The almost sarcastic joke of the Russian Defense Ministry was not long in coming, saying that it was 'surprised' about the British Navy's need to 'trouble' NATO to intercept the class submarine Varshavyanka (NATO code name 'Kilo') that lapped the eastern British coasts yesterday: "The Russian Ministry of Defense is surprised by the joint commitment of NATO and the UK to discover a submarine sailing at low speed, in emergence, accompanied by a tugboat. It would have been rather strange if the Royal Navy together with its NATO allies had failed to notice the submarine in question, especially if one takes into account the fact that our sailors were welcomed - according to an old tradition - by ships merchants from the Barents, from the Norwegian Sea and from the North Sea in recent days."
The submarine Stary OskolClass Varshavyanka (currently considered the best Russian conventional submarine), was intent on reaching the Mediterranean Sea when it was 'intercepted' between the English Channel and the North Sea by the HMS frigate KentClass Norfolk, and was escorted across the Dover Strait.
As stated in an official note released by Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, following the news of the interception: "The Navy remains vigilant in international and territorial waters to keep Britain safe from potential threats."
Class submarines Varshavyanka, 3 operating and under the Voenno-Morskoj Flot, are propelled by very low noise emission diesel-electric engines; armed with 18 torpedoes, and eight cruise missiles Kalibr 3M54 (NATO SS-N-27 Sizzler) are able to hit targets at long distances without being detected by enemy antisubmarine radars.
It is clear that the B-262 Stary Oskol he didn't want to go unnoticed on his way to the Mediterranean.
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
