Russian warships spotted in the English Channel, Express reports.
HMS Tyne, HMS Portland and P8 Poseidon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth were monitoring Russian navy movements in the English Channel, North Sea and north Atlantic, as the Russian warships were tracked close to the UK.
The spotted vessels included corvettes Boikiy and Grad, cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the Udaloy-class destroyer Severomorsk and others. According to a Royal Navy spokesman, many of them were connected with the Russian Navy Day. The celebration was held in St Petersburg on July 30.
The British submarine-hunting frigate and maritime patrol aircraft are a formidable duo for locating and monitoring operations, allowing for constant surveillance from the sea and air. Having detected a ship or submarine, the aircraft can communicate the position, allowing a warship to intercept and track.
HMS Portland’s bridge watch-keeping officer Lieutenant Sam Charleston admitted that it was “rewarding” to conduct such an operation and protect the waters and interests of Great Britain. Despite the harsh weather conditions, the crew managed to perform its duties.
This is my third time conducting this type of operation and I enjoyed seeing the wide-area search capability that the P-8 brings and working with the RAF aircrew.
Commander Ed Moss-Ward, HMS Portland’s commanding officer noted an outstanding anti-submarine warfare capability of the UK. Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne was observing Merkury, a Steregushchiy-class corvette and research ship Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov and another Russian vessel.
The offshore patrol vessel’s executive officer, Lieutenant Ryan Grieg, admitted the hard work and dedication of the ship’s company demonstrated throughout the year.
She has again demonstrated her alacrity and flexibility in proving herself as an efficient asset providing assurance and security in UK home waters.
