<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and RAF have maintained constant watch on two Russian naval task groups passing the UK over the past seven days.<\/p>\n
Warships, helicopters, a support ship and long-range maritime patrol aircraft monitored the progress of two separate groups – one led by the newest frigate in the Russian Navy – as they sailed in opposite directions through the English Channel, one bound for the Atlantic, the second towards the Baltic.<\/p>\n
Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke<\/em> and tanker RFA Tideforce <\/em>were activated to meet up with a trio of Russian vessels, centred on the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate Admiral Golovko,<\/em> which was only commissioned on Christmas Day last year, as they passed through the North Sea.<\/p>\n The Golovko <\/em>was accompanied by oceanographic research vessel Yantar <\/em>and supporting tanker Vyazma<\/em>. All three had been tracked by the Norwegian Navy before British forces took over. The Duke-class frigate and Tide-class tanker both followed the trio through the Dover Strait and Channel before handing over monitoring duties to the French Navy.<\/p>\n The Yantar <\/em>continues to remain in the UK’s area of interest, with Portsmouth-based minehunter HMS Cattistock <\/em>watching the survey vessel’s every move.<\/p>\n As the Golovko <\/em>and Vyazma <\/em>continued their journey past France, Iron Duke<\/em> took over shadowing duties of the second Russian group: frigate Neustrashimy <\/em>and her support ship, tanker Akademik Pashin,<\/em> which were making for their home port in the Baltic.<\/p>\n