Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

French Naval Frigate NORMANDIE, D651, passing Greenock (Firth of Clyde) on passage to Glasgow

Contributed by Robert McManus and Sandra B.

A group of NATO warships has arrived in Glasgow following the conclusion of Exercise Formidable Shield 2025, NATO’s largest live-fire integrated air and missile defence exercise.

The NATO ships arrived at KGV Dock in Glasgow include the French naval warship D651, the Netherlands naval warship F803 and F804. Assisted by tugs CMS BOXER and CMS Wrestler.

History
France
Name	Normandie
Namesake	Normandie
Builder	DCNS, Lorient
Laid down	2014
Launched	1 February 2018
Completed	16 July 2019
Commissioned	3 June 2020
Homeport	Brest
Identification	MMSI number: 227999200 Pennant number: D651
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Aquitaine-class frigate
Displacement	6,000 tons
Length	466 ft (142.0 m)
Beam	65 ft (19.8 m)
Draught	16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion	MTU Series 4000 (2.2 MW) CODLOG
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph); max cruise speed 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph)
Range	6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	145
Sensors and processing systems	Héraklès multi-purpose passive electronically scanned array radar CAPTAS-4 towed-array sonar UMS 4110 CL hull-mounted sonar
Armament	1 x 76 mm Super Rapid gun 3 x 20 mm Narwhal remote weapon systems 16-cell SYLVER A50 VLS for Aster 15 or Aster 30 air defense missiles 16-cell SYLVER A70 VLS for MdCN cruise missiles 8 x Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles (Block 3c variant entering service with the French Navy from December 2022)[1] 2 x B-515 twin launchers for MU90 torpedoes
Aircraft carried	1 × NH90 helicopter
Aviation facilities	Single hangar

06:38   Tugs CMS WRESTLER followed by CMS BOXER leave their berth at Victoria Harbour and pass Custom House Quay on their way to meet the incoming French Naval Frigate NORMANDIE off Greenock Esplanade

06:48   Pilot Cutter SKUA left Small Boat Harbour at Estuary Control with Pilot for NORMANDIE off Gourock

06:55   Radio message to Estuary Control from the Clyde Pilot on board NORMANDIE ... " Contact Yoker Bridge, ETA one hour, then run down to King George V berth 4, port-side-to"

07:01   Tug CMS WRESTLER leading warship NORMANDIE and tug CMS BOXER past Greenock Ocean Terminal

07.05   NORMANDIE passing Greenock Ocean Terminal

07:08   Tug CMS WRESTLER stationed ahead of the warship

07.10   NORMANDIE passing Custom House Quay, Greenock

07.11  Tug CMS BOXER stationed astern of the Frigate.   The daybreak and early morning sunshine was just starting and promised a beautiful Spring day

On this website's "Search Entries" for today 23 May 2025 there are superb images taken by Robert McManus of the three warships NORMANDIE, DE RUYTER and TROMP and both tugs passing Clydebank on their way upriver to Glasgow.   Definitely well worth a look.   Sandra B. (Site Administrator).