A specialist Royal Navy submarine was scrambled to track its Russian counterpart, caught sailing west through British waters. The Royal Navy’s HMS Iron Mersey, a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron, and a specialist submarine-hunting Merlin aircraft from 824 Naval Air Squadron was spotted tracking the RFN Novorossiysk as it sailed through UK waters.
Together the helicopters and warship monitored “every move” of the “Kilo-class boat and Goryn-class tug boat Yakov Grebelski”. 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.”
Monitoring responsibilities were passed on to Nato allies after the Russian submarine left UK waters.
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.”
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.”
Kilo-class submarines can fire Russian Kalibr cruise missiles, torpedoes and lay mines.
Russia has more than 60 Kilo-class submarines, which have a top speed of 17 knots while surfaced or 20 knots submerged, and have been used to attack Ukraine from the Black Sea.