British military alarmed by Russian warships in North Sea | World Defense

British military alarmed by Russian warships in North Sea

Khafee

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British military alarmed by Russian warships in North Sea
By Sara Shayanian
Dec. 26, 2017

British-military-alarmed-by-Russian-warships-in-North-Sea.jpg

Britain's Royal Navy frigate HMS St Albans escorts a Russian warship through the North Sea on Christmas Day, officials said. Photo by Royal Navy/EPA

Dec. 26 (UPI) -- British military officials became alarmed on Monday after seeing what they said amounted to aggression -- with Russian warships moving through the North Sea.

The Royal Navy said it escorted the Russian vessels through the sea after they passed near British territorial waters.

The HMS St. Albans, with a crew of 190, was sent to monitor the Admiral Gorshkov frigate on Saturday, officials said.

The HMS Tyne also shadowed a Russian intelligence-gathering ship through the North Sea.

The incident came amid what British officials say is an upsurge in Russian vessels traveling through London's territorial waters.

"Missing parts of Christmas and New Year with our families is never easy, but it is absolutely required as part of our duty to keep Britain safe all year round," Chris Ansell, a commanding officer of HMS St Albans, said.

"Christmas Eve saw some particularly exciting and bumpy weather, with some of my newer sailors getting used to their sea legs, but we have made sure the job was done and I will get my team back home as soon as possible."

Although Russia is allowed to sail through British and international waters, according to the law of the sea, the recent upsurge is seen by some asintentionally provocative.

"I will not hesitate in defending our waters or tolerate any form of aggression," British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said. "Britain will never be intimidated when it comes to protecting our country, our people and our national interests."

More than 1,500 British sailors were deployed over Christmas, as well as 950 soldiers and airmen to Estonia and Poland and about 1,500 to the Middle East to fight Islamic State militants.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-...an-warships-in-North-Sea/5531514290735/?nll=1
 

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Royal Navy intercepts Russian naval ships in English Channel


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HMS Westminster escorted Russian ships through the English Channel

  • Francesca Marshall
  • Ben Farmer
08 JANUARY 2018
A Royal Navy frigate is escorting four Russian naval ships through the English Channel.

HMS Westminster is accompanying two Russian frigates and two support ships as they head north returning from the Mediterranean.

Naval sources said the contact was routine, but it comes amid an estimated 10-fold increase of Russian naval activity in waters around Britain and in the North Atlantic this decade.

Commander Simon Kelly, the Commanding Officer of HMS Westminster, said: "HMS Westminster's role as the Royal Navy's Fleet Ready Escort is to be at very high readiness to respond to anything the British government requires.

"While today most people are returning to work for the first time in the New Year, HMS Westminster's ship's company has been at sea and at readiness as part of the Royal Navy's commitment to keep Britain safe at all times.

"The English Channel is an absolute lifeline for the UK, and it is very important HMS Westminster and the Royal Navy maintains a watchful eye on this key strategic link."

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HMS Westminster escorted five Russian ships through the English Channel CREDIT: LOUISE GEORGE

Royal Navy's HMS Westminster
Class: Type 23 frigate

Base: Portsmouth

Crew members on board: 184

Weapons and missiles: Sea Wolf Anti-air missile, two Harpoon anti-ship launchers and two Sting Ray anti-submarine torpedoes

Length: 133 metres

Top speed: 28 knots

Activity has risen in recent years with warships passing Britain on their way to join Russia's military campaign to prop up Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

On Christmas Day, the frigate HMS St Albans was dispatched to track the Russian vessel Admiral Gorshkov as it made its way through the North Sea close to Britain.

And on Christmas Eve, HMS Tyne was dispatched to escort a Russian intelligence-gathering ship through the North Sea and the England Channel.

A Wildcat helicopter was then also dispatched to monitor two further Russian vessels.

Giving a strong statement last month, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, said: "I will not hesitate in defending our waters or tolerate any form of aggression.

"Britain will never be intimidated when it comes to protecting our country, our people, and our national interests."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...epts-russian-naval-ships-english-channel/amp/
 
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