Russian Sub Stalks Aircraft Carrier in Mediterranean, Sub Hunting Aircraft Launched
British forces recently played a cat-and-mouse game with a Russian submarine that was stalking a British aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea, according to a new report. The report in The Telegraph said that the…
British forces recently played a cat-and-mouse game with a Russian submarine that was stalking a British aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea, according to a new report.
The report in The Telegraph said that the incident took place on June 27, only four days after Russia claimed it fired warning shots at a British destroyer in the Black Sea.
The report did not say how British forces were aware that a submarine was shadowing the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and its Carrier Strike Group.
It also added that once British forces learned they were being stealthily monitored, Merlin helicopters were launched in the incident, which took place in the eastern Mediterranean.
The choppers dropped what are called sonobuoys, designed to listen underwater to find the distinctive sounds of a submarine, The Telegraph reported.
Ryan Ramsey, a former Royal Navy submarine commander, said, “Submarines aim not to be detected — it stops you from completing your tasks,” according to The Telegraph.
“Evasion in a submarine is really difficult when you’re going up against something as capable as Merlin helicopters. The UK has always been really effective at anti-submarine warfare using ships, submarines and aviation.”