SHIPS from around the world will gather on the Clyde next week ahead of the latest NATO Joint Warrior exercise.
Strike Warrior 21, one of the largest military exercises of its kind in Europe, will run from May 8-20, with some of the participating ships departing from ports on the Clyde.
Vessels are expected at HM Naval Base Clyde, King George V Docks in Glasgow, Hunterston and Fairlie before joining the exercise – part of final preparations for the first deployment of the UK's Carrier Strike Group (CSG) next month.
An Astute class nuclear submarine in company with the Type 23 frigate HMS Kent being over flown by a German Navy P3 maritime patrol aircraft during a previous NATO Joint Warrior exercise
The Royal Navy's flagship, the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which sits at the centre of the CSG, will deploy shortly after Strike Warrior 21 is completed.
The 65,000 tonne vessel, which cost £3 billion, paid its first visit to the Firth of Clyde last month to take on supplies at the newly-extended Glen Mallan munitions jetty on Loch Long.
HMS Queen Elizabeth in Loch Long in March (Pic - Michael Hosie)
Thirty-one warships, three submarines, 150 aircraft and around 13,400 military personnel – including 1,500 ground troops – will take part in next month's exercise, which is being held at military ranges across the country and in maritime exercise areas off Scotland's north and west coasts.
The participating NATO nations will be the UK, USA, Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland; Australia is the non-NATO participant.
Some of the 31 naval ships taking part are expected to gather at HMNB Clyde before the exercise begins
Joint Warrior, which takes place twice a year, in the spring and autumn, and Strike Warrior are designed, planned and delivered by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS), some of whom will co-ordinate the exercise from HMNB Clyde.
According to a news release from the Ministry of Defence, the exercise scenario "will mirror a broad range of crisis and conflict situations which could realistically be experienced in real-world operations".
Naval ships from 10 NATO fleets and one non-NATO will take part in the exercise
These will include "increasing political and military tensions, along with a huge range of realistic military tasks such as intelligence gathering and reconnaissance; anti-smuggling and counter-terrorism operations; humanitarian assistance and evacuation operations".
Further information on Exercise Strike Warrior, including notices to mariners and impact statements, can be found by visiting the Queen’s Harbour Master Clyde’s page on the Royal Navy website.
HMS Blyth and HMS Ramsey will take part in Exercise Joint Warrior
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