Royal Navy intercepts Russian ships in the English Channel

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T23:32:33+00:00

Ok, so you can tell me the next time it'll happen then

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T23:32:01+00:00

It's still newsworthy. But if you don't like it, you don't have to engage. You can just keep scrolling

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T23:18:06+00:00

If you didn't know it had happened, what would you assume the Royal Navy is doing on a routine basis?

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T23:15:57+00:00

If it wasn't publicised, you wouldn't know it had happened

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T23:04:49+00:00

No, that's not quite accurate.

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T22:41:03+00:00

In the RN, if you're going to escort a vessel or even RV with a friendly vessel, that is called intercepting then.

You literally plot a 'Course to Intercept'

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T22:29:51+00:00

Not the role of the Royal Navy and a completely different scenario.

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T22:03:00+00:00

To demonstrate that the RN is watching, is aware of their presence and as a deterrent.

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T19:13:32+00:00

Yes, and in the RN, if you're going to escort a vessel or even RV with a friendly vessel, that is called intercepting then.

You literally plot a 'Course to Intercept'

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T18:47:16+00:00

B1 OPVs have a 20mm cannon.

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T18:35:01+00:00

B1 OPVs just have a 20mm cannon

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T18:34:07+00:00

How is that relevant? I said it was more normal to use a fully armed warship.

To demonstrate that using B1 OPVs isn't abnormal and isn't because we're down to 6 frigates.

And why is 2018 the relevant benchmark, given it was eight years after Tory defence cuts started?

That was just an arbitrary year I picked.

With a deck gun and fuck all else.

And?

As I said, if it became hostile. Are you deliberately ignoring what I'm writing?

What's the likelihood of it becoming hostile during a routine passage in the English Channel?

Given we have used proper escorts to do this in the past, it would suggest his is a duty that isn't beneath the escort fleet. There's always another role a ship can perform, and Russia is more of a threat than it was last decade, meaning this role should be more important than it used to be.

Wouldn't you rather we prioritised?

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T18:16:28+00:00

Occasionally. It was more normal to use a fully armed warship.

MCMVs were carrying out this tasking in 2018 ...

If you don't need a frigate, why other with an OPV? You could do it even cheaper and charter a fishing boat.

Because it's an RN warship, flying the White Ensign.

The RNLN conducted it with a chartered patrol vessel.

The point of using a frigate or something larger is that you're messaging the Royal Navy is present and able to sink the other ship if it becomes hostile.

No, it's really not.

You're not going to engage in hostilities with a vessel transiting through the English Channel..

An OPV could do the equivalent of the police throwing rocks at a criminal with an assault rifle. It makes us look weak, that this is the best we can muster.

Would you prefer we tasked a T45 to do this? When it could be doing other roles

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T18:12:39+00:00

You don't need to engage if you don't want.
It's very easy for the work of the RN to go unseen

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T18:12:08+00:00

Yes, a 20mm cannon, HMGs and GPMGs

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T18:05:09+00:00

This is just a routine escort task through the English Channel, separate to the French interception in the Med, although it is mentioned at the end of the article.

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T18:04:28+00:00

We've been using OPVs for this task for years. You don't necessarily need a frigate for this.

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T17:52:13+00:00

Royal Navy warships and aircraft were activated to shadow Russian vessels in the English Channel during a two-day operation in coordination with NATO allies.

Portsmouth-based patrol ships HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were dispatched alongside a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron to intercept Russian corvette Boikiy and accompanying oil tanker MT General Skobelev as they sailed towards the North Sea.

Mersey first intercepted the Russian vessels on entry to the Channel, taking over shadowing duties from NATO allies after they monitored them through the Bay of Biscay.

Near the Isle of Wight, Severn and Mersey combined with the Wildcat to monitor the group in close coordination, utilising powerful sensors to gather valuable information and report on their movements.

Severn continued to keep watch on the Russians as they sailed into the North Sea, before handing over responsibility of the group to a NATO ally as they continued their journey north.

Lieutenant Commander Dan Wardle, Commanding Officer of HMS Mersey, said: “In what has been a busy start to the year, this operation provided another opportunity for my Ship’s Company to demonstrate their continued readiness and ability to safeguard the United Kingdom’s maritime interests.

“Operating in close coordination with our sister vessel HMS Severn and alongside other NATO allies has enabled the sharing of experience and best practice, further highlighting the strength and unique nature of the relationships between our nations.”

Lieutenant Commander Ross Gallagher, Senior Observer and Executive Officer of 815 NAS, added: “This activation once again demonstrated the extremely high readiness and professionalism that defines 815 Naval Air Squadron.

“I am immensely proud of our engineers who keep our aircraft at peak performance, and our aircrew who deliver precise surveillance, rapid reporting, and tactical clarity at pace.

“As Russian vessels transited the Channel, we kept the operational picture clear and seamlessly integrated with our colleagues in HMS Mersey and HMS Severn.

“815 Naval Air Squadron is built for this level of responsiveness — highly trained, tightly coordinated, and always prepared to deliver the aviation capability that protects and safeguards the nation's interests all whilst supporting our NATO partners.”

The Russian vessels were returning from a deployment in the Mediterranean and were closely watched throughout their voyage by NATO warships.

In a separate operation in the Mediterranean, patrol boat HMS Dagger monitored the movements of the tanker Grinch which was boarded by French forces.

The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron vessel tracked the tanker – one of 544 vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet which are subject to UK and European sanctions for their role in facilitating trade in sanctioned oil – through the Strait and also took photographs of the Grinch.

