UK Defence Journal

By George Allison

13 September 2024

Source: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/images-show-british-warship-shadow-russian-submarine-near-uk/

The Royal Navy has successfully concluded a six-day operation to monitor a Russian submarine as it passed by the UK.

HMS Iron Duke and HMS Tyne were tasked with shadowing the Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and its tug, Evgeny Churov, as they sailed through the English Channel and into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Royal Navy says the operation began when the Canadian warship HMCS Shawinigan handed over monitoring duties to HMS Iron Duke as the Russian vessels approached the Dover Strait from the Baltic Sea.

HMS Iron Duke, a Type 23 frigate based in Portsmouth, closely tracked the Russian submarine and tug, with support from its Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron. The submarine remained on the surface throughout the operation, and once the vessels exited UK waters, French warship FS Auvergne took over the shadowing duties.

In a subsequent operation, HMS Iron Duke was called back to monitor another Russian vessel, the Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoiky, along with its accompanying tanker MT Yaz. The frigate monitored the Russian vessels as they passed the Dover Strait before handing over duties to HMS Tyne, which continued shadowing the vessels off the northwest coast of France.

The Royal Navy’s surveillance efforts ensured the Russian vessels adhered to international maritime law, maintaining a close watch to guarantee they posed no threat while passing through UK waters. 

According to Commander David Armstrong, Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke, “Maritime security operations of this nature are a fundamental capability of the Royal Navy, with the protection of our sovereign waters and critical national infrastructure a key focus.”

This marks the fourth and fifth such monitoring operations for HMS Iron Duke since returning to active service after a period of training.