The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich escorted about six merchant and auxiliary vessels, as well as one submarine, near the coast of Great Britain in April, while being continuously monitored by Royal Navy ships and aircraft.
The UK Defence Journal reported this, citing the British Navy.
According to the British side, Royal Navy ships and aircraft tracked the frigate throughout the month.
The operation involved the patrol vessels HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn, the tanker RFA Tideforce, and Wildcat helicopters from the 815th Naval Air Squadron.
The Russian frigate was escorting one submarine and about six merchant and support vessels sailing between the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
Among the vessels escorted by Admiral Grigorovich, British analysts name the tankers MV Triumf, MV Kolodkin, MV Gefest and MV Universal.
A Navy Lookout report says Russia is increasingly using warships to cover the so-called “shadow fleet,” which transports oil in circumvention of sanctions.
Admiral Grigorovich Frigate
The frigate Admiral Grigorovich (project 11356R) has the following brief technical characteristics:
- Displacement: 4,035 tons (full)
- Length: 124.8 m
- Beam: 15.2 m
- Draft: 4.2 m
- Maximum speed: up to 30 knots
- Range: up to 4,850 nautical miles
- Endurance: up to 30 days
- Crew: about 200
- Propulsion: gas turbine, COGAG configuration
- Main armament: Kalibr-NK cruise missiles
- Air defense: Shtil-1 system
- Artillery: 100 mm A-190 gun
- Anti-submarine weapons: torpedoes and RBU-6000 rocket launchers
- Air group: one Ka-27 helicopter
- Number built for the Russian Navy: three ships
The Russian Navy has built only three frigates of this class for the Black Sea Fleet.
Amid increased activity of the Russian “shadow fleet,” European countries are tightening control in the Baltic and North Seas.
French and Swedish forces have previously conducted operations to inspect and escort sanctioned Russian vessels in the region.
