Navy tracks Russian submarine

THREE-DAY OPERATION ALONGSIDE NATO ALLIES

- By MOLLY SEAMAN

THE Royal Navy tracked a Russian submarine and carried out a concentrated three-day operation to watch every move as part of joint NATO efforts.

Devonport-based frigate HMS Iron Duke monitored the surfaced Russian Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and its support tug Yakov Grebelsky near the French coast, close to the island of Ushant at the entrance to the English Channel.

Between October 7 and 9, HMS Iron Duke, along with the Wildcat helicopter from 825 Naval Air Squadron, closely tracked and reported every movement of the Russian vessels as they transited through the Channel and into the North Sea. The frigate then passed on monitoring responsibilities to a NATO ally.