UK’s frigate returns home following six operations tracking Russian warships

The Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset returned home to Plymouth after more than 100 intensive days on national tasking—including six operations tracking Russian vessels in UK waters.

Starting its mission on Christmas Day, HMS Somerset was tasked with monitoring Russian task groups six times. This included shadowing corvettes, landing, cargo and support ships, as well as the intelligence-gathering vessel Yantar.

But the ship has also operated closely with NATO allies and made several port visits, including in Den Helder in the Netherlands, Bergen and Stavanger in Norway, Zeebrugge in Belgium and Hamburg in Germany, while also stopping in Clyde Naval Base, North Shields and Aberdeen in the UK. 

The ship’s Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron spent 100 hours on sorties, gathering vital information on Russian ships but also tracking and simulating attacks on allied submarines during two weeks in the Norwegian Fjords on Exercise Arctic Dolphin, according to the Royal Navy.

Submariners were undertaking the equivalent of the Royal Navy’s Perisher course—officially the Submarine Command Course.

“The ship’s company has demonstrated unwavering commitment and professionalism in carrying out vital operations throughout UK sensitive waters and Northern Europe, from shadowing Russian naval activity to engaging with our allies and partners during exercises and operations,” Commander Joel Roberts, Commanding Officer of the Type 23 frigate said.