21-628: The Arrochar Alps are a group of mountains located around the heads of Loch Long , Loch Fyne , and Loch Goil . They are part of the Grampian mountains range, which stretch across Scotland. The villages of Arrochar and Lochgoilhead are the nearest settlements. Many of the mountains are located on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute , west of Scotland . The mountains are especially popular due to their proximity and accessibility from
42-516: A major part of the economy of Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire . In 2018, the Secretary of State for Scotland at the time, David Mundell said: "The UK’s entire submarine fleet will be based at Faslane by 2020. This will reinforce Scotland’s vital role in protecting our country, and guarantee skilled, secure jobs on the Clyde for years to come." Exercise Evening Star is the annual test of
63-533: A width of between one and two miles (two and three kilometres). The loch also has an arm, Loch Goil , on its western side. Its name is not a reference to is length; it actually comes from the Gaelic for "ship lake". Prior to their defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263, Viking raiders sailed up Loch Long to Arrochar , and then dragged their longships 2 miles overland to Tarbet and into Loch Lomond . Being inland,
84-512: Is HMS Neptune . Naval personnel appointed to the base who do not belong to a seagoing vessel make up Ship's Company. Both the Gareloch and Loch Long are sea lochs extending northwards from the Firth of Clyde. The base serves as home base to Britain's fleet of Vanguard -class nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed submarines, as well as conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines , supported by
105-530: Is a train station nearby at Arrochar and Tarbet railway station . The list below includes the Munros , Munro Tops , Corbetts , Corbett Tops and Grahams . Purge Loch Long Loch Long is a body of water in the council area of Argyll and Bute , Scotland . The Sea Loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end. It measures approximately 20 miles (30 kilometres) in length, with
126-858: Is also an issue in Scottish politics . The Scottish National Party (SNP), the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), and the Scottish Greens all oppose the deployment of nuclear weapons although the SNP have made assurances that they would retain the base for the servicing of conventionally armed and conventionally powered naval units. Members of those parties and indeed some from the Labour Party are often present at rallies. Also, some former independents, such as George Galloway attend rallies outside Faslane. The Faslane 365 campaign
147-790: The 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines . In command of HMNB Clyde is the Naval Base Commander (Clyde), Commodore Sharon Malkin. The base is home to a number of lodger units including Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland (FOSNI) (who is also Rear Admiral Submarines ), the Northern Diving Group and the Scottish Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence Police . It is base to 3,000 service personnel, 800 of their families and 4,000 civilian workers, largely from Babcock Marine , forming
168-707: The Gare Loch , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy (the others being HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth ). It is the navy's headquarters in Scotland and is best known as the home of Britain's nuclear weapons , in the form of nuclear submarines armed with Trident missiles . Faslane was first constructed and used as a base in the Second World War . During
189-786: The Norwegian Sea . At the time it was chosen, the location was also close to the American SSBN base at Holy Loch , which operated 1961–1992. One boat was always on patrol at any given time. In 1971 the base was home to the 3rd Submarine Squadron of Nuclear Fleet and Diesel Patrol Submarines, "the fighters", and the 10th Submarine Squadron consisting of the four Polaris submarines, "the bombers". The following notable vessels and units are based at Faslane. Commodore J. L. Perks OBE, Commander Submarine Flotilla/(Commodore Submarine Service (COSM)) Royal Fleet Auxiliary Royal Marines ( UK Commando Force ) HMNB Clyde lies on
210-526: The central belt of Scotland including Glasgow . They are mostly within both the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and also in the Argyll Forest Park . The Glens that give access into the heart of the mountain range include: Glen Croe , Hell's Glen , Glen Mhor and Glen Kinglas . The A83 , a main trunk road to the west coast of Scotland passes through the area. There
