Port visits Lisbon (Portugal)

[ehusmann]

I know, a bit too far for most, but since it is only a 15min bus ride, 25min metro ride and 20min walk from my home now, I am going to post some expectations here. Maybe it will help some others as well (locals or visitors). If you are here this weekend you are lucky!

Planned visits over the next week (helicopters as possible, no idea if anything is carried at the moment):
17 Oct - 20 Oct USS Arlington - Amphibious dry dock, helo deck for up to 4 choppers, hangar space for one
17 Oct - 21 Oct 548 Yiyang - Frigate - Z-9
17 Oct - 21 Oct 886 Qiandaohu - Fleet replenishment ship - 2x Z-8
17 Oct - 21 Oct 152 Jinan - Destroyer - Z-9
18 Oct - 21 Oct HMDS Peter Willemoes - Frigate - Lynx
18 Oct - 22 Oct HMCS Athabaskan - Destroyer - 2x CH-124
18 Oct - 22 Oct HMCS Halifax - Frigate - CH-124 - none aboard

As well as all these also a Canadian sub, but that one will not dock in a publicly available port and, of course, little chance of a helo on deck

Obviously I will be taking a look over the next days and report on any catches.

Erwin

P.S. PM me if you want to know where exactly all ships will arrive.

[ehusmann]

I have just been informed that at least the Halifax has no helo on board this trip....

Erwin

[ehusmann]

For those that are in the area, the three Chinese ships will be open to the public all day on Sunday the 18th!

Erwin

[ehusmann]

First visit to the docks resulted in the following:

18 Oct 2015 - HMCS Athabaskan

CH-124A     nn          12419

18 Oct 2015 - USS Arlington

CH-53E      VMM162      161260/YS-20, 161383/YS-21, 162517/YS-23, 163060/YS-22

Log created with OPAD trip report

The Chinese Yiyang and Jinan were open for the public, both are also carrying a helo (according to the crew), but both were in 'their house' (Chinglish for hangar). And because the great leader wasn't home they could not allow a peek inside. Will check again tomorrow, maybe they pull them out for a cleaning or something. The other Chinese was on the south bank and also had a very empty flight deck.

The Athabaskan had one Sea King outside, but may still hold another. Also that I will check again tomorrow if all goes well.

The underlined code of the CH-53 comes from pictures on the internet of a week ago. It clearly shows a CH-53 coded 20 on deck and since there should only be four, this must be the one. Not read though, so may be incorrect.

Erwin

[ehusmann]

And the second CH-124 can be added, seen comfortably tucked away in its hangar:

19 Oct 2015 - HMCS Athabaskan

CH-124A     423Sqn          12429

Log created with OPAD trip report

Erwin

[ehusmann]

Next set of ships coming in after Trident Juncture:
5 Nov - 9 Nov HNOMS Fridtjof Hansen - frigate, NH90
6 Nov - 7 Nov HMCS Winnipeg - frigate, CH-124
6 Nov - 9 Nov BNS Godetia - command and logistical support ship, Alouette 3 - no chopper while in Lisbon
6 Nov - 11 Nov HNLMS Tromp - frigate, NH90
7 Nov - 11 Nov HNLMS Johan de Witt - landing platform dock, currently with Cougars?

And I think more to follow still....

Erwin

[ehusmann]

And indeed another one:
1 Nov - 2 Nov USS Mount Whitney - command and control ship, MH-60

Erwin

[ehusmann]

Still more coming:
1 Nov - 9 Nov HMS Grimsby - minehunter, no chopper deck
2 Nov - 5 Nov ITS Andrea Doria - destroyer, 2x NH90 or EH.101

Erwin

[Melchior Timmers]

And indeed another one:
1 Nov - 2 Nov USS Mount Whitney - command and control ship, MH-60

Erwin

That one carries MH-60S 168573/BR-34 of HSC-28

[ehusmann]

Thanks! I had seen pictures of a 34 coded Sea Hawk on deck already, so indeed you must be right. Will check it out next Sunday

Erwin

[ehusmann]

Confirmed that the USS Mount Whitney has a Seahawk on board, coded BR-34 from HSC-28. Serial I could not read though because it was getting just a bit too dark already. And the pictures I took are not even close to sharp enough to read it off.....

Erwin

[Melchior Timmers]

Confirmed that the USS Mount Whitney has a Seahawk on board, coded BR-34 from HSC-28. Serial I could not read though because it was getting just a bit too dark already. And the pictures I took are not even close to sharp enough to read it off.....

Erwin

It was noted last week in Scotland with this ship, so 168573 is your lucky nummer.

[Basman]

Mount Whitney is, when not participating in any exercise, moored in Gaeta (It), between Rome and Naples. The Seahawk normally operates from Napoli-Capodichino, the only USN Seahawk based in Europe.

Bas

[ehusmann]

It was noted last week in Scotland with this ship, so 168573 is your lucky nummer.

I have no doubt you are right (just did not want to post it as if I had read it myself). And...

Mount Whitney is, when not participating in any exercise, moored in Gaeta (It), between Rome and Naples. The Seahawk normally operates from Napoli-Capodichino, the only USN Seahawk based in Europe.

Indeed. I also read it supports the Naval Command Lisbon (they have a command here?). Also explains by the way, why the ship is often sighted in Europe, as it was in Amsterdam just a few years ago.

Erwin

[ehusmann]

More again.... First of all the Mount Whitney left this afternoon, but will be back on the 4th until the 9th. New one is:

5 Nov - 9 Nov SPS Blas de Lezo - SH-60

And a bunch of mine hunters from different countries. Since neither of those can carry a helicopter, I will not mention them all.

The Italian is in port already by the way, but had an eerily empty flight deck this afternoon. Hopefully it will open up later, as well as the sky....

Erwin