On October 21, NATO’s Maritime Command reported that a British Type 45 destroyer, accompanied by a Wildcat helicopter, was deployed to monitor the transit of a Russian Navy anti-submarine destroyer through the English Channel. According to available information, the mission lasted 48 hours. The Royal Navy vessel involved was HMS Duncan, based in Portsmouth, while the Russian counterpart was the Vice Admiral Kulakov, an Udaloy-class destroyer.
This operation marked the first time a Type 45 destroyer carried out such a shadowing mission under the direct command of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) — a milestone described by the Alliance as “historic.” British media noted that since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the Royal Navy has conducted more than 40 similar monitoring missions of Russian ships in nearby waters, though those were always under national rather than NATO command.
The HMS Duncan intercepted the Vice Admiral Kulakov in the North Sea, using its sensors to track the Russian vessel before being relieved by French naval units as it passed the island of Ushant. The supporting Wildcat helicopter, from 815 Naval Air Squadron, provided aerial support alongside a Royal Netherlands Air Force NH90 also involved in the operation.
UK Armed Forces Minister Al Carns stated: “The Royal Navy stands ready to respond to any Russian naval activity. They conduct constant surveillance operations to safeguard Britain and our territorial waters. Once again, the Royal Navy has deployed under Allied Maritime Command, reinforcing our unwavering solidarity with NATO in countering Russian activity.” Meanwhile, HMS Duncan’s commanding officer, Captain Dan Lee, remarked: “The close coordination between UK, French, and Dutch forces demonstrates the strength of our alliance and our collective ability to respond to any activity in our region.”
As for the Russian vessel, the Vice Admiral Kulakov is a dedicated anti-submarine destroyer with a full-load displacement of over 7,500 tons, measuring 163 meters in length and 19 meters in beam, and accommodating around 300 crew members. Commissioned into Russia’s Northern Fleet in the 1980s, it is powered by a CODAG propulsion system with four gas turbines, allowing speeds of up to 35 knots and a range of 10,500 nautical miles.
Its standard armament includes SS-N-14 anti-submarine missiles and SA-N-9 surface-to-air missiles. The destroyer is also equipped with two 100 mm naval guns, AK-630 30 mm close-in weapon systems for air defense, 533 mm torpedo launchers, and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers — providing a wide range of offensive and defensive capabilities.
*Image credits: Royal Navy
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