Royal Navy warships and helicopters maintained an unbroken watch on a Russian frigate and its accompanying vessels in UK waters throughout April, the Royal Navy has confirmed, with around 250 sailors and aircrew involved in the month-long operation.
Patrol ships HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn, tanker RFA Tideforce and Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron tracked the Russian Navy’s Admiral Grigorovich throughout the month as she moved between the North Sea and Western Approaches, escorting Russian-flagged vessels heading to and from the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic. The Grigorovich accompanied one submarine and around six merchant and support vessels during the month, and also paused to take on fuel and supplies near key national infrastructure including the Galloper wind farm off the Suffolk coast.
Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns said that as Russian warships continued to operate near UK shores, the armed forces were there every day, “watching, tracking and ready,” adding that the operation sent “a clear message: UK waters are protected, our sailors and aircrew are alert, and we will always defend our nation and its vital infrastructure.”
Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne spent more time shadowing the Grigorovich than any other vessel. Her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Sam Fields, said he was extremely proud of the ship’s company, adding that their “professionalism underpins our continuous presence in the North Atlantic, supporting our allies and delivering operational effect.”
Lieutenant Commander Dan Wardle, Commanding Officer of HMS Mersey, said his team continued to rise to the challenges presented, describing monitoring the Grigorovich and “ensuring the integrity of our waters” as remaining at the forefront of their priorities.
Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron were airborne daily throughout April, including multiple times over the Easter weekend. Commander Douglas Keenan, 815’s Commanding Officer, said “valuable intelligence collection has taken place alongside monitoring of Russian activity” and described the operation as a demonstration of Royal Navy presence and resolve, adding that 815 remained on task to carry out the mission 365 days a year.
Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse said the Royal Navy throughout last month “demonstrated professionalism, resilience and operational readiness” and that Royal Navy units had deployed swiftly to ensure “continuous and seamless monitoring of Russian warships, with multiple assets operating in close coordination to maintain an unbroken posture.”
Was It a Wind Up ?
(I don’t expect many will get that at all)
So Tyne, Severn, and Mersey, are all due for “retirement” in 2027.
What will you use, Mr Carns, a RIB?
This is getting farcial. Stop robbing Peter to pay Paul, by bringing back River B2s from their vital work overseas, which I suspect HMG will do, and get some replacements sorted!!!!
The whole Coastal Forces Sqn needs recapitalising and expanding, with the MROS task thrown in too, given our long highlighted vulnerabilities regards cables.
It’s bad that the batch 1 rivers are going soon, I also recently read that HMS Iron Duke has been withdrawn and stripped.
That will leave the B2s and 5 frigates. It’d be a shame to have to bring the B2s back from overseas because of their work, but it’s going to be necessary.
For replacements to come in time, they would have to already have started building by now.
Meanwhile the government seems to be having endless internal arguments between defence and treasury.
Totally agree. However tricky the budget situation is, RN leaders seem to be utterly clueless.
So 3 River Batch 1 patrol boats used but we plan to sell them all without replacement by 2028?
France is building 10 new OPVs, slightly bigger than R2s but better armed, with CTA 40 gun, air defence missiles and a sonar.
Meanwhile our senior leaders prattle on about autonomous platforms whilst the real navy shrinks to near irrelevance.
Starmer and his government’s task is to completely disarm the United Kingdom, and they are well advanced in this, but there are still some loose ends.
What a cluster! CDS, 1SL should resign – service before self! Remember that?
rmj, did we read the same article: “Royal Navy warships and helicopters maintained an unbroken watch on a Russian frigate and its accompanying vessels in UK waters throughout April, the Royal Navy has confirmed, with around 250 sailors and aircrew involved in the month-long operation”.
“Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse said the Royal Navy throughout last month “demonstrated professionalism, resilience and operational readiness” and that Royal Navy units had deployed swiftly to ensure “continuous and seamless monitoring of Russian warships, with multiple assets operating in close coordination to maintain an unbroken posture.”
The cluster requiring CDS and 1SL to resign, is what exactly? This looked like one naval operation that worked just fine….although I am a little surprised at the resources required to track one Russian frigate with an accompanyong submarine and merchantmen.
Fair point Graham though broader picture 3xOPVs due to be sold (according to reports) in the context of RN down to just 5 frigates (less than Singapore!) – in the context of 100 years ago we had the largest navy on the planet. Basically a dogs dinner.
So three OPVs and a Petrol Station was up against a fucking Corvette… Oh Christ. Royal Navy best not be saying this is how wonderful they are, cos looking at it is embarrassing.
I mean, we aren’t actually at war you know. Are you really expecting some kind of sea battle? They just need to keep it in eyesight.
LOL. River-class OPVs totally incapable of responding if the Russkies turned ugly.
Even my copium of the Russians being smacked by the RAF Typhoons using Paveways doesn’t make it any better.
I wouldn’t be too dismissive, I’m pretty sure that a few hundred 20/30 mm rounds slamming into the hull and superstructure of any Russian warship will render it combat ineffective .
There’s a chance some rounds might cause some damage. But I’m sure the russian frigate would respond pretty sharpish and a river class wouldn’t last long in a peer-level firefight
It’s only really designed for fisheries protection and anti-narcotics. They’re great at what they do, but they’re not a serious weapon to be used against a resonably well armed corvette or frigate