Latest news with #HMSAlbion
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK discovers Russian spy sensors for submarine tracking in its waters, Times says
The UK military has recently uncovered spy sensors in the sea around Britain. These devices are believed to have been installed by Russia to track the movements of the UK nuclear submarines. Source: an article by the Times, citing months of discussions with the military and former defence ministers about how Russia could use its maritime capabilities to prepare sabotage against the UK, as reported by European Pravda Details: The UK military recently discovered sensors in the sea believed to be Russian spy devices. Some had come loose from their mounts and were washed ashore by waves, while others were located with the help of the navy. For national security reasons, journalists have withheld the exact locations and certain other details of the find. The UK military believes Russia installed the sensors to gather intelligence on British nuclear submarines – one of which is always at sea as part of the UK's continuous deterrence strategy. The article also highlights the potential threat posed by Russia's submarine capabilities, which have been steadily developed since the Cold War. It notes that Moscow maintains highly advanced skills in submarine warfare and espionage, possibly surpassing those of the UK and other NATO members in some areas. It is also noted that even before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin had already begun preparing for a war conflict with NATO. This strategy involved monitoring and laying the groundwork for possible sabotage of underwater infrastructure. Sources in the Royal Navy told the Times they believe the Nord Stream explosion in autumn 2022 may have been the first such act of sabotage, noting that the "military precision" of the operation strongly resembles Russia's typical hybrid warfare tactics. They also suspect that incidents involving anchors damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea were likely deliberate rather than accidental. "There should be no doubt, there is a war raging in the Atlantic... We are seeing phenomenal amounts of Russian activity," said a senior serving British military figure. Several sources also indicated that credible intelligence suggests Russian oligarchs' yachts may have been used for espionage operations in UK waters up until February 2022. Some of these vessels were reportedly equipped with the necessary technology to deploy or recover underwater surveillance devices. One former minister noted that the UK military was well aware of such threats. For instance, in 2018, when a Russian oligarch's yacht unexpectedly anchored near the British warship HMS Albion in Cyprus, the incident was treated as a potential espionage attempt, prompting the warship to leave the port without delay. The article points out that offshore wind farms – currently supplying a fifth of the UK's electricity – are a potential target for Russian sabotage, as they rely on undersea cables to transmit power to the mainland. Similar vulnerabilities exist with subsea oil and gas pipelines, particularly those bringing energy from Norway, which could face attacks akin to the sabotage of Nord Stream. The 60 communication cables linking the UK to various parts of the world are also seen as potential "easy prey", with their locations not classified. However, sources indicate that private companies operating them are aware of these threats and have implemented alternative measures to safeguard communication. The UK military's primary concern is that Russia could determine the locations of these cables and damage them, particularly those used for military communications. Background: In late March, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited a nuclear submarine, marking the first such visit in over 10 years. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour in talks to sell British warships
The Government is in talks to sell UK amphibious assault ships to Brazil. The sale of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, which have not been in use since 2023 and 2017 respectively, was agreed during the recent LAAD Defence and Security event in Rio de Janeiro. The decision to mothball the ships was made under the Conservatives and was initially criticised by Labour. While in opposition, Luke Pollard, now Labour's Armed Forces minister, said the ships 'are important for the Royal Navy and should be retained'. However, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, has since announced that the ships would be mothballed to save money. A defence source said that, on current planning, there had been no date for either ship to return to sea before their planned out of service dates of 2033 and 2034. The decision to mothball the two assault ships came after The Telegraph revealed last year that the Navy had so few sailors that it had to decommission the warships HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll to staff its new class of Type 26 frigates. The Navy still has Lyme Bay, Mounts Bay and Cardigan Bay – Bay-class landing ship docks – all of which have amphibious capabilities and will fill in until new multi-role support ships replace them in the early 2030s. However, Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, warned that although the current Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and other surface warships could provide 'invaluable help', they were unable to transport equipment such as heavy-lift vehicles ashore. 'As has been shown, time and time again, only HMS Albion and Bulwark, and their forebears, Fearless and Intrepid, with their shallow-draft landing craft and hovercraft, plus their helicopters and embarked military force, can be of any practical and lasting value in the initial stages of war or a natural disaster,' he said. 'It is not just the ships that will be lost under the MoD's cost-saving plans but, with their premature demise the possibility and, of more importance, the expertise required to conduct any form of entry or exit across hostile or damaged shores in time of conflict or, perhaps of more significance, disaster relief.' Lord West warned that, by mothballing the ships, the Royal Navy risked losing the ability to conduct amphibious training. 'A decade, as now planned by the MoD, without amphibious training and exercises means that this most complicated of tri-service arts will be impossible to regain,' the Labour peer said. 'By the mid 2030s, a near generation of naval and marine practitioners will have long gone. The expertise, so painfully gained over countless years, will be lost forever.' A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We can confirm we have entered discussions with the Brazilian Navy over the potential sale of HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion. As announced in November, both ships are being decommissioned from the Royal Navy. Neither were planned to go back to sea before their out of service dates in the 2030s.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
04-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour in talks to sell British warships