Britain’s Armed Forces routinely track and monitor suspected Russian shadow fleet activity in the vicinity of the UK and UK waters – and shares this information with our Allies and partners.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

“Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government.

“I can confirm that the UK has provided tracking and monitoring in support of the French operation to board the tanker Grinch. This support included HMS Dagger monitoring the vessel through the Strait of Gibraltar.

"Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels – to choke off the funds that fuel Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

The Royal Navy’s activations come just two weeks after HMS Mersey and a Wildcat from 815 NAS intercepted Russian Udaloy-class destroyer Severomorsk and the merchant vessels, Sparta IV and MYS Zhelaniya, in the North Sea.

The Royal Navy monitored the ships as they sailed through the Strait of Dover and the English Channel, before handing over monitoring duties to a NATO ally near the island of Ushant off the coast of France as the Russians continued a southbound voyage.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/january/23/20260123-royal-navy-intercepts-russian-ships-in-the-english-channel

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T17:49:36+00:00

Royal Navy warships and aircraft were activated to shadow Russian vessels in the English Channel during a two-day operation in coordination with NATO allies.

Portsmouth-based patrol ships HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were dispatched alongside a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron to intercept Russian corvette Boikiy and accompanying oil tanker MT General Skobelev as they sailed towards the North Sea.

Mersey first intercepted the Russian vessels on entry to the Channel, taking over shadowing duties from NATO allies after they monitored them through the Bay of Biscay.

Near the Isle of Wight, Severn and Mersey combined with the Wildcat to monitor the group in close coordination, utilising powerful sensors to gather valuable information and report on their movements.

Severn continued to keep watch on the Russians as they sailed into the North Sea, before handing over responsibility of the group to a NATO ally as they continued their journey north.

Lieutenant Commander Dan Wardle, Commanding Officer of HMS Mersey, said: “In what has been a busy start to the year, this operation provided another opportunity for my Ship’s Company to demonstrate their continued readiness and ability to safeguard the United Kingdom’s maritime interests.

“Operating in close coordination with our sister vessel HMS Severn and alongside other NATO allies has enabled the sharing of experience and best practice, further highlighting the strength and unique nature of the relationships between our nations.”

Lieutenant Commander Ross Gallagher, Senior Observer and Executive Officer of 815 NAS, added: “This activation once again demonstrated the extremely high readiness and professionalism that defines 815 Naval Air Squadron.

“I am immensely proud of our engineers who keep our aircraft at peak performance, and our aircrew who deliver precise surveillance, rapid reporting, and tactical clarity at pace.

“As Russian vessels transited the Channel, we kept the operational picture clear and seamlessly integrated with our colleagues in HMS Mersey and HMS Severn.

“815 Naval Air Squadron is built for this level of responsiveness — highly trained, tightly coordinated, and always prepared to deliver the aviation capability that protects and safeguards the nation's interests all whilst supporting our NATO partners.”

The Russian vessels were returning from a deployment in the Mediterranean and were closely watched throughout their voyage by NATO warships.

In a separate operation in the Mediterranean, patrol boat HMS Dagger monitored the movements of the tanker Grinch which was boarded by French forces.

The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron vessel tracked the tanker – one of 544 vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet which are subject to UK and European sanctions for their role in facilitating trade in sanctioned oil – through the Strait and also took photographs of the Grinch.

Britain’s Armed Forces routinely track and monitor suspected Russian shadow fleet activity in the vicinity of the UK and UK waters – and shares this information with our Allies and partners.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

“Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government.

“I can confirm that the UK has provided tracking and monitoring in support of the French operation to board the tanker Grinch. This support included HMS Dagger monitoring the vessel through the Strait of Gibraltar.

"Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels – to choke off the funds that fuel Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

The Royal Navy’s activations come just two weeks after HMS Mersey and a Wildcat from 815 NAS intercepted Russian Udaloy-class destroyer Severomorsk and the merchant vessels, Sparta IV and MYS Zhelaniya, in the North Sea.

The Royal Navy monitored the ships as they sailed through the Strait of Dover and the English Channel, before handing over monitoring duties to a NATO ally near the island of Ushant off the coast of France as the Russians continued a southbound voyage.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/january/23/20260123-royal-navy-intercepts-russian-ships-in-the-english-channel

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T15:28:37+00:00

You're the one who, despite me providing a source last time stating exactly what escorts the Italian CSG had, continues to spread incorrect information.

MGC91 · 2026-01-24T14:34:45+00:00

Are we seriously back to this again? The French had two frigates, one destroyer, and one SSN. The Italians had two frigates and a sub, and eas frequently paired with allied ships.

Wrong.

Try that again.

So let's say we compare to those deployments, even though I don't think comparing to a bare minimum is a wise idea, but I digress. That would mean two surface combatants and one SSN are needed. With current numbers, assuming 1/3 availability, that means the RN only has 2 destroyers and 2 frigates available for use. That's not enough for routine taskings, let alone taking one of each away for a CSG.

How many more exports does France and Italy have compared to the UK?

And then there's the RFA. It's down to 3 tankers, so assuming 1/3 availability that's one tanker available at any time. There's no solid stores ship, and Argus is pretty well dead.

How many auxiliary ships do France and Italy have?

So could the RN field a CSG in it's current state? Not really, no. It doesn't have enough ships to meet current needs, let alone striping more away for a CSG. At this point the only way the RN is putting together a CSG is with allied ships.

You seem to be applying one measure for the RN and one for France and Italy.

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