Portsmouth frigate escorts Russian warship through English Channel

A PORTSMOUTH Royal Navy frigate from Portsmouth is escorting a Russian warship through the English Channel and Dover Strait.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Apr 2018, 20:03 BST
Updated 20th Apr 2018, 20:06 BST
HMS St Albans (background) with the Russian frigate Yaroslav Mudry Picture: PO Lee BleaseHMS St Albans (background) with the Russian frigate Yaroslav Mudry Picture: PO Lee Blease
HMS St Albans (background) with the Russian frigate Yaroslav Mudry Picture: PO Lee Blease

The Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans is escorting the Yaroslav Mudry (named after Yaroslav the Wise from Ukraine) round the UK coastline.

HMS St Albans is the current Fleet Ready Escort – and is therefore charged with protecting UK waters.

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The navy was reacting to the Russian warship sailing close to the UK coastline.

HMS St Albans equipped with a Merlin helicopter from 829 Naval Air Squadron, as well as state-of-the-art radar.

Commander John Cromie, Commanding Officer of HMS St Albans, said: ‘As the Royal Navy’s high readiness unit in UK waters, we are the first responders to any potential incursion into UK waters and are highly trained in this role.

‘Our activation today in response to the passage of a Russian warship close to the UK resulted in a cordial interaction between professional sailors based on the recognised conventions at sea.

‘We are always standing ready, as is the rest of the fleet, to defend UK waters and UK sovereignty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.’

Related topics:PortsmouthRoyal NavyUkraine