Nine British Royal Navy and RFA ships 'monitoring every movement' of Russian war ships in UK waters

NINE British ships have been shadowing seven Russian vessels in waters around the UK.
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The Royal Navy has been ‘monitoring every movement’ of the Russian warships after unusually high levels of activity in the English Channel and North Sea.

Type 23 frigates HMS Kent, HMS Sutherland, HMS Argyll and HMS Richmond joined Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey along with RFA Tideforce, RFA Tidespring and HMS Echo for the large-scale operation with support from NATO allies.

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Lieutenant Nick Ward, HMS Tyne’s executive officer, said: ‘As the armed forces are helping the NHS save lives in the UK, it’s essential the navy continues to deliver the tasks we have always performed to help keep Britain safe.

HMS Tyne shadows a Russian corvetteHMS Tyne shadows a Russian corvette
HMS Tyne shadows a Russian corvette

‘This is very much part of routine business for HMS Tyne and represents one of the many roles our patrol vessels perform in support of the Royal Navy’s commitments.

‘This is our core business and represents an enduring commitment to uphold the security of the UK.’

Logistics specialists and military planners work with the wider Armed Forces to help the coronavirus response effort, sailors and aircrew were monitoring every movement of the Russian ships using state-of-the-art radar, surveillance cameras and sensors, allowing them to track their course and speed as they passed the British Isles, the navy confirmed.

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They were supported by Merlin and Wildcat helicopters of 814 and 815 Naval Air Squadrons.

HMS Mersey has been shadowing seven Russian ships alongside eight other Royal Navy vessels in UK watersHMS Mersey has been shadowing seven Russian ships alongside eight other Royal Navy vessels in UK waters
HMS Mersey has been shadowing seven Russian ships alongside eight other Royal Navy vessels in UK waters

Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne spent more than a week working in the English Channel, in often challenging seas, keeping a close eye on the Russian vessels as they pass the south coast.

Three Steregushchiy-class corvettes, two Ropucha-class landing ships and two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates were observed during the operations, plus their supporting auxiliary ships and tugs.

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HMS Sutherland, fresh from Arctic training on Exercise Cold Response, watched over the Russian presence as part of her duties with NATO’s Standing NATO Maritime Group One – a high readiness task group made up of frigates and destroyers which patrols northern European waters to provide a reassuring presence.

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