Latest news with #JoelRoberts
The Independent
25-03-2025
- General
- The Independent
Royal Navy warships shadow three Russian vessels through English Channel
The Royal Navy has shadowed three Russian ships through the English Channel. Minehunter HMS Cattistock and a Wildcat helicopter were deployed to escort survey ship Admiral Vladimirskiy during its voyage, the Royal Navy said. The British minehunter worked closely with the helicopter to 'keep a constant watch' through the busy shipping lanes. This operation was followed quickly by another, as HMS Somerset and tanker RFA Tidesurge were deployed to escort Russian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky and merchant vessel MV Ascalon through the Channel and North Sea as the pair sailed towards the Baltic. The two Russian ships had recently left the Mediterranean. These latest operations follow a similar mission last week which saw Royal Navy warships and helicopters track a Russian task group returning from Syria. HMS Cattistock's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rob Garner, said: 'Cattistock has escorted a number of Russian warships and government-owned vessels through UK waters in recent weeks and months, demonstrating the Royal Navy's operational readiness and steadfast commitment to UK security at sea. 'I am extremely proud of my ship's company's professionalism and determination to get the job done as we continue to work closely with other Royal Navy ships and aircraft, the RAF P8 force and fellow Nato navies.' HMS Somerset has been activated three times to monitor Russian convoys returning from the Mediterranean in the past month alone, the Royal Navy said. Commanding Officer, Commander Joel Roberts, added: 'Somerset has been frequently activated to conduct this type of operation given the tempo of Russian activity around the United Kingdom's territorial and sensitive waters. 'In maintaining units at very high readiness to respond, the Royal Navy offers presence, deterrence, persistence, flexibility and can deliver or facilitate a range of military and diplomatic options to support our national objectives.'
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Navy tracks suspicious Russian ‘spy ships' in the English Channel
The Royal Navy has tracked three suspicious Russian 'spy ships' in the English Channel. A British minehunter and helicopter were deployed on Wednesday to escort Admiral Vladimirskiy, a Russian survey ship, as it travelled along the British south coast. Built in Poland in the 1970s, the Vladimirskiy once served the Soviet Union and it is now suspected of being part of the Kremlin's shadow fleet of spy ships, which are fitted with monitoring equipment. HMS Cattistock, which detects and destroys mines in the sea, worked closely with the Wildcat, a multi-role helicopter which operates from Royal Navy boats, to 'keep a constant watch' through the busy shipping lanes. A Russian landing ship known as RFN Alexander Otrakovsky and a Russian merchant vessel known as MV Ascalon were later also escorted through the Channel and North Sea. The two Russian ships had recently left the Mediterranean and were sailing towards the Baltic Sea when they were escorted by the British Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset and fleet tanker RFA Tidesurge. Repeat offenders The operations were revealed by the Royal Navy a week after its warships and helicopters tracked a Russian task group returning from Syria as it passed through British waters. The same group, including the minehunter, the helicopter, the Type 23 Frigate and the tanker, were used to monitor and report every move of four Russian vessels as they passed through the English Channel and the North Sea. It marked the third time in six weeks that the Royal Navy has shadowed Russian task groups returning from Syria. HMS Cattistock's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Rob Garner, said: 'Cattistock has escorted a number of Russian warships and government-owned vessels through UK waters in recent weeks and months, demonstrating the Royal Navy's operational readiness and steadfast commitment to UK security at sea. 'I am extremely proud of my ship's company's professionalism and determination to get the job done as we continue to work closely with other Royal Navy ships and aircraft, the RAF P8 force and fellow Nato navies.' The Royal Navy said that HMS Somerset has been activated three times to monitor Russian convoys returning from the Mediterranean in the past month alone. Commander Joel Roberts said: 'Somerset has been frequently activated to conduct this type of operation given the tempo of Russian activity around the United Kingdom's territorial and sensitive waters.' He added that the Royal Navy offers 'deterrence, persistence, flexibility and can deliver or facilitate a range of military and diplomatic options'.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Royal Navy warships shadow three Russian vessels through English Channel
The Royal Navy has shadowed three Russian ships through the English Channel. Minehunter HMS Cattistock and a Wildcat helicopter were deployed to escort survey ship Admiral Vladimirskiy during its voyage, the Royal Navy said. The British minehunter worked closely with the helicopter to 'keep a constant watch' through the busy shipping lanes. This operation was followed quickly by another, as HMS Somerset and tanker RFA Tidesurge were deployed to escort Russian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky and merchant vessel MV Ascalon through the Channel and North Sea as the pair sailed towards the Baltic. The two Russian ships had recently left the Mediterranean. These latest operations follow a similar mission last week which saw Royal Navy warships and helicopters track a Russian task group returning from Syria. HMS Cattistock's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rob Garner, said: 'Cattistock has escorted a number of Russian warships and government-owned vessels through UK waters in recent weeks and months, demonstrating the Royal Navy's operational readiness and steadfast commitment to UK security at sea. 'I am extremely proud of my ship's company's professionalism and determination to get the job done as we continue to work closely with other Royal Navy ships and aircraft, the RAF P8 force and fellow Nato navies.' HMS Somerset has been activated three times to monitor Russian convoys returning from the Mediterranean in the past month alone, the Royal Navy said. Commanding Officer, Commander Joel Roberts, added: 'Somerset has been frequently activated to conduct this type of operation given the tempo of Russian activity around the United Kingdom's territorial and sensitive waters. 'In maintaining units at very high readiness to respond, the Royal Navy offers presence, deterrence, persistence, flexibility and can deliver or facilitate a range of military and diplomatic options to support our national objectives.'
