Latest news with #DanWardle
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Second Russian vessel in a week tracked through English Channel
A second Russian naval vessel has been tracked passing through the English Channel in a week. Royal Navy helicopters and a warship shadowed a surfaced Russian submarine as it sailed west through the North Sea and English Channel. Novorossiysk, a Kilo-class submarine, was monitored by Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey, a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron, and a specialist submarine-hunting Merlin aircraft from 824 Naval Air Squadron. A Royal Navy spokesman said the submarine was accompanied by the Goryn-class tug boat Yakov Grebelski. He added that 'the British warship and helicopters utilised powerful sensors and systems to watch every move' by the vessels. A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed the incident happened within the last week but would not reveal specific dates. It comes after the Boikiy, a Russian warship with guided missiles and mounted machine guns, entered the Channel on June 20 and passed into the North Sea. The corvette, which travelled with two Russian oil tankers, was shadowed by the Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Duncan and patrol ship HMS Mersey. An increasing number of Russian military vessels are sailing through the Channel as Moscow looks to demonstrate its military presence. 'Professionalism, cohesion, and constant readiness' Sources have confirmed this is the sixth time Novorossiysk has passed through British waters in three months. On the latest incident, Lieutenant Commander Dan Wardle, HMS Mersey's commanding officer, said: 'This operation is another clear demonstration of the Royal Navy's enduring commitment to safeguarding the United Kingdom's maritime interests. 'Monitoring the transit of naval vessels through our area of responsibility remains a fundamental task; one that ensures we maintain situational awareness and the ability to respond swiftly when required. 'I am proud of my ship's company, whose professionalism, cohesion, and constant readiness continue to reflect the high standards expected of Royal Navy personnel.' The Navy spokesman said that as the Russian submarine left UK waters, monitoring responsibilities were passed on to Nato allies. He added that it was the sixth such tasking for HMS Mersey in the last three months. It comes at a time of increased efforts by the UK and Nato to monitor Moscow's activity in European waters. Last month, another shadow Kilo-class submarine, Krasnodar, was detected in the Channel, forcing the Navy to deploy HMS Tyne to track it. That came just two weeks after HMS St Albans and HMS Mersey shadowed Russian vessels through the Channel in a separate incident. At the same time, the number of Russian oil tankers passing through the Channel has almost doubled since London sanctioned Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine, according to data analysis by The Telegraph.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Russian submarine shadowed by Royal Navy as it travelled through UK waters
Royal Navy helicopters and a warship have shadowed a surfaced Russian submarine as it sailed through the North Sea and English Channel. Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey, a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron and a specialist submarine-hunting Merlin aircraft from 824 Naval Air Squadron were involved in the operation to monitor the RFN Novorossiysk as it sailed west through UK waters. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The British warship and helicopters utilised powerful sensors and systems to watch every move the Kilo-class boat and Goryn-class tug boat Yakov Grebelski during their voyage.' HMS Mersey's commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Dan Wardle said: 'This operation is another clear demonstration of the Royal Navy's enduring commitment to safeguarding the United Kingdom's maritime interests. 'Monitoring the transit of naval vessels through our area of responsibility remains a fundamental task; one that ensures we maintain situational awareness and the ability to respond swiftly when required. 'I am proud of my ship's company, whose professionalism, cohesion and constant readiness continue to reflect the high standards expected of Royal Navy personnel.' The spokesman said that as the Russian submarine left UK waters, monitoring responsibilities were passed on to Nato allies. He added: 'It was the sixth such tasking for HMS Mersey in the last three months and comes just a week after the patrol ship and fellow Portsmouth ships HMS Duncan and HMS Trent were all activated to watch Russian frigate RFN Admiral Grigorovich and corvette RFN Boikiy in UK waters.'
South Wales Guardian
02-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Guardian
Russian submarine shadowed by Royal Navy as it travelled through UK waters
Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey, a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron and a specialist submarine-hunting Merlin aircraft from 824 Naval Air Squadron were involved in the operation to monitor the RFN Novorossiysk as it sailed west through UK waters. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The British warship and helicopters utilised powerful sensors and systems to watch every move the Kilo-class boat and Goryn-class tug boat Yakov Grebelski during their voyage.' HMS Mersey's commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Dan Wardle said: 'This operation is another clear demonstration of the Royal Navy's enduring commitment to safeguarding the United Kingdom's maritime interests. 'Monitoring the transit of naval vessels through our area of responsibility remains a fundamental task; one that ensures we maintain situational awareness and the ability to respond swiftly when required. 'I am proud of my ship's company, whose professionalism, cohesion and constant readiness continue to reflect the high standards expected of Royal Navy personnel.' The spokesman said that as the Russian submarine left UK waters, monitoring responsibilities were passed on to Nato allies. He added: 'It was the sixth such tasking for HMS Mersey in the last three months and comes just a week after the patrol ship and fellow Portsmouth ships HMS Duncan and HMS Trent were all activated to watch Russian frigate RFN Admiral Grigorovich and corvette RFN Boikiy in UK waters.'
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Russian submarine shadowed by Royal Navy as it travelled through UK waters
Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey, a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron and a specialist submarine-hunting Merlin aircraft from 824 Naval Air Squadron were involved in the operation to monitor the RFN Novorossiysk as it sailed west through UK waters. Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey, tracking Russian submarine, the FN Novorossiysk (Royal Navy/PA) A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The British warship and helicopters utilised powerful sensors and systems to watch every move the Kilo-class boat and Goryn-class tug boat Yakov Grebelski during their voyage.' HMS Mersey's commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Dan Wardle said: 'This operation is another clear demonstration of the Royal Navy's enduring commitment to safeguarding the United Kingdom's maritime interests. 'Monitoring the transit of naval vessels through our area of responsibility remains a fundamental task; one that ensures we maintain situational awareness and the ability to respond swiftly when required. 'I am proud of my ship's company, whose professionalism, cohesion and constant readiness continue to reflect the high standards expected of Royal Navy personnel.' The spokesman said that as the Russian submarine left UK waters, monitoring responsibilities were passed on to Nato allies. He added: 'It was the sixth such tasking for HMS Mersey in the last three months and comes just a week after the patrol ship and fellow Portsmouth ships HMS Duncan and HMS Trent were all activated to watch Russian frigate RFN Admiral Grigorovich and corvette RFN Boikiy in UK waters.'
Rhyl Journal
02-07-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Russian submarine shadowed by Royal Navy as it travelled through UK waters
Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey, a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron and a specialist submarine-hunting Merlin aircraft from 824 Naval Air Squadron were involved in the operation to monitor the RFN Novorossiysk as it sailed west through UK waters. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The British warship and helicopters utilised powerful sensors and systems to watch every move the Kilo-class boat and Goryn-class tug boat Yakov Grebelski during their voyage.' HMS Mersey's commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Dan Wardle said: 'This operation is another clear demonstration of the Royal Navy's enduring commitment to safeguarding the United Kingdom's maritime interests. 'Monitoring the transit of naval vessels through our area of responsibility remains a fundamental task; one that ensures we maintain situational awareness and the ability to respond swiftly when required. 'I am proud of my ship's company, whose professionalism, cohesion and constant readiness continue to reflect the high standards expected of Royal Navy personnel.' The spokesman said that as the Russian submarine left UK waters, monitoring responsibilities were passed on to Nato allies. He added: 'It was the sixth such tasking for HMS Mersey in the last three months and comes just a week after the patrol ship and fellow Portsmouth ships HMS Duncan and HMS Trent were all activated to watch Russian frigate RFN Admiral Grigorovich and corvette RFN Boikiy in UK waters.'
