Portsmouth, Spithead & The Solent
Stokes Bay
The American Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman CVN-75 is seen anchored off Stokes Bay, in the Solent, during a visit to the United Kingdom on 6th October 2018. At almost 117,000 tons and almost 1100 feet in length, she has almost twice the displacement of our own HMS Queen Elizabeth. Normally based at NS Norfolk, Virginia, USS Harry S. Truman was launched on 7th September 1996 and commissioned in to the US Navy in July 1998 at a cost of $4.5 billion. She has a total complement of 5680, 3200 crew and 2480 air crew, and is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors and four steam turbines which combined with four shafts develop 260,000 shp, giving the carrier a top speed of 30+ knots (over 35 mph). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS7LZsxyQBQ
The Solent
HMS Middleton M34, a 'Hunt' class mine countermeasures ship, leaves Portsmouth Naval Base as she heads out into the Solent whilst heading from base to sea on 10th December 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2n02wnWccw
Returning from Westlant 18 and flight trials with F35 jets off the east coast of the United States, HMS Queen Elizabeth R08 is seen approaching Portsmouth Naval Base as she negotiates the Solent on 10th December 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVX0dzdtxUg
Portsmouth
HMS Ranger P293, one of the Royal Navy's P2000 Class Coastal Training Craft Vessels, leaves Gun Wharf Quay, Portsmouth, and heads out to sea on 6th December 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nz1pkphsGA
HMS Blazer P279, an Archer class Royal Navy P2000 Coastal Training Craft, leaves Portsmouth Naval Base on 10th December 2018. Built by Vosper Thorneycroft, HMS Blazer was commissioned in 1988, and is powered by two Rolls Royce M800T diesels which generate 1590bhp. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZ7GRpBT7w
HMS Middleton M34, a Royal Navy Mine Countermeasures Ship, is seen leaving Portsmouth Naval Base at the Round Tower / Clarence Pier as she heads from base to sea on 10th December 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlkZUrJPVzE
HMS Tyne P281, a 'River' class offshore patrol vessel built by Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton and commissioned into the fleet in July 2003 to serve as a fishery protection unit. The sixth Royal Navy warship to bare the name 'Tyne,' she has a displacement of 1700 tons and is powered by two Ruston 12 cylinder RK270 diesel engines, the same type that were adopted by BR to re-engine their Class 37/9 locomotives 37901-37904 from 1987. HMS Tyne has had mixed fortunes this year, being decommissioned on 24th May 2018 only to be reinstated two months later due to the late delivery of HMS Forth. However, due to the UK's planned exit from the EU, the three batch 1 'River' class will now be retained so as to protect the UK's waters and fisheries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IuoKogavbk
HMS Queen Elizabeth R08 returns home to Portsmouth Naval Base on 10th December 2018 after taking part in Westlant 18 and her trials with F35 / F35B jets off the east coast of the United States. Greeted by thousands who lined Portsmouth, some 3,000 friends and family were waiting for loved ones in Portsmouth Naval Base itself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTAuMSEqxuc
French Navy Tripartite class Minehunter FS Cephee M652 is seen entering Portsmouth Naval Base from Spice Island (Portsmouth) as she heads 0800 OSB to Southern Railway Jetty (SRJ) bow south on 24th January 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCH6lGY3h00
Portsmouth Harbour
Norwegian Offshore Supply Ship MV Seabed Constructor is seen at Portsmouth Harbour on 15th July 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSfOQ75eQhc