Latest news with #HMSIronDuke
Saba Yemen
6 days ago
- Saba Yemen
British Navy: Our Warships Monitored 5 Russian Vessels
London - Saba: The Royal Navy announced in a statement that its warships and helicopters monitored five Russian vessels that allegedly passed through British waters earlier this month. The statement, issued on Tuesday, said: 'The frigate HMS Iron Duke, based in Plymouth, the patrol vessel HMS Tyne, based in Portsmouth, and Wildcat aircraft from 815 Naval Air Squadron were deployed in three separate operations in the North Sea and English Channel between July 1 and 8.' The Navy clarified that the British ships also took part in the 'Sea Breeze' exercise in Portland. The Royal Navy added: 'The Royal Navy task group worked closely with NATO allies as they continuously monitored Russian activity, which included two Steregushchy-class frigates, an oil tanker, a cargo ship, and a Smolny-class training vessel crossing British waters.' The Navy further explained that the two warships (HMS Tyne and HMS Iron Duke) tracked the Smolny-class training ship as it headed westward from the North Sea, through the English Channel, to northwest France. One of the Steregushchy-class frigates was monitored as it returned from the eastern Mediterranean through the English Channel to the North Sea. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Royal Navy vessels shadowed Russian ships in UK waters for a fifth time this month alone as Putin continues to probe British defences
Royal Navy warships and helicopters have shadowed five Russian vessels in UK waters over the first week of July alone, as Vladimir Putin continues to test Britain's defence capabilities. Plymouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke, Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Tyne and Wildcat aircraft from 815 Naval Air Squadron were dispatched on three separate operations in the North Sea and English Channel between July 1 and today. The warships worked closely with NATO allies as they kept constant watch on the Russian vessels, including two Steregushchiy-class corvettes, a tanker, bulk carrier and a Smolnyy-class training ship, as they passed through UK waters. 'This all took place as allied nations took part in a significant exercise in Portland aimed at helping Ukraine make the Black Sea safe,' the Royal Navy said in a statement. It comes amid new warnings that Russia could soon pose a credible threat to Europe, one which would only be deterred with a rapid increase in defence spending. 'Strengthening Europe's defense industry is an absolute top priority, and we have to be able to defend ourselves by 2030 at the latest,' Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned today. 'Never, ever should we allow Europe to be put in a position again where we cannot defend ourselves,' he added during a speech to the European Parliament. A report out today claims that Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, is gearing up for a potential conflict with Russia by reserving space for ships carrying military supplies. RFA Boikiy. Royal Navy warships and helicopters have shadowed five Russian vessels in UK waters over the first week of July Boudewijn Siemons, chief executive of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, told the Financial Times that it was planning how to manage if the port was flooded by British and US vehicles and supplies if needed. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has warned that while Europe is not currently at war, it is not at peace either. Russia has been accused of acts of sabotage, cyberattacks and fake news campaigns, designed to weaken European support for Ukraine, according to officials. Many European leaders insist they have heard the Trump administration's warning that American security priorities now lie elsewhere - in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. At a key summit last month, NATO leaders endorsed a statement saying: 'Allies commit to invest 5 per cent of GDP annually on core defense requirements as well as defense- and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations.' That historic pledge will require them to spend tens of billions of euros more over the coming decade instead of the suggested five years. Spain - NATO's lowest spender with 1.28 per cent of GDP last year - quickly branded the target 'unreasonable.' Belgium has cast doubt over whether it will make the grade. Slovenia is considering a referendum. Heavyweights France and Italy are mired in economic woes and will struggle to get there too. Money spent on military support to Ukraine can now be included in NATO's defense calculations, but even that will not hike the GDP military spend by much. With the threat of Russian aggression in mind, the EU's executive branch has come up with a security plan. It hinges on a 150-billion-euro loan program that member countries, Ukraine and outsiders like Britain could dip into. It aims to fill gaps that the US might leave. Spending priorities for joint purchase include air and missile defense systems, artillery, ammunition, drones, equipment for use in cyber and electronic warfare, and 'strategic enablers' like air-to-air refueling and transport.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Time of India
