Putin SUBMARINE seen in channel in another Russian show of force – but Royal Navy ‘Swordfish’ sub-hunter keeps close eye

ONE of Putin’s killer submarines appeared in the English Channel in another show of Russian force, and was stalked by Royal Navy choppers and a tanker.

The attack sub Novorossiysk was forced to sail back from the Mediterranean after Moscow lost use of a key port in Syria.

Royal Navy

Russian submarine Novorossiysk sails in front of the Royal Navy’s RFA Tidesurge[/caption]

SWNS

Russian spy ship Yantar has been the target of two Royal Navy missions recently – one involving a close encounter with a nuclear submarine[/caption]

EPA

The Royal Navy ordered HMS Astute to surface near Yantar in November[/caption]

The diesel-electric powered sub was watched by Royal Navy Merlin sub-hunting choppers and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tidespring.

The incident this month happened days before a Russian spy ship called Yantar reappeared in the Channel.

A Royal Navy nuclear submarine was forced to surface next to that same vessel back in November to ward it off, as revealed by Defence Secretary John Healey to parliament yesterday.

Now a picture of the Russian attack sub Novorossiysk has emerged after Britain vowed “robust action” in response to Russian navy spying on underwater cables.

A huge dark hull can be seen looming through the water’s surface with two sinister hooded figures presiding over it.

In the background is the Royal Navy’s tanker RFA Tidesurge which shadowed the submarine for days as it headed north up the channel.

Tidesurge joined forces with a specialised submarine hunting Merlin helicopter called Swordfish Flight.

Lieutenant Commander Mike Curd, the flight commander, said: “Shadowing Russian units passing close to the UK is routine business, and having the anti-submarine warfare specialists from the RN’s Merlin Helicopter Force embarked adds another layer of security and ability to track the submarine should it dive.

“The 814 Naval Air Squadron regularly embark their aircraft in Type 23 Frigates – and RFA units such as Tidesurge – both for training and routine constabulary operations around the British Isles.”

This was the second time in three weeks Tidesurge shepherded Russian vessels past the UK after it was scrambled on Christmas Day to monitor Putin’s Corvette RFS Soobrazitelny.

And yesterday, Healey revealed in parliament that one of the Royal Navy’s submarines surfaced near a Russian spy ship in November.

Healey said the spy ship called Yantar had been monitored loitering over UK critical national infrastructure and was “used for gathering intelligence”.

And he ordered HMS Astute, a Royal Navy nuclear powered sub, to surface yards away from the Yanatar in a dramatic show of force last year.

The Kremlin said that reports of Russian ships spying on British infrastructure in the channel were “absolutely unfounded”.

AP

The Kremlin claimed that the reports of Russian ship spying in British waters were “absolutely unfounded”[/caption]

SWNS

The British Navy first started tracking the Yantar spy ship in November[/caption]

AFP

Yantar reappeared in UK waters this week after receiving a fierce warning in November[/caption]

It had the cheek to accuse Britain of being the main perpetrator “destabilising and provocative actions” at sea.

The propaganda machine added: “We note that the wave of anti-Russian alarmism raised by the British establishment and the media controlled by them is being used by London and its allies to purposefully escalate tension in the Baltic and North Sea regions.”

It comes as the MoD is due to pledge £9bn for new nuclear reactors to power submarines.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the eight year deal with Rolls Royce will be “a clear demonstration of our commitment to the UK’s nuclear deterrent, which is our ultimate insurance policy in a more dangerous world”.

The reactors will supports new Dreadnought nuclear armed subs under constructions in Barrow-in-Furness.

It will also boost plans to build nuclear submarines for the Royal Australian Navy, the MoD said.

The government insisted the deal will create up to 1,000 jobs and safeguard 4,000 more.

The MoD said: “It is part of our national endeavour to maintain a continuous at sea deterrent.”

The Navy has four nuclear armed Vanguard class submarines armed with Trident 2 doomsday missiles.

One is always at sea, as a deterrent, ready to blast Britain‘a enemies to oblivion in the event of a nuclear first strike.

The ageing Vanguard subs, which first entered service 30 years ago, are due to be replaced by new Dreadnaught class subs in the 2030s.

Russia’s Navy is in turmoil after their ally Bashar Al-Assad was forced to flee Damascus by rebels.

Moscow had use of a key port in Tartus but Syria’s new rulers have scrapped deal.

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major, reportedly sent to evacuate Tartus, sank in the Mediterranean last month.

AFP

HMS Somerset (foreground) patrolling the Russian vessel Yantar near UK waters[/caption]