UK’s Royal Navy Highlights Increased Monitoring of Russian Vessels
The UK’s Royal Navy reports that it has seen an increase in the number of Russian vessels transiting the English Channel, and it is responding by maintaining its patrol efforts. They report the operation is part of the ongoing commitment to safeguard UK waters and protect national security.
The monitoring is being stepped up after numerous reports of drones possibly being launched from Russian-controlled vessels. Air traffic was suspended on Monday at Copenhagen's airport after drones which the Danish authorities said they suspected were launched from a nearby cargo ship. Germany has reported similar instances of drones in recent months also suspecting they were being launched from ships.
The latest monitoring effort began on September 20 when a well-known Russian cargo ship used for military cargoes, Sparta IV (8,870 dwt), was identified as moving west through the North Sea. The cargo ship was being escorted by the Soviet-era frigate RFN Neustrashimy (3,500 tons displacement), which was commissioned in 1993. Sparta IV has been sailing for the Russians since 2018 and is operated by a sanctioned shipping company.
The Royal Navy once again called on its Plymouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke (4,900 tons displacement) for the monitoring operation. It was the 18th time in the past 12 months that the warship has been activated for monitoring missions. They report a total of 25 Russian vessels have been monitored, giving the Iron Duke her reputation as the escort ship of the Royal Navy. For this effort, she was joined by a Wildcat helicopter from Yeovilton’s 815 Naval Air Squadron.
“Russian warships are increasingly transiting through the English Channel,” said the UK’s Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard. “Alongside our commitment to NATO’s Eastern Sentry, this is a clear demonstration of how the UK stands firm with our NATO allies to deter Russian aggression.”
The Royal Navy utilized a combination of radar and sensors to track the Russian vessels as they sailed through the North Sea and into the English Channel. The effort also involved assets from four NATO nations.
“This type of tasking goes largely unseen, and as a ship’s company, we are extremely proud of our direct contribution to the UK’s national interests,” said Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke, Commander David Armstrong.
The ships passed without incident. The Sparta IV was continuing to the Mediterranean, reports the Royal Navy. Near the Channel Islands and the island of Ushant, the Iron Duke handed over the monitoring of the cargo ship to a NATO ally.
The Russian warship ended the escort and reversed course back through the English Channel. Iron Duke continued to monitor the vessel until it entered the North Sea. Iron Duke ended the monitoring on September 23, returning to its homeport.
Carrier HMS Prince of Wales is Back in Singapore as Return Journey Begins
HMS Prince of Wales (R09) is completing its second port call this year to Singapore, as part of the UK-led Carrier Strike Group (CSG)’s 2025 Indo-Pacific deployment. The return to Singapore marks completion of a phase of the deployment where the CSG has exercised extensively with Japanese and Korean vessels as well as the US Navy, and the CSG has now left the South China Sea.
The carrier is due to remain in port until September 25 and is docked in Singapore’s Changi Naval Base. Norwegian Nansen Class frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311), logistic vessel HMNZS Aotearoa (A11), Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33) and RFA Tidespring (A136) have been using the naval facilities of the British Defence Singapore Support Unit at Sembawang, a small support unit the UK maintains in order to support its commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), of which Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK (the SUMAN nations) are signatories. Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond (F239) is to join up having completed training with Philippines Navy Jose Rizal Class frigate BRP Antonio Luna (F151) off Manila.
HMS Prince of Wales leaves Singapore to take part in the FPDA’s five-day Exercise Bersama Lima. Bersama Lima is an annual exercise with air, land, and maritime components, in which the principal aim is to improve interoperability in combined operations to defend Malaysia and Singapore. Participation of the CSG will give this year’s exercise a particular maritime air focus. Australia is deploying F-35A aircraft and the Anzac Class frigate HMAS Ballarat (F155) on the exercise. Bersama Lima is the culmination of the FPDA’s annual series of Bersama tactical exercises and Suman command post exercises.
On completion of Exercise Bersama Lima, the CSG is likely to adopt a lower profile as it switches from training and defense diplomacy to an operational phase and heads westwards through the Indian Ocean towards the challenges of the Arabian Sea.
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