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Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Royal Navy scrambles warship as Russian ship spotted in English Channel
The Royal Navy has scrambled a warship to escort a Russian frigate out of UK waters. The RFN Admiral Golovoko was spotted sailing east through the English Channel, prompting the Navy to launch HMS St Albans to monitor the Russian ship. The Navy's Type 23 frigate, which is usually moored in Plymouth, closely tailed Vladimir Putin's vessel and launched a Merlin helicopter to gather information from the air. The escort duties were eventually handed over to NATO allies after the Golovoko was safely out of UK waters. Meanwhile, a Russian corvette, the RFN Soobrazitelny, was tracked by Portsmouth-based patroller, the HMS Mersey, as it sailed westward. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tidesurge supported the Mersey. A Russian tanker, the Kola, was also monitored while heading westward. For HMS St Albans, it was the second such activation this month, having monitored Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoikiy in a three-day operation two weeks ago. HMS St Albans Commanding Officer, Commander Matt Teare, said: 'HMS St Albans is at very high readiness to operate whenever, and wherever, the nation needs us in the protection of our home and the waters surrounding it. 'We have twice been activated in recent weeks to conduct this type of operation and I am extremely proud of the professionalism of my crew and their tireless dedication to keeping our nation safe. 'We were proud to work alongside HMS Mersey and I would like to thank RFA Tidesurge for her logistical support during the operation.' 'HMS St Albans is currently operating as part of a NATO Task Group and the regularity of Russian activity around the United Kingdom reinforces the vital importance of continuous integration with our allies and partners.' This operation follows the Prime Minister's visit to HMS Prince of Wales on Thursday, visiting sailors, aviators, soldiers, and Royal Marines onboard. Having departed from Portsmouth on Tuesday, the flagship leads the Carrier Strike Group as it deploys to the Indo-Pacific. By sending the Royal Navy's largest and most powerful aircraft carrier to the region, the government is keeping the UK is secure at home and strong abroad, one of the foundations of its Plan for Change.
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.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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. 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.
