Editing Firth of Clyde (section)

==History==

The Firth of Clyde has always been an important sea route from the earliest times. For example, the [[Battle of Largs]], which was fought on the Firth, in 1263, was a geopolitical turning point: it marked the end of [[Norsemen|Norse]] ambitions in Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16050269|title= How Scandinavian is Scotland? 
|publisher= BBC News Magazine  |author=   Jon Kelly |date= 8 December 2011  |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref> Beginning in the 16th century, the Firth increasingly became a conduit for commercial and industrial products, including: herring; timber; wine; sugar; tobacco; textiles; iron and steel; coal; oil; industrial chemicals; distillation and brewing; ships, locomotives, and other vehicles; and other manufactured products.

In the middle of the 19th century, the sport of yachting became popular on the Firth.  The area became famous worldwide for its significant contribution to yachting and yachtbuilding with notable designers including: [[William Fife]] III; [[Alfred Mylne]]; G L Watson; David Boyd. It was also the location of many famous yacht yards. Clyde-built wooden yachts are still known for quality and style today.

The "lower Clyde" shipyards of [[Greenock]] and [[Port Glasgow]], most notably [[Scott Lithgow]], played an important historical role in shipbuilding. The {{ship|PS|Comet}} was the first successful [[steamboat]] in [[Europe]]. Well into the 20th century, a large proportion of the world's ship construction took place around the upper Firth and [[River Clyde]].

===Tourism===

With the advent of [[tourism]] in [[Victorian era|Victorian]] times, the Firth became popular with Glaswegians and residents of neighbouring towns and counties who travelled "doon the watter" (the Firth) on [[Clyde steamer]]s to holiday in the picturesque seaside towns and villages that line the Firth, with the more wealthy building substantial holiday homes along its coasts. Many towns, such as [[Gourock]], [[Largs]], [[Ayr]], [[Dunoon]], [[Rothesay, Argyll and Bute|Rothesay]], flourished during this period and became fully fledged resorts with well-appointed hotels and attractions. Golf courses, including major championship courses, proliferated.

Today, tourism, sport and recreation, and heritage history continue to attract visitors from across the world. The steam-powered {{ship|PS|Waverley}}—in addition to its regular service—still makes cruising trips to the coastal towns that have been popular tourist destinations since the 19th century. The Firth is ringed by many castles and buildings of historical importance that are open to the public, including [[Inveraray Castle]], [[Brodick Castle]], the opulent [[Mount Stuart House]] on the Isle of Bute, and [[Culzean Castle]], which is the most visited attraction owned by the [[National Trust for Scotland]]. Ocean liners frequently call at Greenock, and [[Glasgow International Airport]] and [[Glasgow Prestwick Airport]] are nearby. There is frequent rail service to and from the Clyde coast, including links to [[Oban]] and [[Fort William, Scotland|Fort William]], with city terminals in Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also daily ferry service between the area and Belfast.

===Sport and recreation===

====1908 Summer Olympic Games====

{{See also|Sailing at the 1908 Summer Olympics}}

The Firth hosted the 1908 summer olympics, with the {{convert|12|m|ft}} sailing yacht races.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/9230|title=Olympedia – 12 metres, Open|website=www.olympedia.org}}</ref>

===Shipyards===
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The Firth of Clyde, like the [[River Clyde]], has historically been an important centre of [[shipbuilding]] and shipping. Upriver, there have been shipbuilding and engineering centres at [[Glasgow]], [[Govan]], [[Clydebank]], [[Dumbarton]], and [[Renfrew]]. Downriver, there have been major yards at [[Greenock]] and [[Port Glasgow]]; smaller yards at [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], Ardrossan, [[Troon]], and [[Campbeltown]]; and various other boatyards, including those at [[Hunters Quay]], [[Port Bannatyne]], and [[Fairlie, North Ayrshire|Fairlie]]. Today, the [[Ferguson Marine]] shipbuilding yard, adjacent to [[Newark Castle, Port Glasgow]], is the last [[merchant ship]]builder on the Clyde, and it is owned by the Scottish Government.<ref name="auto"/> In Greenock, the large [[dry dock]] and ship-repair facilities at Inchgreen opened in 1964, and were subsequently taken over by [[Scott Lithgow]]. The dry dock there is {{convert|305|m|}} long and {{convert|44|m|}} wide. With the demise of [[Scott Lithgow]] and [[Cammell Laird]], their facilities came under the management of [[The Peel Group|Clydeport]].

