HMS Argyll Returns To Glasgow For Visit

Published 5th Mar 2015

The Clyde-built Royal Navy warship HMS Argyll will visit Glasgow from March 6, the first time the Type 26 frigate has returned to Scotland in almost five years. The ship will go alongside at King George V Dock at around 1pm on Friday to begin a five-day stay, and her ship’s company have a packed programme of events planned while in the city.

HMS Argyll was in the news recently when the ship used her advanced Artisan radar and Lynx helicopter to locate and monitor the movement of a Russian warship through the English Channel.

Before that the ship completed a very successful deployment to the Caribbean and North Atlantic. During that period, she successful seized £77m worth of drugs, assisted Bermuda following Hurricane Gonzalo and hosted a Royal visit. After three deployments in five years she will soon enter a maintenance period to repair and enhance her systems and hull.

This visit to Glasgow will allow her crew to host affiliated organisations, including Sea Cadets, and give a series of organised tours to local schools’ groups. On Saturday (March 7) a group of catering students from City of Glasgow College will work with Argyll’s chefs to provide an Affiliate’s Lunch, while local branches of the Royal Naval Association will also tour the ship.

On Sunday, the ship will also host a capability demonstration for local dignitaries, including the Armed Forces champion from Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Maurice Corry, to illustrate the wide-ranging abilities of a modern Royal Navy warship.

On Monday, members of the ship’s company will make the short trip to Govan to tour Ibrox Stadium at the invite of Glasgow Rangers FC and then the Fairfield Shipyard Heritage Centre.

Commander Paul Hammond, the commanding officer of HMS Argyll, said: “I am delighted to bring this most capable Clyde built warship into Glasgow. In the many years since her launch, HMS Argyll has protected UK interests across the globe. In the last five years alone, she has deployed to the Arabian Gulf, the Falklands and the Caribbean and her continued versatility and service is a testimony to the dedication and professionalism of those who built her.”

The ship will slip her berth at 11am on Tuesday, March 10 and return to operational tasking.