Royal Navy forced to use supporter tanker to shadow Russian submarine in English Channel

The news comes on the day Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte warned members of the alliance to get serious about the growing threat from Russia.

In a speech in Berlin, he warned Nato members the slow pace of military investment by too many allies was deeply concerning.
"We are Russia's next target." he warned."I fear that too many are quietly complacent. Too many don't feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now."

The Royal Navy said the UK had seen a 30 per cent increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters in the past two years.

But senior maritime security sources told GB News the use of a naval support oil tanker to shadow a Russian sub was "far from optimal".

One source said: "Obviously any naval operation to escort Russian vessels near the UK should ideally involve the use of a warship, a frigate or destroyer. Even an offshore patrol vessel is preferable to the use of a support tanker. The optics of this are not great. It sends the message that we're really struggling when it comes to our surface fleet, which sadly we are.

Although Britian is currently building two new classes of frigate, the Type 26 and Type 31, the first of this 13-strong fleet will not be fully operational for another three years.

Eight of those vessels will be specialist submarine hunters, which are vital to the UK and Nato's efforts to counter growing Russian undersea activity.

For now, the Navy is down to just seven aging Type 23 frigates, with more expected to be decommissioned over the next few years.

The small fleet of Type 45 destroyers has also suffered from poor availability, with most vessels tied up for long periods in refit.

This is the second time this year that a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker has been tasked with monitoring Russian activity.

RFA Tideforce was involved in shadowing Russian vessels in February.

After the latest operation involving the RFA Tidesurge, the Royal Navy praised the vessel's crew and the crew of the embarked Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron.

In a statement, the Royal Navy said: "The operation is part of the government’s ongoing commitment to safeguard the integrity of UK waters and protect national security through the government’s Plan for Change. The Merlin helicopter, based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall, remained embarked on RFA Tidesurge throughout the operation. Expert aircrew were prepared to pivot to anti-submarine operations if Krasnodar had dived below the surface. The Russian submarine sailed on the surface through the Channel despite stormy weather conditions sweeping the UK."

Commanding Officer of RFA Tidesurge, Captain James Allen, said: “There is nothing like a Russian submarine to focus the mind for any mariner. Our tasking over the course of three days involved the teamwork and professionalism of all RFA Tidesurge ship’s company, embarked 814 Naval Air Squadron Atlantic Flight and interoperability with near regional NATO allies. We worked together as a show of presence and deterrence as we transited from the North Sea to the English Channel.”

Lieutenant Commander David Emery, Flight Commander of 814 Naval Air Squadron’s Atlantic Flight said: Maintaining an overt presence and continued over watch of Russian vessels in UK waters is vital for national security. The flexibility and professionalism of the crew of RFA Tidesurge allows us to project our helicopter wherever, day or night, in the maritime environment.”

The Royal Navy continued to track Krasnodar and Altay until the Russians reached the northwest of France, near the island of Ushant, handing over the shadowing task to another NATO vessel.

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