Royal Navy Warship Shadows Russian Corvette Through English Channel And North Sea

The Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate, HMS Somerset, shadowed the Russian corvette Boikiy for three days as it escorted the merchant vessel Baltic Leader from Syria to Russia.

Key Details of the Operation

• Cargo: Baltic Leader was carrying military hardware from Russia’s Tartus naval base in Syria.
• Surveillance:
  • HMS Somerset monitored the vessel’s movements using advanced sensors and radars.
  • The ship’s Merlin helicopter (814 Naval Air Squadron) provided aerial intelligence.
  • UK patrol aircraft and NATO allies assisted in tracking the convoy.
• Suspicious Activities: Russian crew members were reportedly burning papers and manning machine guns, according to The Times.

Operational Timeline

• March 1: The Russian warship Boikiy sailed south through the North Sea and English Channel to meet Baltic Leader near Ushant, France.
• Escorted Journey: HMS Somerset shadowed Boikiy as it escorted Baltic Leader back to Russia.

Commander’s Statement

Commander Joel Roberts, commanding officer of HMS Somerset, stated:

“Great professionalism has been shown by the ship’s company to remain vigilant whilst operating in UK waters and integrating with our Nato allies to monitor Russian activity around Europe.”

Recent Royal Navy Monitoring of Russian Vessels

• January 2025: HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne tracked suspected Russian spy vessel Yantar.
• Two weeks ago: HMS Iron Duke, HMS Tyne, and RFA Tideforce monitored a five-ship convoy, including three merchant vessels, sailing from Syria to a Russian Baltic port.

This latest operation highlights the Royal Navy’s ongoing vigilance in monitoring Russian naval movements in European waters.