A strange incident took place months ago in Ireland, between a Russian submarine, a British frigate and an anti-submarine helicopter, with the details only becoming known today.
The Russian nuclear-powered submarine was positioned just outside the entrance to Cork Harbour, spotted and “chased” by a British helicopter and warship because Britain’s depleted navy lacks the necessary equipment to detect potential underwater threats.
The Russian nuclear-powered submarine was just outside the 12-mile limit, so it was not breaking any international law, but military sources said such incidents around the Irish coast were becoming more common.
Details of the Russian submarine warfare operation and subsequent British intervention, which took place six months ago, have only just emerged.
Military experts say the Russians are probing British defense systems as they realize the UK is vulnerable on its western side because the Irish navy has no anti-submarine warfare capabilities, meaning they cannot detect Russian submarines.
The incident with the Russian submarine happened just south of the entrance to Cork harbour.
A Russian-registered “civilian” vessel was accompanying the submarine at the time and is believed to be acting as its “eyes on the surface”.
Military sources said that shortly before darkness fell, a British helicopter came in and dropped sonar equipment into the water.
The helicopter hovered for a short time before leaving the scene. Almost all ships in the Irish Navy had sonar between the 1960s and 1980s, as did the former flagship, LÉ Eithne, in the 1990s, but when it was retired it was deemed too expensive to replace by the Irish Ministry of Defence.
Soon after, an anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy arrived in the area to monitor the movements of the Russian submarine as the Irish navy ships did not have the underwater surveillance technology to do so.
The Russians have also been testing British air defenses off the Irish coast in recent years, again knowing that Ireland lacks the fighter jets to track down even the old Soviet-era Tu-95 ‘Bear Bombers’.
What are the Russians preparing in Britain in case of war with NATO?
Long-term efforts to restructure and expand the Russian military are aimed at preparing Russia for a future full-scale war against NATO.
Additionally, Russia’s deployment of valuable naval assets in areas outside of Ukraine and Eastern Europe is likely aimed at creating a threat to NATO and individual allies in many areas.
Russia is a Pacific naval power striving for an equal defense partnership with China.
“Russia intends to strengthen its fleet of strategic submarines – capable of launching attacks with nuclear weapons,” Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin announced just days ago. In May, Russia engaged in a naval standoff in the Sea of Okhotsk aimed at preventing further Japanese support for Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin further emphasized Russia’s strategic interest in the Arctic on December 11 at a meeting on the economic development of the Russian Arctic, an area in which Russia may intend to boost naval capabilities given Finland’s recent accession to the NATO and Sweden, whose entry into the alliance is pending.
NATO and the Germans as part of the Alliance are preparing to be able to face the deadly Russian threat. The Russians are assessing possible NATO intervention, now that Kiev is losing the war, and are preparing for all eventualities.
