The UK’s Royal Navy has completed a three-day operation monitoring a Russian task group in UK waters. The Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset monitored a Russian Ro-Ro cargo ship in the Channel, part of a 3-day operation keeping watch on a Russian task group passing the UK.
The Royal Navy reports that the HMS Somerset watched every move as a Russian corvette escorted the merchant vessel on its voyage from Syria through the English Channel and North Sea.
The British type 23 frigate utilised its powerful sensors and radars to report on Russian movements, launching her Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron to gather valuable information from the sky.
The ship worked hand in hand with UK patrol aircraft and allied NATO forces during the operation, providing constant watch on the task group.
It comes just over two weeks after the Royal Navy’s last shadowing mission which saw HMS Iron Duke, HMS Tyne and RFA Tideforce monitor five ships, including three merchant vessels, as they sailed for a Russian Baltic port from Syria.
Commander Joel Roberts, Commanding Officer of HMS Somerset, said: “Somerset is well versed in the escort of Russian ships, having conducted these operations on a number of occasions.
“Great professionalism has been shown by the ship’s company to remain vigilant whilst operating in UK waters and integrating with our NATO Allies to monitor Russian activity around Europe.”
HMS Somerset began monitoring the Russian corvette on March 1, shadowing the warship as it headed south through the North Sea and English Channel to meet the Ro-Ro cargo ship and to escort it which came from Syria back to Russia.
The Plymouth-based warship remained on duty for the return journey as the Russian corvette and the merchant vessel met near the traffic separation scheme at Ushant, near France, before sailing through the Channel and into the North Sea.
It’s the second time this year Somerset has been activated to track Russian ships. In January, the frigate tracked a suspected spy vessel alongside patrol ship HMS Tyne.
