God bless her and all who sail in her...

Hello again!!
Sorry for the big gap between posts but been a busy time.
But I'm back... and Christmas is coming!! Hopefully be able to post up some photos of Glasgow's run up to Christmas.
But if you will forgive me I will take a wee jump back to 21st October because it was a special day in Glasgow's calendar. The launch of a new ship on the Clyde.

Thanks to my amazing friend Alexis, I was lucky enough to go along to see the launch of the new Type 45 destroyer, Defender.

Really was buzzing with excitement to see this as I had never been to see a launch before.

The launch took place from the BVT surface fleet yard in Govan. This was the old Fairfield yard founded in 1864 and named after the farm that used to sit of this site. Elder Park opposite the yard is named after John Elder, one of the founders of the yard and famous for his development of the compound marine engine.
See below for more:
http://www.clydewaterfrontheritage.com/fairfieldshipyards.aspx

Shipbuilding maybe not as big on the Clyde now as it once was but as we headed in through the gates of this historic yard you could get a real sense of what it must have been like when all the shipyards were full and Glasgow was really the world centre of shipbuilding.

Before we could see Defender we first passed her sister ship, Duncan. Or at least the front section of her. That's when you first get the scale of this type on engineering.



As we came round the corner of ths sheds there she was, Defender. D36.

Like a big grey building in her own right. But even without her armaments already looking like a dangerous big grey building.

Defender is the 5th of the Type 45 destroyers to be built.

Her older sisters being Daring, Dauntless, Diamond and Dragon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_45_destroyer



Dragon appeared in a the previous post when I visited the Clydebuilt down at Braehead.




On the stern there was her proud name. When she is commissioned she will be the 8th ship to have borne that name. The oldest being built in 1797.




Behind us was a big grey building. The massive enclosed space where these mighty engineering projects take place. The mid and rear section of Duncan were visible within here, like giant lego pieces waiting to be put together.

For the launch day the sheds also housed exhibits from the navy, marines etc and some beautiful model ships. Though all were overshadowed by the real thing outside.

Launch time was approaching. The Union Jack proudly blew in the windy Glasgow day.

The launch crew front and rear donned lifejackets and made final prepartions.

The launch was made by Lady Massey, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey.

And with the traditional blessing of the ship and all who sail in her the bottle was smashed against the hull...

And there was a lull as nothing happened. A nervous laugh from the crowd.
A wee extra push...

And she was off...

Majestically sliding into the Clyde with balloons being launched and fireworks lighting up the overcast Glasgow sky.
An amazing sight and a feeling of real pride as the latest addition to the long line of Clydebuilt ships started on her journey.

But it is not a long first journey. The tugs came to pull her back into dock.

If she had looked like a dangerous big grey building on the ramp then that ugly duckling had just turned into a swan as she entered the water.

A dangerous looking swan with beautiful sleak lines.

Really was a special thing to witness.

And as was said during one of the speaches everyone there that day will now feel a special connection with this ship. If we read about it or hear about it on the news we will remember when she was launched.

Another connection with Defender is that she is to be affiliated with Glasgow and Exeter.

So she as a extra special link back to the city of her birth.

Duncan is estimated to be launched in October 2010. If you get the chance to get tickets then please do go along as it is truly worth seeing and helps you understand the proud heritage this city and this river has.

I'm hoping to come back to Fairfield and this area again soon to do find out more about the yards and the area.

Be well, be happy!!