The offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey is one of the ships shadowing the Russian fleetThe Royal Navy has joined with Nato partners to shadow nine Russian warships in the past month amid heightened levels of activity in waters close to the UK. Britain’s contribution to the operation involved HMS Mersey and HMS Tyne, offshore patrol vessels, and HMS Westminster, a Type 23 frigate. Portugal, Canada, Germany, Norway and Denmark also deployed ships to the “very high readiness” standing Nato maritime group that helped to track the Russian vessels. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tideforce provided refuelling and resupplied the Nato ships during the operation. The West is used to witnessing an increase in Moscow-linked maritime activity after Russia’s annual “navy

Source: The Times August 19, 2020 22:52 UTC