===Ports===

The [[Hunterston Ore Terminal]] was constructed to facilitate the transport of bulk ore, but later mainly dealt with coal imports, and closed in 2016.<ref name="masterplan">{{cite web | title=Hunterston port 'masterplan' revealed promising £140m boost | website=BBC News | date=16 May 2019 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-48282056 | access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref>

The [[ExxonMobil]] (ESSO) Fuel Oil Terminal site at [[Bowling, West Dunbartonshire|Bowling]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/news/18782553.former-exxon-bowling-oil-terminal-transferred-west-dunbartonshire-council/|title=Slick deal: Former Exxon Bowling site transferred to council for new road and shops|date=9 October 2020|website=Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter}}</ref>

There was a jetty built as part of [[Inverkip Power Station]], for oil deliveries by [[oil tanker]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inverclydenow.com/work-on-new-inverkip-power-station-village-expected-to-take-15-years/|title=WORK On New Inverkip Power Station Village Expected To Take 15 Years|date=2 April 2019}}</ref>

===Armed Forces===

[[HMS Gannet (stone frigate)|HMS ''Gannet'']], the Fleet Air Arm Search and Rescue site at [[Prestwick Airport]].  The [[helicopter]]s ([[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|Sea King]]) that were based here were used in the rescue and [[airlift]] operations across the United Kingdom.  The base was closed on 1 January 2016, with [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]] taking over the role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2016/january/06/160106-gannet-sar-finishes-operations|title=HMS Gannet Search and Rescue unit finishes operations &#124; Royal Navy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-35303937|title=Sea King flight bids Scotland farewell|work=BBC News |date=14 January 2016}}</ref>

====Submarine Squadron 14====

{{See also|Submarine Squadron 14}}

[[Cold War]]; The [[United States of America]] maintained a [[US Navy]] base during the Cold War, in the [[Holy Loch]], off the Firth. Submarine Squadron 14 or SUBRON14, also known as ''Site one, Holy Loch'' was in operation between 1 July 1958, up until the end of the Cold War.  The last deployed Submarine Tender departed the Holy Loch and Firth on 3 March 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.navalsubleague.org/1992/history-of-submarine-squadron-fourteen|title=HISTORY OF SUBMARINE SQUADRON FOURTEEN|first=vidushi|last=tech|date=1 January 1992}}</ref>

[[World War II]]; During World War II, [[Glasgow]] and the Firth of Clyde became the main entry point into Britain for the Allied forces’, including merchant shipping, military personnel, and equipment.  The Firth was used as the assembly and despatch point, for Atlantic convoys. The Firth hosted the United Kingdoms largest naval base for the duration of the war.  In 1942, a underwater oil pipeline was laid across the Firth, [[Operation Pluto]], the world's first deep-water test of this technology.  This was only one of many innovations designed to support air, maritime, and territorial combat during World War II.

{{see also|List of squadrons and flotillas of the Royal Navy}}

The [[Holy Loch]] was used as a base for [[Royal Navy]] [[Submarines]], during World War II. Namely the [[3rd Submarine Flotilla (United Kingdom)]]. [[HMS Forth (A187)|HMS ''Forth'']] was for a time based in the loch as the submarine depot ship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://holyloch.co.uk/page1mam.html|title=Holy Loch - Maritime & Admiralty matters|website=holyloch.co.uk}}</ref>

During both [[World wars]], the [[Cloch Point To Dunoon Anti-submarine Boom]] was in place to protect the upper Firth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/239524/clyde-defences-cloch-point-to-dunoon-anti-submarine-boom|title=Clyde Defences, Cloch Point To Dunoon Anti-submarine Boom &#124; Canmore|website=canmore.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/ClochBoom|title=Secret Scotland - Cloch Boom|website=secretscotland.org.uk}}</ref>

===Environment===

Since the [[Industrial Revolution]], the natural environment of the Firth has been compromised. Many locations have been affected by a succession of industrial and military developments along the shoreline. Including the former sites of [[Upper Clyde Shipbuilders|shipyards]]; [[Hunterston B nuclear power station]]; [[Inverkip power station]]; [[ExxonMobil]] fuel oil terminal site at [[Bowling, West Dunbartonshire|Bowling]]; [[Nobel Enterprises|Nobel]] explosives plant at [[Ardeer, North Ayrshire|Ardeer]] and the [[Hunterston Ore Terminal]]. Many of these locations are now dormant or being redeveloped.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clydewaterfront.com/projects|title=River Clyde developments: Housing, commercial, retail & leisure projects|first=Innovation|last=Digital|website=www.clydewaterfront.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-66470934|title=City Deal approval for £44m project at former Clyde oil terminal|date=11 August 2023|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishhistory.org/blog/the-ardeer-company-and-the-defence-of-nobels-explosive-factory/|title=The Ardeer Company and the defence of Nobel's Explosive Factory|date=10 April 2024|website=ScottishHistory.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23479026|title=Inverkip Power Station chimney demolished|work=BBC News |date=28 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-59894688|title=Hunterston B nuclear power plant closes down after 46 years|date=7 January 2022|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://port.hunterston.eu/index.htm|title=..:: Hunterston Coal Terminal ::..|website=port.hunterston.eu}}</ref>