Naval Ships and AIS

If anyone is interested, if you look on Marine Traffic now in Loch Striven (to the north-east of the Isle of Bute) you will see a moored vessel describing itself as "Coalition Warship" and "UK flagged Combat Vessel" and the picture that accompanies it is titled "RN Default". All this suggests some attempt at anonymity, but the other photos to which it is linked show HMS Sutherland (F81), a type 23 frigate. The AIS data also include figures for length and beam which coincide with those of Sutherland. So is it Sutherland pretending not to be, or something else? If you move a few miles east to Faslane you find a vessel describing itself as "NATO Warship (GB)", but the photo links are to HMS Middleton (M34), a Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel.

Is this all subtle disinformation, or are the attempts at anonymity half-hearted? And what is the difference between a combat vessel and a warship?
 
I have no problems at all with the name of a warship or any other details being witheld for security reasons. But at least if it is transmitting position and course you know it's there and how to avoid it.

Equally I don't doubt that Her Majesty's finest are keeping a good lookout. On approaching Plymouth at the end of a cross-channel we encountered two or three of them moving very erratically. Eventually we came to the conclusion they were playing with us in whatever wargame they were indulging themselves in. Trouble was, after a hard night crossing in big wind and sea, propelled by just a tiny scrap of genoa, we were not in much of a mood for playing.
 
trapezeartist said:
I have no problems at all with the name of a warship or any other details being witheld for security reasons. But at least if it is transmitting position and course you know it's there and how to avoid it.

Equally I don't doubt that Her Majesty's finest are keeping a good lookout. On approaching Plymouth at the end of a cross-channel we encountered two or three of them moving very erratically. Eventually we came to the conclusion they were playing with us in whatever wargame they were indulging themselves in. Trouble was, after a hard night crossing in big wind and sea, propelled by just a tiny scrap of genoa, we were not in much of a mood for playing.
Click to expand...

Ten years ago, hardly any AIS around - how would you have dealt with it then? :rolleyes:

All these modern toys are 'navigational aids', they are not supposed to replace Brain Mk1.
 
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