The Guardian: Russian frigate fires warning shots at British yacht in Channel
Yes, in the English Channel, a Russian warship fired rounds at a British yacht that was getting too close for the Russian's liking.
A Russian warship fired warning shots within a few hundred metres of a British pleasure yacht sailing across the Channel on Tuesday morning amid a period of heightened tensions between London and Moscow.
The rare incident took place at 11.40am more than 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight and less than 40 miles north of Normandy, France, when the yacht, identified as the private vessel Bright Future, sailed close to the Admiral Grigorovich and ignored at least one warning.
“We assess that this is an isolated incident and not linked to the UK’s interception of the Smyrtos this weekend. HMS Mersey has been monitoring the Russian vessel and support has been provided to the crew of the yacht. ”British sources said initial indications were that more than one shot was fired by Russian sailors after the yacht had got close to the heavily armed frigate. “Following attempts to contact a British vessel in the channel, the Grigorovich fired warning shots. These were not aimed at the vessel and were an attempt to prevent a possible collision,” the Ministry of Defence said.
Do note that the only ship the Royal Navy could manage to have in the area, HMS Mersey is a fishery protection patrol vessel and badly over-matched by the Russian Frigate.
That the Royal Navy can't even sortie a frigate to shadow the Russian frigate in the English Channel is a sad commentary on the state of the Royal Navy.
Britannia used to rule the waves, now it can't even rule its own home waters.
2 comments:
Couple on the sail boat probably thought they had Right of Way but only veering by two degrees (by their report) was a FU to the frigate. That small a course change was barely enough to be seen much less a 'deliberate change' required by Rule 15 and definitely didn't meet Rule 16 which requires the give-way vessel to take early and substantial action to keep well clear of the other vessel.
The Kelvey's didn't follow the Rules but also ignored two far more important rules when out on the water: First is the Right of Weight, and the most important one: "The ship with the biggest guns decides what too close is". Arrogant fools.
Sad state of affairs when foreign naval vessels can sail into UK waters & fire warning shots at UK citizens unchallenged.
Post a Comment