Putin SUBMARINE seen in channel in another Russian show of force – but Royal Navy ‘Swordfish’ sub-hunter keeps close eye
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ONE of Putin's killer submarines appeared in the English Channel in another show of Russian force, and was stalked by Royal Navy choppers and a tanker. The attack sub Novorossiysk was forced to sail back from the Mediterranean after Moscow lost use of a key port in Syria.
![[Submarine and ships at sea.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RN-22012025-5.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The diesel-electric powered sub was watched by Royal Navy Merlin sub-hunting choppers and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tidespring. The incident this month happened days before a Russian spy ship called Yantar reappeared in the Channel. A Royal Navy nuclear submarine was forced to surface next to that same vessel back in November to ward it off, as revealed by Defence Secretary John Healey to parliament yesterday.
![[The Vityaz research vessel at sea.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image_815729.jpeg?strip=all&w=959)
Now a picture of the Russian attack sub Novorossiysk has emerged after Britain vowed “robust action” in response to Russian navy spying on underwater cables. A huge dark hull can be seen looming through the water's surface with two sinister hooded figures presiding over it.
![[HMS Artful, an Astute-class submarine, at sea.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2015-carry-sea-trials-entering-183427470.jpg?strip=all&w=878)
In the background is the Royal Navy's tanker RFA Tidesurge which shadowed the submarine for days as it headed north up the channel. Tidesurge joined forces with a specialised submarine hunting Merlin helicopter called Swordfish Flight. Lieutenant Commander Mike Curd, the flight commander, said: “Shadowing Russian units passing close to the UK is routine business, and having the anti-submarine warfare specialists from the RN’s Merlin Helicopter Force embarked adds another layer of security and ability to track the submarine should it dive.
![[Illustration of a map showing the location of a Russian spy ship in the English Channel, tracked by Royal Navy warships and a UK submarine.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DD-MAP-22-01-spy-vessel-v3_741a9d.jpg?strip=all&w=703)
