Latest news with #HMSDuncan
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Russian submarine off UK coast tracked by Royal Navy warship and helicopters
Helicopters and a warship were involved in the operation to monitor the RFN Novorossiysk submarine as it sailed west through UK waters, a Royal Navy spokesman confirmed The Royal Navy used helicopters and a warship in order to shadow a surfaced Russian submarine as it sailed through the North Sea and English Channel. The 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 all 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." It comes just days Luke Pollard, Minister for the Armed Forces, issued a warning that Russian warships are "increasingly sailing through the English Channel" and the Royal Navy was urged to deploy its warships and helicopters to shadow Russian activity in the English Channel and North Sea. In response to the increase in appearances, the Royal Navy has been instructed to strengthen its defence. Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Duncan and patrol ship HMS Mersey worked in tandem as they reported on the movements of RFN Boikiy as the corvette sailed eastwards through the English Channel. Mr Pollard stressed: " Russian warships are increasingly sailing through the English Channel, and every time they do, a Royal Navy vessel will be keeping an eye on them. I have every confidence, as should the British public, that our Royal Navy will continue to defend our waters and keep our undersea cables safe." Commander Daniel Lee, Commanding Officer of HMS Duncan, said: "Escorting foreign warships through waters near the UK is a vital part of our mission to protect our nation and uphold international maritime law. It's a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our seas, which are so important to the lives and livelihoods of the British people. As a ship's company, we are proud to carry out this duty on behalf of the nation, showcasing our professionalism and readiness to respond to any task required of us." This operation came soon after patrol ship HMS Trent and Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron shadowed RFN Admiral Grigorovich as part of joint NATO efforts as the Russian frigate sailed past Gibraltar, through the English Channel and into the North Sea. Type 45 destroyer Duncan met the Steregushchiy-class corvette near the island of Ushant at the southwestern end of the Channel on the French coast on June 20. HMS Mersey took over duties off the Isle of Wight on June 21, with Duncan returning to training ahead of operations.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Royal Navy shadows Russian warship off Isle of Wight in security mission
Royal Navy vessels have tracked the movements of a Russian warship travelling off the Isle of Wight coast through the English Channel. HMS Mersey, a patrol ship often seen in the Solent, took over shadowing duties from Type 45 air defence destroyer HMS Duncan as the Russian corvette RFN Boikiy made its way back from deployment in the Gulf of Guinea. The operation, which involved careful monitoring of the vessel as it passed along the south coast of England, saw HMS Mersey meet the warship off the coast of the Island on Friday (June 20). A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed that the Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Duncan first intercepted RFN Boikiy near the French island of Ushant before the handover to HMS Mersey. Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Duncan Recommended reading: 'Possibly the rarest bird on the Island' caught on camera in woodland 'Amazing sight' as 93-year-old's rare plant grows as high as her house The move is part of a wider effort to keep tabs on foreign naval activity in the UK's waters. Luke Pollard, Minister for the Armed Forces, said: 'Russian warships are increasingly sailing through the English Channel, and every time they do, a Royal Navy vessel will be keeping an eye on them. 'I have every confidence, as should the British public, that our Royal Navy will continue to defend our waters and keep our undersea cables safe.' The Channel has seen heightened naval attention in recent months. HMS Mersey docked in Falmouth (Image: David Barnicoat) This latest mission follows closely on the heels of a similar operation involving HMS Trent and Wildcat helicopters, which monitored the passage of Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich past Gibraltar and through the Channel into the North Sea. Commander Daniel Lee, commanding officer of HMS Duncan, stressed the importance of these missions: 'Escorting foreign warships through waters near the UK is a vital part of our mission to protect our nation and uphold international maritime law. 'It's a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our seas, which are so important to the lives and livelihoods of the British people.'
