Royal Navy vessel HMS Severn scrambled after Russian warship and tanker spotted in English Channel
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Royal Navy sailors were scrambled to shadow two Russian vessels sailing through the English Channel.
Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Severn was deployed to keep her beady eyes on Moscow’s corvette RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya. In what was described as a round-the-clock operation, the River-class ship shadowed both vessels through the Dover Strait and westward through the English Channel.
HMS Severn later handed over monitoring duties to a NATO ally off the coast of Brittany, but continued to observe from a distance and remained ready to respond to any unexpected activity.
Commanding Officer Commander Grant Dalgleish said: “This tasking shows the value of our patrol ships and reinforces the Royal Navy’s close liaison with our NATO allies in safeguarding the British people and protecting the internationally recognised waterways. I’m immensely proud of the way the ship’s company reacted to this activation, especially coming so quickly after a demanding period of regeneration and operational training.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the UK has seen a 30 per cent increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters in the past two years. Spy ship Yantar was seen last week operating in the North Sea, promptly firing lasers at pilots when they were deployed in response.
Pilots received medical assessments, but no injuries were sustained to personnel and no damage was reported to the RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft. Armed Forces minister Al Carns told MPs last week: “Russia does not want us to know what they are doing. They do not want us to know what the Yantar is up to. It does not want the world to know what it is doing, but we will not be deterred.
“We will not let the Yantar go unchallenged as it attempts to survey our infrastructure, and we will work with our allies to ensure that Russia knows that any attempt to disrupt or damage underwater infrastructure will be met with the firmest of responses.”
Three RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft have been deployed to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland in the largest overseas deployment of the RAF P-8 fleet so far. The P-8s from 120 Squadron are conducting surveillance operations as part of NATO’s collective defence, patrolling for Russian ships and submarines in the North Atlantic and Arctic. Personnel will work with US and Canadian counterparts.
Wing Commander Higgins, Officer Commanding 120 Squadron, said: “This deployment to Iceland highlights the enduring importance of the North Atlantic and Arctic to the security of the Alliance. Operating the P-8A Poseidon, we continue that legacy by contributing to NATO’s collective defence and ensuring the security of this strategically critical region.”