231-655: The 1960s, the British Government began negotiating the Polaris Sales Agreement with the United States regarding the purchase of a Polaris missile system to fire British-built nuclear weapons from five specially constructed submarines. In the end, only four were constructed; HMS Resolution , HMS Repulse , HMS Renown and HMS Revenge . These four submarines were permanently based at Faslane. Faslane itself
SECTION 10
#1732775420843252-620: The Glen Mallan jetty, linked to Defence Munitions Glen Douglas . A testing range for torpedoes was established on the loch in 1912, in connection with the Clyde Torpedo Factory in Greenock . It operated through both World Wars, closing in 1986. The loch contains numerous wrecks. Cave dive sites: HMNB Clyde His Majesty's Naval Base, Clyde ( HMNB Clyde ; also HMS Neptune ), primarily sited at Faslane on
273-483: The UK Defence Minister, Philip Dunne, told MPs. Given the presence of these nuclear capable missiles, Faslane has attracted demonstrations by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and other Scottish pressure groups , including Trident Ploughshares . Since 1982, a permanent peace camp is outside the base gates, where there are frequent demonstrations and regular Wednesday protests. The presence of Faslane
294-463: The eastern shore of Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute , to the north of the Firth of Clyde and 25 mi (40 km) west of Glasgow . The submarine base encompasses a number of separate sites, the primary two being: Faslane is also a Defence Equipment and Support site, operated in dual site organisation with Great Harbour, Greenock , by Babcock Marine and Technology , and managed by Serco Denholm . The naval shore establishment at Faslane
315-511: The emergency response routines to a nuclear weapon accident at Faslane. It is conducted by the Office for Nuclear Regulation . In 2011 the test failed as "a number of command and control aspects of the exercise were not considered to have been adequately demonstrated". In 2013–14 there were 99 radiation accidents concerning nuclear reactors, and 6 with nuclear weapons. These are the highest numbers for at least six years. The MoD maintains that there
336-462: The events in the reports posed any risk to the health of our personnel, or to any members of the public." Indeed, one of the recorded events was the incorrect labelling of an empty pallet. Minor events were reported and investigated so that performance could be continuously improved. "This comprehensive, independent recording process allows Clyde to maintain a robust reporting culture, undertake learning from experience and to take early corrective action,"
357-417: The loch, departing Dunoon at 11:00 and returning about five hours later. PS Waverley was also built to serve Loch Long and Loch Goil from 1947, a route that she still sailed as of 2021, albeit as more of an attraction than a primary means of transport. Villages on the loch include Arrochar at its head and Cove on the east shore near its foot. Several Scottish sea fishing records are attributed to
378-644: The loch: The Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre on the western shore uses the loch for watersports. It is now a popular area for diving on the numerous wrecks that scatter the loch. The Finnart Oil Terminal is located on the eastern shore of the loch, linked to the Grangemouth Refinery via a 58-mile-long (93-kilometre) pipeline. The eastern shore is also the location of the Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport , part of His Majesty's Naval Base, Clyde , and
399-501: The settlements around Loch Lomond were more vulnerable to attack. Loch Long forms part of the coast of the Cowal Peninsula , and forms the entire western coastline of the Rosneath Peninsula . Loch Long was historically the boundary between Argyll and Dunbartonshire ; however, boundary redrawing in 1996 meant that it moved wholly within the council area of Argyll and Bute. The steamboat Chancellor used to traverse
420-637: Was chosen to host these vessels at the height of the Cold War because of its geographic position, which forms a bastion on the relatively secluded but deep and easily navigable Gare Loch and Firth of Clyde on the west coast of Scotland. This position provides for rapid and stealthy access through the North Channel to the submarine patrolling areas in the North Atlantic , through the GIUK gap to
441-594: Was no risk to the public as most of them were minor accidents. The SNP defence spokesman, Angus Robertson , called the figures "totally shocking". The MoD, however, argued that it was "entirely misleading" to focus only on the number of incidents, because they include "very minor issues such as the failure to fill out the correct form before painting works began." Indeed, the MOD stated that this "rigorous system shows how seriously MoD takes all aspects of nuclear safety, ensuring lessons are learned, and we can be clear that none of
SECTION 20
#1732775420843#842157