Aviation & Ships Spotting in Malta

Anything from Civil & Military Aviation to Naval Vessels

Naval Flat-Tops in Valletta Grand Harbour, Malta

  • 2008

 Date In  Date Out  Navy  No.   Vessel   Type   Class 
 14-Mar  18-Mar   United States  LHA 4  USS Nassau  A/Carrier  Tarawa 
 26-Feb  29-Feb   U.K. Royal  R 06  HMS Illustrious  S/Carrier   Invincible 

  • 2007

Date In Date Out Navy No.  Vessel  Type  Class 
 15-Aug  19-Aug   United States  LHD 3  USS Kearsarge  A/Carrier Wasp 
 16-Mar  17-Mar  Spain  R 11  SPS Principe de Austurias  S/Carrier  --- 

  • 2005

 Date In   Date Out  Navy  No.  Vessel  Type  Class
 21-Nov  26-Nov  U.K. Royal  R 06   HMS Illustrious  S/Carrier   Invincible 

  • 2004

 Date In  Date Out  Navy  No.  Vessel  Type  Class 
 29-Jul  2-Aug  United States  LHD 3   USS Kearsarge  A/Carrier   Wasp
 26-Jun  30-Jun  United States  CV 67  USS J.F. Kennedy  S/Carrier  ---
 8-Mar  12-Mar   United States  LHD 5  USS Bataan  A/Carrier  Wasp
 4-Mar  7-Mar  United States  LHD 1  USS Wasp  ACarrier  Wasp

  • 2003

 Date In  Date Out  Navy  No.   Vessel  Type   Class 
 9-May  13-May  United States  LHD 7  USS Iwo Jima  A/Carrier  Wasp

  • 2002

 Date In  Date Out  Navy  No.   Vessel   Type  Class
 26-Sep  30-Sep  U.K. Royal  R 07  HMS Ark Royal  S/Carrier  Invincible
 19-Apr  23-Apr  France  R 97  FS Jeanne D'Arc  H/Cruiser  ---
 25-Mar  29-Mar  United States  LHD 5  USS Bataan  A/Carrier  Wasp
  • 2001

 Date In  Date Out  Navy  No.   Vessel   Type   Class 
 14-Nov  17-Nov   U.K. Royal   L 12  HMS Ocean   A/Carrier  ---
 10-Sep   12-Sep   U.K. Royal  R 06  HMS Illustrious   S/Carrier  Invincible 
 27-Aug  31-Aug   United States   LHD 3  USS Kearsarge  A/Carrier   Wasp 
 13-Mar   17-Mar   United States   LHA 4   USS Nassau  A/Carrier  Tarawa
 8-Jan  12-Jan   United States   LHA 4   USS Nassau  A/Carrier  Tarawa 

  • 2000

 Date In  Date Out  Navy  No.  Vessel  Type  Class 
 27-Oct  31-Oct  United States   LHA 2  USS Saipan  A/Carrier  Tarawa
 17-Oct  23-Oct

 U.K Royal

  R 05  HMS Invincible   S/Carrier   Invincible
 10-Apr  17-Apr   U.K. Royal  R 06  HMS Illustrious  S/Carrier  Invincible
 21-Feb  24-Feb  United States  LHD 5   USS Bataan  A/Carrier  Wasp

Notes:

  • A/Carrier: Amphibious Assault Carrier
  • S/Carrier: Strike Aircraft Carrier
  • H/Cruiser: Helicopter Cruiser

USS Nassau (LHA 4) in Valletta GH, 14-18 March 2008

Only two helos were embarked on USS Nassau during her port-call in Valletta GH:

  • MH-60S Knighthawk - 166347 / BR-43 
  • MH-60S Knighthawk - 165752

HMS Illustrious (R 06) in Valletta GH, 26-29 February 2008

Naval Aviation Assets embarked:

