http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/navy-shadows-russian-warship-off-moray-coast-1-3242089



I live 5 miles from the Moray Firth coastline. The MoD had to send a ship from Portsmouth which apparently toook 24 hours to get up here.

And where were all our submarines?

That is classified information that cannot be revealed for security reasons. I hope though the Russians are not
dumping waste. It may be outside our jurisdiction but even so. Though I do not think that is the reason. But if
Scotland goes independent it will not be able to rely on the Royal Navy or Royal Air Force to help it any more
She will be on her own after that. So questions might have to be asked of the S N P if anyone is worried now

Well it worried me why our government left us for 24 hours as it is, I think the Russian missiles are somewhat speedier. So maybe, given the opportunity we'd do a better job.

If that happened tomorrow and you were independent you would have nothing to protect you. Though it should be reassuring to know that you are in no danger from Russia at all. We do not have much of a navy anyway because of cutbacks. But if you leave us it will affect you more than us. But how you vote is none of our business. That is a matter for you and you only. We only get to have a say after because it will affect us too if you leave us. But before that we do not

I'd like to see the reaction if they found a Russian warship or two in the Thames estuary

Nice try S but that is not the same thing. A ship off the coast of Scotland could be sailing any
where. A ship off the coast of England and sailing up the Channel is something a bit different

Just as well they didn't want to nuke us eh? Considering the time it took to send help

Maybe they're after your Lucky Charms...

Oh, that's the Irish, sorry.

Scarlett wrote:
Just as well they didn't want to nuke us eh? Considering the time it took to send help

Will you please stop worrying about it ? No one is going to nuke Scotland
I thought you Glaswegians were supposed to be tough. Great God Almighty
One Russian warship and off you go. Leave her alone. She is not harming you
So why not go and make all the sailors some nice tea and sandwiches instead ?
And then go down the gym and tell it to your recently acquired friends ha ha ha

Ironclad wrote:And where were all our submarines?

Almost certainly there was at least one Royal Navy submarine in the area. HMNB Cylde is the home port not only for the 4 Vanguard class ballistic missile submarines but also the Astute class boats too.

The language in the report is sneaky:

The SNP has been critical of the scrapping of the Nimrod fleet, leaving the UK with no dedicated maritime patrol aircraft. The party also highlighted the fact that there are no warships based in Scotland to respond to such an incident.

The RAF has no maritime patrol aircraft and the Royal Navy has no conventional ocean-going vessels based in Scotland.

The Astute class and the Vanguards are nuclear powered so are not conventional nor are they ships. Any of the 8 boats at HMNB Clyde are more than up to the task of shadowing the task group. They would never be announced as doing so so a report of something coming from the south is unlikely to be whatever was actually doing the shadowing

So, we had a visit from a Russian task group, comprising:

[1] Admiral Kuznetzov aircraft carrier (65,000 tons, carrying SS-N-19 cruise missiles and 30 Su-33 strike aircraft)
[2] Admiral Chabanenko anti-submarine destroyer (7,570 tons, carrying SS-N-14 anti-submarine missiles)
[3] Yaroslav Mudryy, a Neustrashimy class frigate (4,400 tons, carrying SS-N-25 anti-ship missiles)

These are three of the most modern and capable vessels in the Russian Navy. Not a collection you would want knocking on your door without being shadowed by something pretty capable itself, such as the new Type 45s, and ideally one of the Astute class submarines. Might also be a good idea to have three or four squadrons of Typhoons equipped with Storm Shadow to provide an air presence to let them know we're watching them as well.

Of course, if those ships were off the Moray Firth, and were, as the Russians claimed, heading for Syria, the shortest route from there would take them right past the east coast of England, and within cruise missile striking distance of London. Looks like someone's been asleep on the watch, so to speak. It would also be interesting to see what the French would make of those ships turning up in the English Channel, which would put them within cruise missile striking distance of Paris.

Most likely an Astute was already shadowing it well before it got anywhere near the UK with the ship coming up from the south being a destroyer for a more obvious presence.

The shadowing of vessels and other clandestine activities is commonplace for Royal Navy submarines and is generally not advertised. For example HMS Conqueror which sunk the Belgrano was deployed right afterwards to some form of activity involving the Soviet Fleet. The CO Cdr Wreford-Brown described that as being the more interesting and professionally demanding operation but has not and can not talk further about it as whatever they were upto is classified for another couple of decades.

The SNP going on about the lack of conventional vessels etc makes it all sound more like a claim that the defence of Scotland has been abandoned whilst using careful language.

Scarlett wrote:Well it worried me why our government left us for 24 hours as it is, I think the Russian missiles are somewhat speedier. So maybe, given the opportunity we'd do a better job.

The Tornado GR4's from RAF Lossiemouth would have been more than able to cope. The Royal Navy would have only been there to show the flag.
As mentiond. An Astutte was most likely below. The Russians knowing they are there, but no idea exactly where.

I need to let go of my 80's inspired fear of the Russians don't I?

Scarlett wrote:I need to let go of my 80's inspired fear of the Russians don't I?

No. Its justified.

DougC wrote:

Scarlett wrote:I need to let go of my 80's inspired fear of the Russians don't I?

No. Its justified.

Why?

Like as not, the Russians had probably notified the British & French governments of their vessels' route, so as to avoid any unwarranted concerns.

Atitude towards the Ukraine. Lack of political freedom.