Royal Navy Filmed Flights of Admiral Kuznetsov's Air Wing

21.12.2011 British destroyer HMS York has returned to Portsmouth Naval Base after watching over the Russian Navy's largest warship aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov last week off the British Isles.

The Royal Navy's warship was keeping watch over Russian carrier and her escort consisting of six combat ships and support vessels hear Scotland and off western Ireland where Russian deck-based fighters Su-33 practiced flights.

Being a duty ship, i.e. combat-ready frigate or destroyer capable to react on a threat and leave base immediately, HMS York was dispatched early in Dec to trace Russian task force headed by aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. The British destroyer met the carrier group on Dec 12 northeastward the Orkney Islands.

For the first time in a long period, the Russian 55,000-ton warship was so close to British territorial waters. Admiral Kuznetsov spent 4 days in neutral waters of the Moray Firth taking cover fr om the gale.

When the weather became better, the Russian task force consisting of aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko, frigate Yaroslav Mudry, three replenishment tankers and ocean-going tug sailed round Scotland heading for the Atlantic.

Training flights of Su-33 fighters and Ka-27 helicopters were conducted along with weather improvement. All that time Admiral Kuznetsov was under steady watch of HMS York.

According to HMS York's commanding officer Commander Rex Cox, the ship was sent to observe the Russian task group. HMS York demonstrated presence of Royal Navy and accomplished a number of routine tasks in territorial waters, added Cox. As for him, the crew obtained good practice and is ready to perform analogous tasks wh erever inside the UK waters.

When the Russian task group continued moving southward British territorial waters, HMS York returned to Portsmouth. "My ship's company have put in a cracking effort in what have been challenging weather conditions and are now looking forward to some well-deserved Christmas leave and some time with their families", said the ship's CO.