NATO Exercises
3rd March 2017
ESPS Reina Sofía F84
ESPS Reina Sofía F84 of the Spanish Navy leaves Cawsand Bay and crosses Plymouth Sound in ever worsening weather conditions as she heads for Devonport Naval Base, before passing Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Class Stores Vessel RFA Fort Rosalie A385 on 3rd March 2017. ESPS Reina Sofia is the fourth of six Spanish built Santa Maria Class Frigates, that were based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry Class, and we see her during a visit in connection with other warships deployed from two NATO maritime groups which arrived for an informal port visit and an opportunity to take part in Royal Navy’s renowned Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uGnQ-Qp14g
ESPS Reina Sofía F84 of the Spanish Navy is the fourth of six Spanish built Santa Maria Class Frigates, that were based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry Class. We see Reina Sofia F84 as she enters Devonport Naval Base at Artillery Tower on 3rd March 2017, during a visit to the British Naval Base in connection with other warships that were deployed from two NATO maritime groups and which arrived for an informal port visit and an opportunity to take part in Royal Navy’s renowned Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtmPSqQ2fpo
FS Primauguet D644
A French visitor to Devonport! FS Primauguet D644, a F70 Type anti-submarine destroyer of the French Navy is seen passing Mountbatten as she prepares to enter Devonport on 10th March 2017. Her visit was in connection with the continued exercises being held in South West waters from two NATO maritime groups over the previous week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiBurZ4CQ-I
FS Primauguet D466 is a F70 Type Anti-Submarine Destroyer of the French Navy, and we see 'Primauguet' as she enters Devonport Naval Bas and passes Artillery Tower on 10th March 2017. Commissioned into the French Navy on 5th November 1986, she is 456 feet long and uses two Pielstick PA 6 CV280 STD diesels which generate 5,200 hp each and two Rolls Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines which generate a total 52,000 hp, meaning she has a top speed of almost 55kph (or 34mph). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APIWm2zn_tw&t=335s
HDMS Niels Juel F363
HDMS Niels Juel F363 is the third of four Iver Huitfeldt Class Frigate of the Royal Danish Navy, and the fourth Danish Warship to bare this name. We see Niels Juel as she enters Devonport Naval Base at Artillery Tower on 3rd March 2017, during a visit to the British Naval Base in connection with other warships deployed from two NATO maritime groups which arrived for an informal port visit and an opportunity to take part in Royal Navy’s renowned Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVKKlU3v_k4
HNLMS Schiedam M860
HNLMS Schiedam M860 is a Alkmaar Class Minehunter of the Royal Netherlands Navy and we see her as she leaves Devonport Naval Base at Devil's Point on 13th March 2017. HNLMS Schiedam is the 11th ship of the Alkmaar class, which were conceived during the 1970s and built in the 1980s, and is a tripartite class vessel whose type still sees service with the navies of France, Belgium and the Netherlands, with six still remaining in service with the Netherlands Navy today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuo2FXIxBtA
HNLMS Zeeleeuw S803
HNLMS Zeeleeuw S803 is a Walrus Class Attack Submarine of the Royal Netherlands Navy and we see her as she leaves Devonport Naval Base and passes Devil's Point Steps on 13th March 2017, following her sister HNLMS Bruinvis, where she appears to list as she approaches the narrows. A class of four, the Walrus Class are 2650 tons submerged and are 222 feet long with a beam of 28 feet. Powered by three SEMT Pielstick 12PA4V200SM diesels engines which generate 5430shp, they can reach a speed of 20 knots submerged. With a crew of between 50 and 55, HNLMS Zeeleeuw was the second of the Walrus class to be constructed, being laid down on 24th September 1981, launched in June 1987, and finally being commissioned on 25th April 1990. Since the Cold War, thsee subs have mainly been tasked for many highly confidential intelligence gathering operations (which are still classified) in the Yugoslavian region, Iran, Iraq and Caribbean, often on the request of Allied Forces, including the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqiWUbSWqBw
HNoMS Hinnoy M343
HNoMS Hinnøy M343 is one of four Oksøy Class Mine Hunters of the Royal Norwegian Navy, and we see her as she leaves Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth, and passes Devil's Point on 13th March 2017. Built by Kværner Mandal at Mandal in Norway, these mine sweepers were introduced in 1994 and are equipped with two 2.7 MW (3621hp) MTU 12V 396 TE84 diesel engines and two Kvaerner water jets, which can reach a maximum speed of 20 knots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpTRcSotClA