Naval celebrations in Liverpool

Hi Viscount, thanks for the list of ships and the details of what’s happening, yes I did manage to get to the celebrations although it took about 8 hours to get there (Bank holidays, don’t you just love them). I was a bit disappointed with the turn out but got some good photographs of what was there and the weather was excellent so had a good day. Not knowing the area, I could not find HMS Edinburgh which was a bit disappointing but understand she is due in at Portsmouth next week to pay off so will go and see her then. Also, I could not understand why they kept HMS Bulwark and the Belgian ship, Louise Marie out of the way. Went and had a look at HMS Plymouth and HMS Bronington, very sad and I hope it’s not to late to rescue them (My boss informed me that he served on Plymouth many years ago).

HMS Edinburgh was in the Cammel Laird shipyard Birkenhead, which is on the other side of the river, HMS Bulwark and Louise Marie were not fully open to the public, HMS Bulwark was invited guests only, don’t know what the situation was with Louise Marie.

Visitors have been given as 300,00 sounds like pretty good attendance.

Hi Viscount, thanks for the list of ships and the details of what’s happening, yes I did manage to get to the celebrations although it took about 8 hours to get there (Bank holidays, don’t you just love them). I was a bit disappointed with the turn out but got some good photographs of what was there and the weather was excellent so had a good day. Not knowing the area, I could not find HMS Edinburgh which was a bit disappointing but understand she is due in at Portsmouth next week to pay off so will go and see her then. Also, I could not understand why they kept HMS Bulwark and the Belgian ship, Louise Marie out of the way. Went and had a look at HMS Plymouth and HMS Bronington, very sad and I hope it’s not to late to rescue them (My boss informed me that he served on Plymouth many years ago).

I do hope that ‘Blackcat 54’ enjoyed his long trip to Liverpool from the South Coast that prompted this thread. Saturday has been a day of wall-to-wall sunshine in Liverpool, with the result that visitors flocked to the Pier Head and the Mersey waterfront in their tens of thousands. The ‘Battle of Mersey’ was amusing to watch rather than realistic and could well have shown off the roles of Lynx and Merlin in addition to the single Sea King displayed. The fly-by the BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane turned into three passes along the River waterfront by PM631 and LF363 – a wonderful sight and sound in the bright sunshine. Visitors flocked onto the vessels that were open to the public and thronged in huge numbers around the static helicopters displayed at the Pier Head. There were serious moments too, with a parade of veterans. I enjoyed my (local) day out considerably, but will have to go back tomorrow early to get photos without a sea of heads in the way!

First car parking. There are two shopping car parks close to the Pier Head, both accessed off the main Strand Road dual carriageway, just to the south of the ‘Three Graces’ (Pier Head). One is ‘Liverpool One’, the other ‘Liverpool Arena’ parking. The weekend is likely to be busy. The Shopping Car Parks are expensive for a full day visit!

An alternative, especially if arriving from the south via the M6/M56/Runcorn Bridge/past the old airport terminal (rather than M6/M62) is to use the large commuter car park in Liverpool South Parkway station (in Garston suburb) and take the electric ‘Merseyrail’ into central Liverpool (takes 14 minutes, runs every 15 mins, then 10-15 minute walk). LSP is not that far from the former Airport Terminal, with a collection of Britannia, HS.748, Prince, Meteor and Jetstream 41 on the former apron (not visible from road, but easily accessed around either end of the Crowne Plaze Hotel (but not from David Lloyd).

Locally there is much information on events, but still (even in Friday evening’s local paper) not much on the timing of events! Currently trying to work out the best times to go down to the waterfront this weekend myself for the most aviation related activity. Not finding it that easy to locate a comprehensive list of times/locations, however this is the best I’ve found so far – http://blogs.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/dalestreetblues/BOA_pocket_guide%5B1%5D.pdf

Five vessels are to be open to the public to visit on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, between 11am and 4pm (closed 5pm).
HMS Edinburgh – in Cammell Laird West Basin (farewell visit to the place of her construction)
HMS Pembroke – in Canning Half Tide Dock (Minesweeper)
Kulakov – at Cruise Liner Terminal (Russian Navy)
Iroquois – at Cruise Liner Terminal (Canadian Navy)
Groemitz – at Canning Half Tide Dock (German Navy minesweeper)

There are also static aircraft and recruitment displays by the RAF and FAA/RN in the Pier Head area. The RAF are displaying Typhoon mock-up ‘IR206’ and Chinook mock-up ‘IR808’, while the Royal Navy have some ‘real’ hardware with XV704 Sea King, ZD254 Lynx, XZ930 Gazelle and a Sea Harrier nose – all noted arriving by road. Recruiting exhibitions open 1100 to 1700 each day.

Vessels visiting which are helicopter capable are:
HMS Bulwark in Alexandra Dock, Bootle (arrival pictures show no helicopters out on the flight deck)
HMCS Iroquois destroyer – CH-124A (Sea King) 12406/406 embarked (Cruise Liner Terminal)
Polish Navy Frigate Gen T Koscciuszko – Sea Sprite 163546 embarked (Cruise Liner Terminal)
Russian Navy Destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov – Kamov Ka-27 bort ‘Red 51’ embarked (Cruise Liner Terminal)
HMS Edinburgh – nothing showing up on arrival photos (Cammell Laird West Basin), but Lynx HMA.8 XZ736 likely embarked

FRIDAY, 24th MAY

At 1900 a Swordfish will fly a rather strange routing over the River and Liverpool, routing Ellesmere Port-Crosby-Maghull-Aintree-Bootle and presumably landing at RAF Woodvale. Given the current wind at Liverpool, I doubt that this did happen, although the strong winds of the day have died down this evening.

SATURDAY, 25th MAY

1300 ‘Battle of the Mersey’ capability demonstration featuring a Sea King helicopter and assault ships, visible from central waterfront.
1330 Flypast along waterfront by BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane
2130 til 2400 (also Sunday) Morse Code Laser light show projected on the Royal Liver Building to commemorate the work of Alan Turing, instrumental in cracking to Enigma code.

SUNDAY, 26th MAY

1230 (some sources 1240), flypast involving a Swordfish, 2 Sea Kings, a Merlin and a Lynx over Alexandra Dock then across City Centre and over Liverpool Cathedral as a tribute to veterans at the close of the Cathedral service. Princess Anne in Liverpool for the Cathedral service and wreath laying.
1430 ‘Battle of the Mersey’ capability display off the Central Waterfront, including Sea King.

MONDAY, 27th MAY

1500 ‘Battle of the Mersey’ capability display off the central waterfront, including Sea King.

TUESDAY 28th MAY

Co-ordinated departure of Naval and Civilian craft, 1400 to 1700 hours.

NB None of the sources I’ve looked at quote display times for a solo Lynx ‘Blackcat’ performing. The Royal Navy helicopters are operating out of RAF Woodvale.

Some photos from the Pier Head on Friday on page 3 of: http://www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=11367&page=3 and possibly on a page 4 as this link is to an active thread!

For a list of events have a look at www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/battle-atlantic-liverpool-waterfront-guide-3320202 . and for visiting navy ship movements have a look at port visits on www.seawaves.com. Hopefully it will be worth the journey 🙂

What’s planned?

This is all news to me.

Moggy