UK Navy's dubious first in 500 years, Admiral Ben Key sacked for sex with subordinate
Admiral Sir Ben Key , the former First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy , has been dismissed from service following a misconduct inquiry into an extramarital affair with a subordinate officer. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that he has lost his rank but will retain his pension. The sacking marks the first time in 500 years that a First Sea Lord has faced dismissal due to misconduct. Sir Ben, 59, was suspended in May 2025 after allegations emerged of a relationship with a female subordinate. The complaint reportedly came from the officer's husband and invited a formal investigation. In a statement, the MoD said, 'Following a full investigation, Admiral Sir Ben Key's behaviour has been found to have fallen far short of the values and standards expected of service personnel. This has resulted in the termination of service and his commission.' A distinguished naval career ends in disgrace Sir Ben joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a university cadet. Over the years, he qualified as a helicopter aircrew and a Principal Warfare Officer. Live Events He commanded several vessels, including HMS Sandown, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Lancaster, and the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. He rose to First Sea Lord in 2021. He led major operations including 'Operation Pitting', the UK's evacuation from Afghanistan, and 'Operation Prosperity Guardian' to protect maritime routes in the Red Sea. In 2016, he was knighted and awarded the KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath). Sir Ben was scheduled to retire this summer before the inquiry disrupted his plans. He has been the head of the Royal Navy since 2021. In recorded history, a similar incident was in December 1917 when Admiral of the Fleet John Jellicoe was dismissed (asked to resign) from his position, though that was as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, not First Sea Lord. Personal statement and apology In a statement after his dismissal, Sir Ben said: 'Serving as First Sea Lord has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I pay tribute to the dedicated and professional officers, sailors, Royal Marines and civil servants who make up the Royal Navy.' He sincerely regretted his actions from the previous spring, stating that they did not meet the standards he held for himself or for the Royal Navy. Consequently, he fully accepted the decision of the Defence Council. Apologizing to his close ones, he said, 'I am very sorry to those I have hurt personally, and I apologise to everyone who serves with the Royal Navy. I am very grateful for the support of my wife, family, and friends during a very difficult time.'
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Daily Mail
How Prince William played a crucial role in HUGE drug bust seizing £40m worth of cocaine
When Prince William served in the Royal Navy on a two-month attachment back in 2008, he was involved in a major drug bust. The Prince of Wales was one of six Navy personnel who intercepted a vessel attempting to smuggle 900kg of cocaine in the Atlantic, north-east of Barbados. In total, the haul, which was seized in July 2008, was worth a staggering £40million at the time. Adjusted for inflation, it would now be worth over £60million. William was on board a Lynx helicopter which was tasked with monitoring speedboats off the coast of Barbados attempting to move drugs to west Africa or Europe. On this particular occasion, an ocean-going speedboat suspecting of smuggling drugs was spotted by the crew - which included William, a pilot and a sniper - and was ordered to stop. It was then boarded by US coastguard officers on board the British frigate HMS Iron Duke and the smugglers detained. William had only been deployed with the Royal Navy for less than a week when the operation took place - having arrived on June 24 as part of a secondment from the Royal Air Force. Speaking to The Guardian at the time, the ship's commander, Mark Newland, said: 'This is a fantastic start to HMS Iron Duke's North Atlantic deployment. 