The Russians are Coming - Royal Navy on Standby as Aircraft Carrier and Warships Sail Towards English Waters
Aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is set to sail through the English Channel before docking off the coast of Syria where it could be used for further airstrikes on Syrian rebels
Daily Mirror UK, 17 October 2016
Russia is expected to sail its only aircraft carrier through the English Channel amid rising tensions between London and Moscow over the Syrian crisis.
The Royal Navy and their Nato allies are preparing for Admiral Kuznetsov and its escorts to sail through British waters before joining the country's airstrike campaign against Syrian rebels.
The potentially inflammatory situation has been described as a “naval cat and mouse” as officials race to track the 55,000 tonne warship.
A naval chief has accused Russia of using the voyage to show its strength and posturing over war-torn Syria.
The Kuznetsov is expected to sail through the North Atlantic to the Bay of Biscay and into the Mediterranean before docking off the coast of Syria for four to five months where it could uses its MiG-29K/KUB jets and helicopters to carry out airstrikes.
Lord West of Spithead, a former First Sea Lord, said the Russians risked inflaming tensions further by posturing over Syria.
He told the Telegraph:
“When people start posturing, things become dangerous. It all raises tensions and makes things more difficult and that’s not a clever thing to do.
“It makes sense to have them monitored by a couple of Nato ships. The fact that the Navy is scrabbling around for a frigate is symptomatic of the fact that it’s a national disgrace we only have 19 surface escorts.
“I find Russia very worrying at the moment. Their economy is on a war footing.”
Russian Ships Expected
"Admiral Kuznetsov" Heavy Aircraft Carrying Cruiser
Antisubmarine Ship
Heavy Missile Cruiser
PLUS, intelligence-gathering vessels are expected...
British Royal Navy Escort
The Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyer steams alongside Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov
HMS Daring is one of The Royal Navy's £6 billion fleet of Type 45 destroyers
The situation has been described as a “naval cat and mouse”