Interesting take on MPA

[Norma Stitz]

No one at any point seems to have indicated that a NOTAM went out in December for the carrier, albeit to play 'out west' but presumably the weather encouraged them into the North Sea. Needless to say the Daily Mail wouldn't want to know this sort of information as it would make them look stupid, almost as stupid as the folk making comments on their online article

[nimbev]

J in V said

The Russians are now doing what we used to do to them. We did it because we had the assets, were confident in our ability and considered them as a spent force.

'spent force'? you must have missed the cold war then??

[TEEEJ]

Russian TV footage of the Kuznetsov Task Force off Scotland. HMS Defender is shown in the footage.

Russian TV footage

Task Force support vessels have since been noted off the East Coast of the UK and passing through the English Channel

Tug Nikolay Chiker from AIS.

http://goo.gl/maps/bIi3v

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions - AIS Marine Traffic

Tanker Osipov from AIS

http://goo.gl/maps/2lEXN

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions - AIS Marine Traffic

Tanker Vyazma has been sending Morse Code weather since leaving the Barents and is likely heading for the English Channel? Noted in the North Sea as of 12 GMT, 7th January. The international weather contains the position, course and speed.

8345 Kilohertz

RMP DE RAL46 07121 99560 10038 22241 @1231Z

56.0N 03.8E Heading South at 1-5 Knots

http://goo.gl/maps/C72eQ

[TEEEJ]

09/01/2014

HMS Defender has returned to Portsmouth today after ensuring a number of Russian ships had a safe passage along the UK coastline at short notice over Christmas.

One of the UK’s newest and most powerful Type 45 destroyers, HMS Defender began her 700 mile journey from Portsmouth to the North East of Scotland on December 19 to meet the Russian task group.

As the Fleet Ready Escort, HMS Defender was the Royal Navy’s high readiness warship over Christmas and New Year meaning she stands ready to respond to a wide range of short notice tasks from search and rescue duties to maritime security patrols.

The Portsmouth-based destroyer sailed through high sea states and storm force winds to welcome the group of six vessels, including a 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier.

Due to bad weather the Russian fleet anchored in the Moray Firth before heading down the East coast of the UK. As a sign of the friendship between the two navies, good will messages were exchanged between the ships on New Year’s Eve.

The Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr Andrew Murrison, said:

“The UK and Russia enjoy a good relationship and the deployment of HMS Defender, one of our newest destroyers, as Fleet Ready Escort underlines the Royal Navy’s modern day utility in UK interests.”

HMS Defender’s Commanding Officer, Commander Phil Nash, said: “As a maritime nation the security of the seas around our coastline remain vital to our national interests. This tasking has demonstrated the Royal Navy’s enduring commitment in home waters and readiness to undertake tasking at any time of the year.

“I am extremely proud of each and every one of my sailors; they have tackled this mission with utter professionalism and dedication to duty, whilst also being separated from their families at short notice over Christmas and New Year.”

HMS Defender’s Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Mark Mason, added: “This high readiness tasking demonstrates the Type 45 Destroyer’s flexibility and agility.

“These highly capable warships are prepared for high end warfighting, but are equally adept at conducting interdiction operations, disaster relief missions and patrolling the nation’s coast line.”

Summer Sabin (Left) spots her father on HMS Defender with her mum Sarah Sabin as HMS Defender returns home to Portsmouth. Image by LA(Phot)Ian Simpson

Destroyer meets Russian Task Force along UK coastline | Royal Navy

[Surplus]

Good photo op, shame Kuznetsov and the Boris were anchored, kinda makes the aggressive manouevring superfluous.