A RN Merlin helicopter (Image: AS1 Amber Mayall RAF / MoD )
The Royal Navy has shadowed another Russian task group as it passed near UK waters. HMS Somerset, a Type-23 frigate equipped with Ant- Submarine Warfare capabilities, closely followed the Russian corvette Boikiy as it escorted merchant vessel Baltic Leader on its voyage from Syria through the English Channel and North Sea. The three-day operation marked the second time in two weeks the the Royal Navy has safeguarded the UK as Russian vessels transited.
HMS Somerset used its powerful sensors and radars to report on Russian movements, launching her Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron to gather valuable information from the sky, the Royal Navy has confirmed.The ship worked hand in hand with UK patrol aircraft and allied NATO forces during the operation, providing constant watch on the task group.
HMS Somerset kept a close watch on Baltic Leader (Image: Royal Navy )
HMS Somerset began monitoring Boikiy on March 1, shadowing the warship as it headed south through the North Sea and English Channel to meet Baltic Leader to escort the vessel – which came from Syria – back to .
The Plymouth-based warship remained on duty for the return journey as Boikiy and Baltic Leader met near the traffic separation scheme at Ushant, near France, before sailing through the Channel and into the North Sea.
It marks the second time this year that HMS Somerset has been activated to track Russian ships. In January, the frigate tracked suspected spy vessel, Yantar, alongside patrol ship HMS Tyne.
“Somerset is well versed in the escort of Russian ships, having conducted these operations on a number of occasions,“ said its captain, Commander Joel Roberts.
“Great professionalism has been shown by the ship’s company to remain vigilant whilst operating in UK waters and integrating with our NATO Allies to monitor Russian activity around Europe,“
It comes just two weeks after the Royal Navy’s last shadowing mission – which saw HMS Iron Duke, HMS Tyne and RFA Tideforce monitor five ships, including three merchant vessels, as they sailed for a Russian Baltic port from Syria.