Surfaced Russian sub tracked in waters close to UK

Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Mersey has tracked the movements of a surfaced Russian submarine as it sailed through waters close to the UK over the weekend.

The River-class offshore patrol vessel was on watch as the Kilo-class diesel powered attack submarine RFS Rostov Na Donu sailed through wintry seas in the North Sea and English Channel on its journey from the Baltic to the Mediterranean.

Mersey reported on the movements of the Russian Black Sea Fleet submarine, so that NATO allies could track her progress as she continued her onward journey.

This latest operation comes amid a busy time for the Royal Navy’s patrol ships, with Mersey and her sister ships, HMS Tyne and HMS Severn, all on maritime security patrols in the seas around the UK.

Royal Navy patrol ships are involved in a range of missions, including fishery protection, which has been their responsibility for many years, but also coordinating with the joint maritime security centre to share information relating to suspicious or dangerous activity at sea alongside the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and National Crime Agency.

Meanwhile, HMS Defender has sailed from Portsmouth for intensive training to prepare for missions around the world this spring on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s landmark deployment.

The Type 45 destroyer will be enjoying sea trials and training after a period of essential maintenance.

Defender is earmarked for upcoming missions in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia-Pacific region on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s carrier strike group 21 mission.

Defender worked closely with HMS Queen Elizabeth late last year on the carrier strike group workout in the North Sea in preparation for operations.

Alongside sister ship HMS Diamond, plus Type 23 frigates and warships from NATO allies, Defender formed a so-called ‘ring of steel’ around the aircraft carrier that is designed to protect the carriers from enemy ships, submarines, aircraft and missiles, and is also capable of conducting a range of supporting missions, from maritime security to disaster relief.

The Type 45 then headed for extensive top-to-bottom maintenance ahead of a busy 2021, including capability upgrades being fitted, a fresh coat of paint and routine upkeep on the exterior of the state-of-the-art multifunction radar, which required a massive 80 tonnes of scaffolding to access it.

Defender also went into dry dock so the ship’s underwater fixtures could be maintained.