I recently contacted an old shipmate that served with me on the USS Saugus (YTB 780), a Navy harbor tugboat, in 1974 and 1975. The tugboat was assigned to the American nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch, Scotland.
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Speaking to my old Navy pal brought back some good memories. The people of Scotland were friendly and kind to me and the many American sailors that were stationed there during the Cold War. I spent a good bit of time in Dunoon, which was the town nearest to the base, and I had a flat in Glasgow.
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The Scottish winters are cold. but Scotland is quite beautiful in the summer. As a student of history, and being Scot-Welch on my father's side, I enjoyed visiting the many historical sites in Scotland. I also enjoyed visiting the Scottish pubs.
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I traveled all over Scotland, the United Kingdom and Europe.
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Below is a photo of me as a young man in "civies" on a Scottish street, circa 1974.
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During the Cold War the U.S. Navy base at Holy Loch was the headquarters of Submarine Squadron 14 (COMSUBRON 14). The base, called "Site One," consisted of a huge ship called a submarine tender, a floating dry dock that could accommodate submarines, and a large barge with a super crane. All were anchored in the middle of the loch.
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Submarines ventured to Site One from the sea after their patrols and tied up to the anchored submarine tender. The submarines received supplies, routine maintenance and needed repairs at the floating navy base. The base also had several small boats that tied up to the barge. Two of the boats were 100-foot harbor tugboats, which were the workhorses of the bustling naval base.
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In the photo of Holy Loch above, the floating dry dock is on the left and the submarine tender is on the right.
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You can read about the history of the nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch, Scotland via the link below:
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Below are photos of the base, the tugboat and me:
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Thank you for sharing your photos and memories of Holy Loch, a duty station that I coveted but to which I never could receive orders; I came close to going to Edzell, Scotland, during my early career as a CT but went instead to GITMO (68-69). Ah, the good old days!
ReplyDeleteI have fond memories too of the loch. As I child I used to stay in Kilmun and watch the ship and submarines. My sister and I used to find it very interesting and Dunoon was a lovely place too.
ReplyDeleteAwesome article. I served on the USS Hunley AS-31 in 1985 and 1986. What great images. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteI served aboard the Saugus 1966-67. Enjoyed the pictures, and my time aboard the Saugus
ReplyDeleteAs a local and still living in Dunoon I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this... I went to the local primary and secondary school with many Americans and I have always felt a connection... No matter where you go in the world theres always someone with a Dunoon story or memory.... Its uncanny.... Thanx for sharing
ReplyDeleteHi I married a sailor off the Natick in may 1967.Went to live in Detroit with my husband in 1970 We both returned back to Scotland in 1980 and still live in Glasgow We have been married 44yrs.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures,
ReplyDeleteI was in the Marine Detachment onboard the Hunley from 1985-June 1987 when we were relieved by the Simon Lake. I was really too young to truly appreciate the history of Dunoon, but I spent many a weekend in Edinburough & Glascow. Looking back, it was the "primo" duty station of my career; I just didn't realize it at the time. Had the fortune of sneaking past a Navy Sentry in Norfolk after the Hunley was decommissioned, got on the ship with a flashlight and found the old Mardet berthing area. What memories. Was able to procure the alarm bell out of the Marine Corps Guardshack which we used during security violations. What fun those were. I want to go back and visit with my family. My oldest son was born there.
I lived in Dunoon and went to the primary school in Hillfoot St., from 1963-1970. I had so many friends who were American would love to know where they are now, Lester Reed, Courtnay taylor, Julie Ewbanks, Sharlene Flanders, so many
ReplyDeletelove the pictures and the article. Thanks! My dad was stationed on the USS Hunley AS-31 in 83 through 85, and as a result, I was lucky enough to have been born in a beautiful city. One I hope to come back and visit someday!
ReplyDeleteDonna,
ReplyDeleteI too would like to return to Dunoon and Holy Loch one day in the future.
Thanks for writing.
Paul
Great article Paul,I grew up outside Glasgow, I moved to Dunoon and married an "m.r." on the Hunley AS31 in 1987, our bestman crossdecked to the Simon Lake and years later we ended up on the John.S.McCain in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, who do we run into walking down the street, but our bestman lol small world. We used to dance in the Harmony pub and I would give anything for fish and chips from Elselmos chippy on church street, thanx...cathy
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