The Government is in talks to sell UK amphibious assault ships to Brazil. The sale of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, which have not been in use since 2023 and 2017 respectively, was agreed during the recent LAAD Defence & Security event in Rio de Janeiro. The decision to mothball the ships was made under the Conservatives and was initially criticised by Labour. While in opposition, Luke Pollard, now Labour's Armed Forces minister, said the ships 'are important for the Royal Navy and should be retained'. However, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, has since announced that the ships would be mothballed to save money. A defence source said that, on current planning, there had been no date for either ship to return to sea before their planned out of service dates of 2033 and 2034. The decision to mothball the two assault ships came after The Telegraph revealed last year that the Navy has so few sailors that it has to decommission the warships HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll, to staff its new class of Type 26 frigates. The Navy still has Lyme Bay, Mounts Bay and Cardigan Bay – Bay-class landing ship docks – all of which have amphibious capabilities and will fill in until new multi-role support ships replace them in the early 2030s. However, Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, warned that whilst the current Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and other surface warships could provide 'invaluable help', they were unable to transport equipment such as heavy-lift vehicles ashore. 'As has been shown, time and time again, only HMS Albion and Bulwark, and their forebears, Fearless and Intrepid, with their shallow-draft landing craft and hovercraft, plus their helicopters and embarked military force, can be of any practical and lasting value in the initial stages of war or a natural disaster,' he said. 'It is not just the ships that will be lost under the MoD's cost-saving plans but, with their premature demise the possibility and, of more importance, the expertise required to conduct any form of entry or exit across hostile or damaged shores in time of conflict or, perhaps of more significance, disaster relief.' Lord West warned that, by mothballing the ships, the Royal Navy risked losing the ability to conduct amphibious training. 'A decade, as now planned by the MoD, without amphibious training and exercises means that this most complicated of tri-service arts will be impossible to regain,' the Labour peer said. 'By the mid 2030s, a near generation of naval and marine practitioners will have long gone. The expertise, so painfully gained over countless years, will be lost forever.' A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We can confirm we have entered discussions with the Brazilian Navy over the potential sale of HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion. As announced in November, both ships are being decommissioned from the Royal Navy. Neither were planned to go back to sea before their out of service dates in the 2030s.'
Sky News
04-04-2025
- Business
- Sky News
UK in talks with Brazil over 'potential sale' of two Royal Navy amphibious assault ships
The UK is in talks with Brazil over the "potential sale" of the Royal Navy's two amphibious assault ships that are being ditched to cut costs, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Defence experts said the fact HMS Bulwark - which has only just received an expensive refit - and HMS Albion are being flogged off underlines the pressure on the defence budget even though Sir Keir Starmer keeps talking up his promises to boost expenditure. The two warships can be used to deploy Royal Marines to shore - a vital capability at a time of growing global threats. News of the possible sale was first revealed in Latin American media. One report said the Royal Navy and Brazilian Navy had signed an agreement that would see the UK giving information to the Brazilians on the state of the two ships prior to any purchase. Asked about the claim that the UK would sell the assault ships to Brazil, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We can confirm we have entered discussions with the Brazilian Navy over the potential sale of HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion. "As announced in November, both ships are being decommissioned from the Royal Navy. Neither were planned to go back to sea before their out of service dates in the 2030s." James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, appeared to question the wisdom of the move. "At Defence orals [House of Commons questions] on January 6th Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion were not genuine capabilities'," Mr Cartlidge wrote in a post on social media. "They've just been sold to Brazil." Matthew Savill, the director of military science at the Royal United Services Institute, said the plan to sell the vessels demonstrates there "is still life in both these ships". He said: "The fact that the UK is prepared to sell off useful amphibious capability - which could be used in evacuation operations or other cases where air transport is difficult - shows just how tight finances are even with the promised budget increase. "The replacements for these ships are still several years away and won't be available until the 2030s." Mr Savill added: "As an aside, Brazil will probably have greater amphibious capacity than the UK, having previously bought HMS Ocean, the UK's helicopter assault ship." HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark entered service two decades ago. Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. HMS Ocean, a helicopter-landing vessel and once the largest warship in the Royal Navy, was sold to the Brazilian Navy in 2018 after 20 years in service.
The Independent
10-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
No final decisions made on sale of Royal Navy assault ships, says minister
Several potential customers have shown interest in buying two decommissioned assault ships although no final decision has been made, according to a defence minister. MPs heard a government-to-government sale is being explored by the Royal Navy for HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, which were designed to allow Royal Marines to launch amphibious raids. The two assault ships were already effectively mothballed at a cost of £9 million a year when the Government announced last November that they would be decommissioned. Reports have suggested the Government could sell the two ships to Brazil for £20 million. But defence minister Maria Eagle said she did not recognise 'any of the figures that have been bandied around in the newspapers'. Speaking at defence questions, Labour frontbencher Ms Eagle told the Commons: 'Neither Albion or Bulwark were due to go to sea ahead of their out-of-service dates in 2033 and 2034. 'The Royal Navy is exploring options to sell both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark in a government-to-government sale. 'Several potential customers have shown interest, but no final decisions have been made.' Conservative MP Rebecca Smith raised concerns about the sale on her South West Devon constituency. She said: 'Given the fact that these ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, are reportedly being sold to another navy for a figure that could well undervalue previous spends on refits and maintenance, how does the minister justify the economic impact of their sale on Plymouth and Devonport dockyard, let alone the reduction in amphibious capability in the navy, when the promised multi-role support ships are at least half a decade away from service?' Ms Eagle replied: 'I don't recognise any of the figures that have been bandied around in the newspapers and so it would not be accurate to take them as anything other than speculation. 'The disposal shows that we are delivering for defence by divesting old capabilities to make way for the future, as the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key put it. 'Effectively those ships were mothballed by the previous government, so I'm not going to take any lessons from that side of the House about how to deal with these matters.'
