British warships have shadowed suspicious Russian “spy ships” using helicopters to closely monitor their movements as they travelled through the English Channel.
The Royal Navy deployed minehunter HMS Cattistock, as well as a Wildcat helicopter, to track the oceanographic survey ship during its voyage through the Strait of Dover and the English Channel, keeping a constant watch through busy shipping lanes until the vessel exited the Channel just west of the Brest peninsula.
And, not long afterwards, another operation quickly followed, when a Russian landing ship, and a merchant vessel, were spotted sailing towards the Baltic through the English Channel and the North Sea.
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset and tanker RFA Tidesurge were deployed to escort the two Russian vessels on their voyage.
The two Russian ships had recently departed the Mediterranean and were watched closely by HMS Somerset and her Merlin helicopter.
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.”
These latest operations follow a similar mission few days ago which saw Royal Navy warships and helicopters work closely to track a Russian task group returning from Syria in UK waters.
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.
