Four Royal Navy patrol boats have been operating under Estonian command in the Gulf of Finland and Tallinn Bay as part of a two-month Baltic deployment designed to strengthen interoperability and show allied resolve near Russia’s border.
The P2000 class vessels HMS Pursuer, Express, Puncher and Dasher from the Coastal Forces Squadron trained alongside the Estonian Navy’s EML Ugandi, a former Royal Navy minehunter sold to Tallinn in 2009.
Ugandi acted as a mother ship, providing mid-sea support while the British craft practised close manoeuvres and fast-boat coordination drills.
Lieutenant Edward Winter, commanding officer of HMS Express, said: “It was great to operate alongside the EML Ugandi and meet the ship’s company today. In so doing, we demonstrated the UK’s resolve to support our NATO allies.”
The exercise took place just weeks after three Russian MiG-31 fighters crossed into Estonian airspace, an incident that heightened regional concern and prompted renewed allied activity under the Joint Expeditionary Force, or JEF.
Major Steven Maguire, the UK’s deputy defence attaché in Tallinn, said the cooperation underlined Britain’s long-standing commitment to Estonia. “Just over 100 years ago the Royal Navy stood shoulder to shoulder with Estonia in its war of independence and that support has never wavered,” he said. “Today we see more violations of Estonia’s sovereignty. Exercises such as this demonstrate our continued and deep commitment to Estonia, both as a partner nation and NATO ally.”
For the four P2000s, small and fast vessels that normally operate close to shore, the deployment marks an unusually long mission. Since leaving their home ports they have travelled more than 1,500 miles, practising swarm tactics and fast-boat manoeuvres with Baltic partners such as the Latvian Navy and coast guard.
Uh oh….,where’s Andy R?
He posted earlier.
Not sure exactly what use a small unarmed boat doing a sedate 40kmh will be in a combat zone. Likewise, I am not sure exactly what “fast boat drills” they would be able to practice. Sounds more of a case of sending something, anything, to fly the flag.
Sending the boats over to the Baltic allows the Estonians (and Latvians?) the chance at command and small boats they might be but ask the Japanese what they thought of PT boats and our Royal Navy about S-Boats… especially our aircraft carriers in the Med.
Sending one is a gesture, sending 4 is a message.
Of course, we all want 50 T26, however, that is not going to happen; so praise this deployment.
Mmmm. I’ve seen the odd post on here arguing that the RN should have a Coastal squadron of Vospers vintage 70ft MTBs to replace the Archers. Cheaper than a T26.
In the shoite load of stuff the RN need, not sure where that would be on the list of priorities.
Get the RN to 30+ escorts and 12 SSN, then let’s talk about extras 🙂 😀