'To have had a direct impact on the flow of cocaine into Europe just four days after we arrived in theatre shows the benefit the Royal Navy can have in the area of maritime security and counter-drug operations.' According to royal author Penny Junor, deployment with HMS Iron Duke saw William experience 'a lot of excitement and a lot of danger'. The Prince of Wales enjoyed his time with the Navy so much that he extended his Royal Naval short service commission for as long as possible before he returned to the Royal Air Force. William's stint in the Royal Navy still affects him many years later. In 2020, it came up in conversation when the Prince was on a Remembrance Day video chat with LPT (leading physical trainer) Damon Bell, who was at the time serving on the British frigate HMS Montrose in the Gulf. During the call, LPT Bell referred to Montrose's recent £20million drugs seizure in the Middle East, and he joked that it was only half the amount of the bust made by HMS Iron Duke. William responded in jest: 'I wasn't going to bring that up, Damon, but I am glad it's still being talked about.' The prince's military career began in 2006, when he joined Sandhurst as an Officer Cadet. He was briefly considered for frontline duty, with the then-Queen Elizabeth II reportedly supportive of his deployment. However, William's status at the time as second in line to the throne meant the Government decided it was too risky for him to see active duty due to concerns about the safety of him and those around him. This is why William was instead sent to the RAF and the Royal Navy. Prince Harry, on the other hand, was allowed to serve in Afghanistan after much debate over whether to send the young prince to the war zone. He was first deployed to Helmand province as a forward air controller in 2007, but his first tour of duty was cut short when an Australian magazine broke a media embargo by mistake. However, he returned in 2012 with the Ministry of Defence publicising his second deployment on the understanding that the media would allow him to get on with the job at hand. In his memoir, Spare, the Duke of Sussex revealed that he killed 25 Taliban fighters during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, when he flew an Apache attack helicopter. Harry, who was known as 'Captain Wales' in the military, wrote that he did not think of those killed 'as people' but instead 'chess pieces removed from the board'... 'bad guys eliminated'. This was the first time that Harry, now 40, had specified the number of insurgents he had personally killed during his time in Afghanistan. While many soldiers do not know how many enemies they have killed in combat, the Duke wrote in Spare that 'in the era of Apaches and laptops' he was able to say 'with exactness' the number of insurgents he killed. During Harry's 2012 tour, he also helped provide helicopter support to the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan forces operating throughout Helmand province. Based out of Camp Bastion, 662 Squadron Army Air Corps, to which he belonged, flew more than a hundred missions over 2,500 flying hours, providing surveillance, deterrence and, when required, close combat attack capabilities as well as escort duties for other aircraft. Captain Wales, who qualified as a co-pilot gunner in February 2012, was posted to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, to gain further flying experience and to operate the Apache on a number of exercises before deploying to Afghanistan in September 2012.
ITV News
09-05-2025
- ITV News
Head of Royal Navy Ben Key suspended amid reports of ‘affair with subordinate'
The head of the Royal Navy has been suspended from his duties amid an investigation, which multiple reports said related to an alleged relationship with a subordinate. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed an investigation into 59-year-old First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Benjamin Key was 'ongoing'. The Sun and others reported on Friday that the probe relates to an allegation of an inappropriate relationship with a female officer under his command, in breach of the Navy's 'service test'. The Ministry of Defence did not deny the reports when contacted by ITV News. A MOD spokesperson said: 'An investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.' Key had reportedly been expected to retire this summer, but it is understood he has been told to step back from his role while the investigation takes place. It is believed to be the first time in the Navy's 500-year history that its top officer has faced a misconduct inquiry. It is understood that the Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, has taken full command of the Royal Navy while an investigation takes place. Last year in October, Key issued a f ull apology for 'intolerable' misogyny in the Submarine Service after investigations revealed widespread sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of female personnel. 'We must be better than this and do better than we have," he said in a statement. The married father of three, who has served in the Navy for 40 years, has been in his post as First Sea Lord since 2021. He became a vice admiral in 2016 and then served as fleet commander and chief of joint operations before being appointed First Sea Lord. Key has commanded four Royal Navy ships - HMS Sandown, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Lancaster and the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. A veteran of the Iraq War, he was awarded the US Bronze Star and played a key role in the withdrawal from Afghanistan. As First Sea Lord, he also serves as chief of the naval staff and chairs the Navy Board, overseeing the force's effectiveness, efficiency and morale on behalf of the defence secretary.
