Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Defender sailed after a successful four-day visit to her affiliated city of Glasgow.
The Clyde-built warship hosted dozens of community groups and organisations during her stop-over, and even opened the ship to some 4,000 members of the public on Sunday, March 24.
Among the groups touring the Type 45 vessel were shipbuilders from BAE Systems Surface Fleet involved in the construction of Defender, as well as students from Glasgow Universities and Colleges who were there to improve their knowledge of the Royal Navy.
One group of guests had a special thank you gift for the ship. HND Professional Cookery Students from City of Glasgow College’s Faculty of Hospitality and Catering brought along a chocolate replica of the ship’s crest for the crew to enjoy.
And, exploring the high-tech capabilities of the vessel, were students from the College’s Faculty of Nautical and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
Also visiting on Monday, March 26, were the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Reverend Susan Brown, and Deputy Lord Provost of Glasgow, Philip Braat.
Constructed at BAE in Govan and launched from Scotstoun, HMS Defender is one of six Daring class Destroyers whose main role is to protect the Fleet from air attack.
HMS Defender will next sail to join Exercise Joint Warrior, a massive multinational military exercise running off the west coast of Scotland from March 31 to April 11.
Joining Defender will be vessels from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK.