  Merlin HM.1 - ZH864 / 268 - 814 Sqn

  Merlin HM.1 - ZH845 / 265 - 814 Sqn

  Merlin HM.1 - ZH839 / 266 - 814 Sqn

  Merlin HM.1 - ZH841 / 264 - 814 Sqn

  Merlin HM.1 - ZH835 / 270 - 814 Sqn

  Merlin HM.1 - ZH861 / 267 - 814 Sqn

USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in Valletta GH, 15-19 August 2007

U.S. Marines Aviation Assets embarked:

  • 12 x CH-46E SeaKnights (EM-00/01/02/03/04/05/06/07/10/11/12/14)

  • 4 x CH-53E SeaStallions (EM-20/21/22/23)

  • 4 x AH-1W SeaCobras (EM-30/31/32/33) 

  • 2 x UH-1N Iroquois (EM-40/41) 

  • 6 x AV-8B Harrier II/II Plus (EM-50/51/52/53/54/55)

  • 2 x MH-60S Knighthawks (AM-11/13) *U.S. Navy

SPS Principe de Asturias (R 11) in Valletta GH, 16-17 March 2007

Naval Aviation assets embarked:

  • AB.212ASW  -  HA.18-12 / 01-316
  • EAV-8B+  -  VA.1B-24 / 01-914
  • EAV-8B+  -  VA.1B-25 / 01-915
  • EAV-8B+  -  VA.1B-28 / 01-918
  • EAV-8B+  -  VA.1B-30 / 01-920
  • EAV-8B+  -  VA.1B-35 / 01-923
  • EAV-8B+  -  VA.1B-36 / 01-924
  • EAV-8B+  -  VA.1B-37 / 01-925
  • EAV-8B+  -  VA.1B-39 / 01-927
  • Hughes 369M  -  HS.13-11 / 01-611
  • SH-3H/AEW  -  HS.9-01 / 01-501
  • SH-3H/AEW  -  HS.9-11 / 01-511
  • SH-3H/AEW  -  HS.9-12 / 01-512
  • SH-3H  -  HS.9-16 / 01-516

HMS Illustrious (R 06) in Valletta GH, 21-26 November 2005

Embarked Tailored Air Group:

  • Sea Harrier F/A.2  ZH796 / L-001
  • Sea Harrier F/A.2  XZ440 / L-002
  • Sea Harrier F/A.2  ZE690 / L-003
  • Sea Harrier F/A.2  ZH803 / L-004
  • Sea Harrier F/A.2  ZH813 / L-006
  • Sea Harrier F/A.2  ZH804 / L-007

  • Merlin HM.1  ZH856 / 266 *
  • Merlin HM.1  ZH855 / CU-267 *
  • Merlin HM.1  ZH836 / CU-268 *
  • Merlin HM.1  ZH863 / 270

  • Sea King ASaC.7  ZE418 / 186
  • Sea King ASaC.7  XV714 / 188

Note: * at Malta International Airport during port-call of HMS Illustrious in Malta

USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in Valletta GH, 29 July - 2 August 2004

Only two helos were embarked on USS Kearsarge during her port-call in Valletta GH:

  • MH-60S Knighthawk - 166306 / BR-47
  • MH-60S Knighthawk - 166308 / BR-46

USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) in Valletta GH, 26-30 June 2004

Carrier Wing embarked: CVW-17 (coded: AA)

 Unit  Nickname  Aircraft Type   Unit Code
 VF-103  Jolly Rogers   F-14B Tomcat  AA-1## 
 VFA-34  Blue Basters  F/A-18C Hornet  AA-2##
 VFA-83   Rampagers  F/A-18C Hornet  AA-3##
 VFA-81  Sunliner  F/A-18C Hornet  AA-4##
 VAQ-132  Scorpions  EA-6B Prowler   AA-5##
 VAW-125  Tigertails  E-2C Hawkeye  AA-60# 
 HS-15  Red Lions   SH-60F / HH-60F   AA-61# 
 VS-30  Diamond Cutters  S-3B Viking   AA-7## 
 VRC-40  Rawhides   C-2A Greyhound   ---