A Russian warship has been monitored in UK waters off the Essex coast by the Royal Navy.
The frigate Admiral Grigorovich has been watched by patrol ships HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn as it sailed for the whole of April to the west of the UK and in the North Sea including close to the Galloper wind farm in north Essex.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “Patrol ships HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn, tanker RFA Tideforce and Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron tracked the Russian Navy’s Admiral Grigorovich throughout April.
“There was not one day last month when the Russian warship, her supporting vessels or the ships she was tasked with escorting was not closely watched by Royal Navy air or sea power.
“The Grigorovich moved between the North Sea and Western Approaches, escorting Russian-flagged vessels heading to and from the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic.
“She accompanied one submarine and around six merchant and support vessels during the month.
“The frigate also paused to take on fuel and supplies near key national infrastructure, including the Galloper wind farm off the Suffolk coast.”
Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse said the crews “demonstrated professionalism, resilience and operational readiness”.
He said: “Royal Navy units deployed swiftly to ensure the continuous and seamless monitoring of Russian warships, with multiple assets operating in close coordination to maintain an unbroken posture.
“This sustained effort reflects the Royal Navy’s ability to generate combat-credible forces at readiness, delivering persistent maritime security through leadership, teamwork and operational excellence.”
Key facts about Galloper wind farm
Galloper is a large offshore wind farm in the Outer Thames Estuary, forming part of the renewables cluster off the Suffolk/Essex coast.
- Location: Around 27–30 km off the Suffolk and Essex coast, in the Outer Thames Estuary, with onshore operations based at Harwich International Port on the Essex side.
- Power output: Generates enough electricity each year to power the equivalent of more than 444,000 British homes (some engineering consultancies quote around 380,000, so there is a slight variance in methodology).
- Status: First power in November 2017, fully operational/officially opened in 2018.
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