Frigate returns home after period tracking Russian warships

HMS Somerset has returned to Plymouth after more than 100 days on deployment, much of it spent tracking Russian naval activity around the UK.

The ship, a Type 23 frigate specialising in anti-submarine warfare, covered over 18,000 nautical miles since setting out on Christmas Day.

Sailing from His Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport, HMS Somerset was tasked with six separate missions shadowing Russian warships in the English Channel and North Sea, including intelligence vessels and landing craft returning to the Baltic from Syria. The vessel also worked alongside NATO allies during port visits and training exercises.

Commander Joel Roberts, Somerset’s Commanding Officer, praised the 200-strong crew for their dedication during what he described as a “challenging but rewarding” deployment. “Our presence has made a real and tangible difference in delivering UK national security objectives and reinforcing NATO’s mission of collective security,” he said.

The mission included stops in the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and Germany, with public open days in both North Shields and Hamburg. Meanwhile, the ship’s embarked Merlin helicopter flew over 100 hours during the deployment, conducting reconnaissance and participating in exercises like Arctic Dolphin in Norway.

As part of that exercise, Somerset played a key role in testing Royal Navy submarine commanders undergoing the notoriously difficult Submarine Command Course, also known as ‘Perisher’. The ship simulated anti-submarine operations, helping develop both submarine and surface ship capabilities.