BBC News
19-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Royal Navy and RAF shadow Russian ships in UK waters
UK warships have shadowed a Russian task group as it passed through British waters, the Royal Navy has 23 frigate HMS Somerset and minehunter HMS Cattistock, along with RFA Tidesurge and Navy helicopters, monitored and reported every move of the four Russian vessels as they passed through the English Channel and the North Sea .The Russian ships, which included destroyer RFN Severomorsk, landing ship RFN Alexander Shabalin and two transport ships, MV Sparta IV and MV Siyanie Severa, were sailing east towards the Baltic marks the third time in six weeks that the Royal Navy has shadowed Russian task groups returning from Syria. The Royal Navy said its operation began on Sunday after tanker Tidesurge had monitored the destroyer in the North Sea and through the Strait of Somerset and her Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron then began shadowing the Russian task group's escort, Severomorsk, south of Portsmouth and the RAF deployed a P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth, collecting vital information as the Russians made their journey. The Udaloy-class Severomorsk then met the cargo and landing ships in the western reaches of the Channel, off Cornwall, where minehunter HMS Cattistock was already monitoring the Russian the Russian ships sailed back east through the Channel and the North Sea towards the Baltic Sea, the Royal Navy ships deployed powerful sensors and launched the Merlin and Wildcat helicopters to report on every Officer of HMS Somerset Joel Roberts, said of the operation that the ship's company had shown "great professionalism" and praised the strength of the co-ordinated Nato response, saying that "the ability to deliver integration of air and maritime operations remain some of our greatest assets." The first recent operation saw the Royal Navy shadow a Russian task group in mid-February when HMS Iron Duke, HMS Tyne and RFA Tideforce monitored five ships, including three merchant vessels, as they sailed from Syria heading to a Russian Baltic weeks later, HMS Somerset was used to complete a three-day mission watching RFN Boikiy as the corvette escorted a merchant vessel on its occasion was the first time Russian ships had been spotted or monitored in UK waters. In January, Defence Secretary John Healey told MPs the Royal Navy had monitored a Russian spy ship - accusing the vessel, Yantar, of being used to gather intelligence and map the UK's underwater in June 2024 a Russian submarine was spotted off Scotland's west coast before it arrived in Havana, Cuba, a week of the latest operation, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said he was "grateful" to all the personnel who shadowed the Russian convoy."Russia should be in no doubt that the UK will defend our waters," he said.
Telegraph
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Royal Navy shadows Russian warships through Channel
Two Royal Navy warships have shadowed a Russian task group as it sailed through the English Channel and North Sea. Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset and minehunter HMS Cattistock, supported by RFA Tidesurge and naval helicopters, were involved in the operation to follow the vessels as they returned from Syria. The Russian ships included destroyer RFN Severomorsk, landing ship RFN Alexander Shabalin and two transport ships, MV Sparta IV and MV Siyanie Severa. A spokesman for the Royal Navy said: 'As the Russian ships sailed east through the Channel and the North Sea towards the Baltic Sea, the Royal Navy ships deployed powerful sensors and launched the Merlin and Wildcat helicopters to report on every move.' Luke Pollard, the defence minister, said: 'Russia should be in no doubt that the UK will defend our waters. I'm grateful to all the personnel who shadowed this Russian convoy. 'National security is a foundation of the Government's plan for change and ensuring freedom of navigation contributes to our economy.' Commander Joel Roberts, commanding officer of HMS Somerset, said: 'Over the last few days HMS Somerset has escorted Russian ships through UK waters in resolute support to our national priorities. 'As ever, the ship's company have shown great professionalism whilst conducting the operation that involved the integration and coordination of other ships, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, including those from our Nato allies. 'There is strength in a coordinated Nato response, and our unity and ability to deliver integration of air and maritime operations remain some of our greatest assets.' The operation was the third time in six weeks that the Royal Navy has shadowed Russian task groups returning from Syria.