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- General
- Qatar Tribune
British Royal Navy shadows Russian ships through English Channel
LondoncTypeface:> Britain's Royal Navy has shadowed Russian ships as they travelled through the English Channel. Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Duncan and patrol ship HMS Mersey were dispatched to track the movements of RFN Boikiy which was on its way back from deployment in the Gulf of Guinea. Duncan met the corvette near the island of Ushant at the south-western end of the Channel on the French coast on June 20 before HMS Mersey took over duties off the Isle of Wight. It is the latest deployment of a UK warship to follow Russian vessels. It came soon after patrol ship HMS Trent and Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron shadowed RFN Admiral Grigorovich as part of joint NATO efforts as the Russian frigate sailed past Gibraltar, through the English Channel and into the North Sea, the Royal Navy said. (PA Media/dpa)
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Royal Navy ‘keeping an eye' on Russian ships passing through English Channel
The Royal Navy has shadowed Russian warships as they transited through the English Channel, marking the latest in a series of such close encounters in strategic waters. Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Duncan and patrol ship HMS Mersey were deployed to monitor the movements of the Russian corvette RFN Boikiy. The Russian vessel was returning from a deployment in the Gulf of Guinea when HMS Duncan intercepted it near the island of Ushant, off the French coast, on June 20. Patrol ship HMS Mersey then took over surveillance duties as the Boikiy proceeded past the Isle of Wight. This incident follows a pattern of similar deployments by UK warships to track Russian vessels. Recently, HMS Trent, a patrol ship, along with Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron, tracked the Russian frigate RFN Admiral Grigorovich as part of joint Nato operations. That vessel sailed past Gibraltar, through the English Channel, and into the North Sea, the Royal Navy confirmed. Luke Pollard, Minister for the Armed Forces, said: 'Russian warships are increasingly sailing through the English Channel, and every time they do, a Royal Navy vessel will be keeping an eye on them. 'I have every confidence, as should the British public, that our Royal Navy will continue to defend our waters and keep our undersea cables safe.' Commander Daniel Lee, Commanding Officer of HMS Duncan, said: 'Escorting foreign warships through waters near the UK is a vital part of our mission to protect our nation and uphold international maritime law. 'It's a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our seas, which are so important to the lives and livelihoods of the British people.'
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Russian warships shadowed by Royal Navy in UK waters as Putin vessel sails towards English Channel
Russian warships have been shadowed by Royal Navy warships and helicopters amid activity from Putin 's vessels in the English Channel and North Sea. During the operation, Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Duncan and patrol ship HMS Mersey worked together as they reported on RFN Boilky's movements. The Russian corvette was recorded sailing eastwards through the English Channel. It comes after patrol ship HMS Trent and Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron shadowed RFN Admiral Grigorovich. The mission was a part of joint NATO efforts as the Russian frigate sailed past Gibraltar, through the English Channel and into the North Sea. The Type 45 destroyer Duncan met the Steregushchiy-class corvette near the island of Ushant at the southwestern end of the Channel on the French coast on June 20. HMS Mersey took over duties off the Isle of Wight on June 21, with Duncan returning to training ahead of operations. Luke Pollard, the minister for the Armed Forces said Russian warships were 'increasingly sailing through the English Channel'. He added: 'And every time they do, a Royal Navy vessel will be keeping an eye on them. 'I have every confidence, as should the British public, that our Royal Navy will continue to defend our waters and keep our undersea cables safe.' Commander Daniel Lee, Commanding Officer of HMS Duncan, said: 'Escorting foreign warships through waters near the UK is a vital part of our mission to protect our nation and uphold international maritime law. 'It's a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our seas, which are so important to the lives and livelihoods of the British people. 'As a ship's company, we are proud to carry out this duty on behalf of the nation, showcasing our professionalism and readiness to respond to any task required of us.' HMS Duncan reported on Boikiy's movements using cutting-edge sensors and powerful radar, as Putin's warships continued its journey back from deployment in the Gulf of Guinea. Boikiy was last tracked by the Royal Navy in May by HMS Tyne, but the main difference now is that the Russian vessel was missing an anchor. HMS Mersey took over duties off the Isle of Wight on June 21, with Duncan returning to training ahead of operations. For patrol ship Mersey, also based in Portsmouth, this is the fifth time it has tracked Russian warships in UK waters last year. Lieutenant Commander Daniel Wardle, Commanding Officer of HMS Mersey, said: 'This operation is routine business for the Royal Navy and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to safeguarding the integrity of UK waters. 'Monitoring the movement of transiting naval vessels through the region is a fundamental task, and I am immensely proud of my ship's company for the professionalism, teamwork, and vigilance they consistently display.' HMS Trent was previously tasked to track the Admiral Grigorovich on her return journey to the UK for essential training. It comes after Trent spent more than four years away from home on missions in the Mediterranean, off West Africa and the Caribbean. The patrol ship began shadowing the frigate in waters near Gibraltar and closely watched movements through the Channel and into the North Sea. Commander Gavin Lowe, Commanding Officer HMS Trent, said: 'The Royal Navy is at sea every day safeguarding UK waters and I'm very proud of the professionalism and skill my team displayed while providing this vital assurance.'
