensive modification and refurbishment, undertook scientific work in the surrounding waters. She arrived in the UK in 1992 and after further modifications served as a Survey and Diving Support vessel. In 1996/97 she carried out an archaeological survey of sunken treasure ships around the Cape Verde Islands. On the 28th February 2013, Southern Star completed a three-year Environmental Charter in the North Sea after which she was put up for sale and relocated to the Clyde. The asking price was £825,000. etc*

I`d previously photographed Southern Star back in September 2014, when she first arrived on the Clyde, badly in need of a makeover, but now, as of May this year, she has a new owner and will become an integral part of a 25-hectare seaweed farm off the Yorkshire coast following a major company expansion.The Southern Star has been bought by SeaGrown Ltd to accommodate a seaweed and shellfish hatchery, marine laboratory, company office, visitor outreach centre and a small cafe. The timetable has been pushed back due to the pandemic, but following some engineering works, fitting out at the Clyde Boatyard is nearing completion.

Although she will often be moored in Scarborough, the 37-metre vessel will work at sea during bulk seeding operations, while carrying out a number of other functions on what is understood to be the first large-scale commercial venture of its type.

Co-founded by Wave Crookes (left), a former Scarborough fisherman who trained as a diver in the Royal Navy, and his partner, Laura Robinson, a marine scientist, SeaGrown has pioneered a low-impact system that only uses the top five metres of the water to grow three species of seaweed on a run of floating lines. It aims to be the first UK company to introduce farmed seaweed into new markets such as bioplastics, biotextiles and pharmaceuticals by next year.

SeaGrown welcomed 18 metre-long twin-hulled aluminium catamaran Bright Blue, which previously served as an oil spill response vessel, in 2019, but Southern Star will greatly enhance operations. Wave said: “She is going to be one of the mainstays of our business. She`ll house some incredibly important key facilities which we couldn’t function offshore without. When we get the `Star into Scarborough we`ll become self-sufficient. She will enable us to operate how we need to, and not be dictated to by the weather or seasons.” (Above image © Andrew Jackson LLP / SeaGrown).

Coastrunner is classed as an MCA Workboat, Code Category 2, which means it can operate up to 60 nautical miles away from a safe haven. It`s 15.25m in length and has a 6.25t bollard pull. It features a towing hook with quick release, a fire fighting pump and 50hp bow thruster. Established in 1994, the boat`s operator Coastworks, owns, manages and maintains a fleet of specialist crewed vessels and provides a range of ancillary services including boat, barge and pontoon hire, pollution spill response, dredging, vessel salvage, fish farm installation and cage-towing, surveys and diving support.

Coastrunner, seen here passing the old Erskine Ferry slip at Old Kilpatrick, is currently assisting with work on the Upper Clyde, but last year was involved in a Scottish Water £2.2 million investment project to help protect and enhance the environment of the Firth of Clyde and coastal waters in the popular tourist town of Largs. The project involved replacing a short storm outfall pipe with a new, longer outfall pipe.

At the same time, the new 220m long pipe was built up at Fairlie Quay and once the trench was down to depth, Coastrunner, assisted by Challenger, and Coastworker, towed the pipe to site and held it into position while it was sunk down into the trench. Work started in February 2019 and was completed in the autumn.

The old John Brown`s Shipyard site beside the Clydebank Titan Crane is being redeveloped with new building springing up. Construction and clean-up work has been ongoing for some time and the workboat Oscar of Glasgow (above) has been assisting with waterfront operations.

Unlike most of the stretch of the River Clyde between Glasgow and Port Glasgow on Friday 2 October, James Watt Dock at Greenock was fog free. Among the vessels present at 09:00 hrs were cruise ships Hebridean Princess and MV Rover, local shellfish boat Guide Us (GK-77) and the racing yacht Drum, once owned by Duran Duran singer Simon Le bon.

On the Friday, vessels of the Western Ferries group continually crossed the Firth in the sunshine, transporting cars, lorries and passengers between Gourock`s McInroy`s Point and Hunter`s Quay, Dunoon. This service has been running since June 1973, initially using two modified Swedish vessels Sound of Scarba and Sound of Shuna. These had bow and stern ramps, allowing roll-on/roll-off operation. Traffic developed rapidly and in August 1974, the former Isle of Wight ferry, MV Lymington joined the service as Sound of Sanda. This chosen crossing was much shorter than the competing Caledonian MacBrayne Public Service route. Although CalMac's ferries were considerably faster, their longer route meant that both operators took around 20 minutes to make the journey.

In 1985, after the Clyde service was transferred to Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd, new tonnage was sought and the following year the company bought another former Sealink ferry, the Freshwater. She entered service as Sound of Seil and a further vessel, the Sound of Sleat, a former Dutch river ferry, was added two years later. Two more were purchased from Dutch owners, in 1995 and 1996. Both Sound of Scalpay and the second Sound of Sanda replaced older vessels.

In 2001, Ferguson Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow delivered the second Sound of Scarba, the company’s first brand new ferry for the service. The old vessel was sold after a few years of mooring in the Holy Loch. A new Sound of Shuna followed in October 2003. In 2013 two further brand new vessels were commissioned by Western. These were built by the Cammell Laird Shipyard in Merseyside. Entering the fleet in October of that year as Sound of Soay and Sound of Seil this brought the fleet size to six, however, this dropped to four on disposal of the two oldest vessels (Scalpay and Sanda).