Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland has arrived in Lerwick harbour.

It should be noted that, despite local speculation, the vessel isn’t in the area to hunt for foreign fishermen.

HMS Northumberland was recently involved in an effort to monitor the movements of a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer in the North West of the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland.

According to the Royal Navy in a statement:

“Every move made by the Russians – a surfaced submarine, destroyer, corvette, patrol ship and their supporting tugs and supply ships – was watched closely by eight RN ships from the English Channel and the Celtic Sea to waters close to the west coast of Scotland in a concerted operation over the last two weeks.

Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland watched the movements of Udaloy-class destroyer, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov, as she sailed North West of the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. Patrol ship HMS Severn was on duty in the English Channel and Dover Strait, where she shadowed a surfaced Kilo-class submarine, the Stary Oskol, the corvette Boikiy, patrol ship Vasiliy Bykov and support ships. Severn was also on patrol as the Vice-Admiral Kulakov sailed through the Channel.

For some of the operation, the Russian ships sheltered from bad weather within the Baie de Seine, a bay in northern France, where Severn was joined by allied French Navy ships and aircraft. HMS Lancaster joined Severn in this operation, closely tracking Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy in the Channel and using her Wildcat helicopter to gather intelligence using the aircraft’s powerful array of sensors.”

First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, said:

“This is why the Royal Navy is at sea every day, protecting the UK and our interests. Even with the pressures of Covid, we remain at short notice to respond to threats both in home waters and around the world. Despite the increase in Russian activity, both on the surface and underwater, we are always ready to respond.”

George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

42 COMMENTS

    • Geoff son this continual mentioning wee jimmy or the yellow party or the other thing I ranted about people in engerland always banging on about has to stop. Defence and the like is what the people demand is discussed on this here platform alas the Joe Blows that hang round this site can’t help themselves please don’t be one of them for the sake of the kids just don’t .

      ???????????

  1. Not even the first visit here in recent weeks, she was in Lerwick a short while back on a major naval exercise. Trying to make bogus political points out of it are what’s pathetic.

  2. Didnt some silly MSP moan a few weeks ago that there are no warships in Scottish waters
    Now the fools a moaning about said ships are in Scottish waters (which happens to be in actual fact British waters )

  3. A great picture of Northumberland, looking shipshape and very cool, ready to tell johnny foreigner to kindly clear off and fish in his own pond.

    I believe Northumberland has had a sensor upgrade under UOR, to pick up the whiff of Garlic in the air from 100 miles away.

    Or…..

    News exclusive ….British Warship drops anchor off British islands in a highly provocative move to absolutely no one!

    The Scottish Parliament have been recalled, a sobbing and visibly upset Wee Jimmy Cranky has urged Scottish people everywhere to remain indoors and hold their loved ones close, as the situation dangerously escalates to nothing to see here….

    • Apparently the situation in the Shetlands has been escalated to “mildly interesting.”

      Probably the most excitement anyone in the Shetlands has ever known!

    • Photo at head of article is a stock image, sensor upgrade yes, sadly harpoon no.Some credible anti surface ship capability is a serious gap in current UK defence posture.

  4. I know It’s not the place to post this sort of thing but, Heck….. My old Man passed away last night, 91 and ex SBS……. he looked in on here occasionlly when I gave him the heads up…….

  5. This isnt really news. Shetland used to be the base of the British Home Fleet for 2 world wars due to its strategic location cutting transit time into the North Sea, GIUK gap and Northern Norway/ Artic routes.

  6. Well, that’s why I’ve never used Twitter, couldn’t be doing with the left-wing brain dead loonies like above chatting nonsense.

    An RN ship visiting an island after recently escorting Russian ships … same as usual and normal practice to call in at various places for a refuel and cup of tea with the locals ;P

  7. When Britannia went on its tour of the Western and Northern Islands it was escorted by a FF/DD. There was never any mention of warships visiting isolated and remote places in the UK.

  8. I highly suggest everyone read that Twitter thread. Laughter is the only response left to man when he is faced with the tragic emptiness of Twitter’s combined intellect.

    Apparently the RN shares a carrier with the French.

  9. Well hope the Scots now if they leave the UK they will have no air force no Navy and after paying to get in to Europe thats if they can pay it all the Navy ship building will head South them poor men be out of jobs or they will go south so you will not have any ship yards may be 1 or 2 small yards you will not be with the pound with in 12 months of living the UK Scotland will be Broke all be cos of the Scot’s in power. to the Scots dont let them Kill your great Country Europe is Breaking up Y join Some thing witch is Die’g.

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