The Royal Navy has confirmed that HMS Duncan and a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron tracked a Russian destroyer through UK waters in a 48-hour NATO operation, marking the first time a British warship has been tasked directly under the alliance’s command for such a mission.
According to the official release, Portsmouth-based HMS Duncan was activated by NATO Allied Maritime Command in Northwood to shadow the Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov through the English Channel.
The mission formed part of NATO’s wider maritime security effort across northern Europe, complementing ongoing work by HMS Somerset in the North Atlantic.
A coordinated multinational response saw Duncan’s Wildcat helicopter joined by a Dutch Air Force NH90 and the French Navy. The Ministry of Defence said the operation “underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding UK waters and protecting national security through the Plan for Change.”
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said, “The Royal Navy stands ready to respond to any Russian naval activity. They conduct constant monitoring operations to safeguard Britain and our territorial waters. Once again the Royal Navy has deployed under Allied Maritime Command, underpinning our unwavering solidarity with NATO to counter Russian activity.”
HMS Duncan’s Commanding Officer, Commander Dan Lee, added, “This operation highlights the Royal Navy’s commitment to safeguarding UK waters and working seamlessly with our NATO allies to ensure the security of our shared maritime spaces. The professionalism and teamwork displayed by all involved ensured the operation was conducted safely and effectively, showcasing our shared resolve to uphold international maritime norms.”
HMS Duncan is attached to Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), the alliance’s premier task force operating across northern European waters. Meanwhile, Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset continues maritime security patrols between Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Scotland as part of Operation Relentless, protecting the UK’s nuclear deterrent assigned to NATO.
HMS Somerset’s Commanding Officer, Commander Matt Millyard, said, “Working as part of SNMG1 over the last few weeks has allowed us to further contribute to NATO’s presence in the region. The port visits have been a great opportunity for the crew to relax after a busy operational period and prepare for an even busier period over the next few months.”
More spin and waffle.
What “plan for change”?
On the vessel, often comments deride the use of an River, compared to what its escorting.
So is using a T45, a billion pound Destroyer, overkill then?
Or is it still substandard as it has no ASM ready to exchange broadsides apart from those on its Wildcat?
Navy Command use what’s available.
I personally prefer a River to be used or a FRE Frigate.
We’re short of those now though. 🙄
russian incursion into U.K waters is starting to get too regular for my liking putjin and the admirals of his navy are baiting us and maybe a better size of deterrence is needed not just the royal navy, but a standing NATO patrol group made up from nations from Norway down to Spain. might prove that we’ve had enough of the childish games that Putin is playing at.
Unfortunately, the Channel is an international waterway and they have a right to use it.
Some Chinese and Russians might say the RN is baiting them after our ship passed Tiawan and that T45 that sailed past Crimea?
It’s allowed.
Bear in mind that the T45 may have another tasking and be in the way to that tasking whilst doing the escorting!
Sometimes it is just good to see T45 being utilised as the availability has been so dreadful for so many years.
There has been no incursion by any Russian vessel into UK territorial waters, the channel is open to anyone and as much as those Russians are getting bold in other parts of Europe they do appear to be following the rules for transit in the Channel – for now. The poke and prod in the same way they do with aircraft in our areas of interest but do not dare enter, despite the woes of the wider fleet we are managing to keep up with escorting all of the ships they send around us.
People complain when a patrol ship is used for a patrol ship job because they like the fantasy idea of every ship bristling with weapons for a point blank fight that will never happen in the channel, those same people then complain when a warship is used in those same scenarios because it’s overkill.
It doesn’t matter what ship we use, a P2000 will be just as good as a T-45 or River class really. Hypothetically speaking of a Ru vessel were to attack a RN escort the Channel (at point blank range) is not where that’s going to happen anyway, being surrounded by the French surface fleet, RN surface fleet and Belgium and the Netherlands as well as less than 30 minutes flight time from the RAF F-35 base doesn’t sound like a great idea even if they outgun the vessel following it significantly.
Exactly.
It’d be hilarious, though, if we sent out 4 Archers and they surrounded it in formation.
Did the Russian vessel, at any time, leave international waters. Would it not be easier and cheaper to monitor this vessel using a drone/UAV rather than deploying an expensive RN vessel.
It would.
But I prefer more in your face actions than stand off when it comes to Russia.
The most important thing is duncun being at sea ,as a ship should be ,God bless them all.
Poseidon ac could do it instead and cheaper cost and more effective too particular if it buzzed them too.
Russian destroyer that’s even older than our Type 23 frigates…