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Two Royal Navy ships were sent to accompany a couple of Russian military vessels. English Channel It has come to light.
The RAF said today that the Royal Navy had deployed HMS Cattistock and HMS Somerset to the waters near Folkestone and Dover to escort the Russian destroyer Severomorsk and landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin away from UK territory.
The Air Force reported that their P-8 Poseidon squadron identified the threat yesterday, also mentioning that the Royal Navy dispatched the British warships on the same day.
Belgium's armed forces reported that their naval units had identified the Severomorsk. NATO water levels during the night from March 15 to March 16.
The Severomorsk, measuring over 530 feet in length and 20 feet in width, can reach a maximum speed of 35 knots (40 mph).
This vessel is equipped with eight anti-aircraft and naval guns, along with 72 anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, as well as 44 anti-submarine torpedoes and rocket launchers. The ship has a crew of 300 personnel and can additionally accommodate up to two Ka-27 military helicopters.
Meanwhile, the Aleksandr Shabalin measures 369 feet in length and 49 feet in width. Its maximum speed can reach up to 18 knots (20 mph) and it is equipped with two gun mounts along with six missiles.
However, it has the capacity to transport up to 500 tons of armored vehicles and accommodate 225 Marines.
This is not the first instance of Aleksandr Shabalin being spotted in British waters.
In January, the landing ship was spotted patrolling the English Channel. The Royal Air Force stated that they utilized a P-8A Poseidon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth to monitor its activities.
The reason for the presence of the two Russian warships near the UK is presently unclear.
However, their arrival is only a few weeks after another did so. A Russian naval ship was observed accompanying a sanctions-connected cargo vessel linked to Russia as it navigated through the English Channel. .
Armed forces were observed operating machine guns aboard the Boikiy, a 343-foot-long Russian corvette capable of accommodating up to 99 individuals simultaneously.
The warship coordinated its movements with the sizable cargo vessel that was authorized by the United States in 2022 to transport weaponry destined for Russia. This occurred amid escalating actions from Moscow on the global scene, particularly when hostilities in Ukraine intensified and the U.S. incapacitated British Storm Shadow missiles.
This time, the Baltic Leader transported a consignment of military equipment originating from a Russian facility in Tartus, Syria, as Moscow scales back its activities following the ousting of former ruler Bashar al-Assad.
James Droxford from the intelligence firm Droxford Maritime stated: "The seized military equipment on board the Baltic Leader might be employed to bolster Russia’s fighting strength in Ukraine or restock armaments in crucial Russian military zones."
The escort mission for Boikiy started at 5 am on March 3rd, located south of Torquay.
The convoy moved gradually across the English Channel, with two ships trailing behind: HMS Somerset from the Royal Navy and BNS Crocus from the Belgian Navy.
The Baltic Leader was subsequently observed departing from the English Channel on March 4 at 2:00 PM.
Somerset, equipped with an arsenal of weaponry such as anti-ship missiles and a 4.5-inch naval gun, patrolled the waters of the North Sea and English Channel.
A spokesperson for the Royal Navy stated: "The British Type 23 frigate employed its advanced sensors and radar systems to monitor Russian activities, dispatching a Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron to collect crucial data from above."
The vessel collaborated closely with British patrol planes and allied NATO units throughout the mission, offering continuous surveillance of the task force.
As reported by the Royal Navy, Somerset was mobilized on March 1 as the Russian warship moved southward through the North Sea and English Channel to join Baltic Leader.
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