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Two British warships were deployed to escort a pair of Russian military vessels from the English Channel, it has been revealed.
The RAF said today that the Royal Navy had deployed HMS Cattistock and HMS Somerset to the waters near Folkestone and Dover to escort the Russian destroyer destroyer Severomorsk and landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin away from UK territory.
The air force said its P-8 Poseidon Force detected the threat yestersay, adding that the Royal Navy had sent out the British warships.
Belgium’s military said its navy had detected the Severomorsk in NATO waters during ‘the night of 15 to 16 March.’
The Severomorsk, which is more than 530ft long and 20ft wide, has a top speed of 35 knots (40mph).
It is stocked with eight anti-aircraft and naval cannons, 72 anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles and 44 anti-submarine torpedoes and rocket launchers. It is crewed by a complement of 300 people.
The Aleksandr Shabalin, meanwhile, is 369ft long and 49ft wide. It has a top speed of 18 knots (20mph), and is armed with two gun mounts and six missiles.
But it can carry up to 500 tonness of armoured vehicles and 225 marines.
More to follow