This is the increidble moment a Royal Navy warship swooped in on a Russian submarine and shadowed the vessel as it travelled through the English channel.

Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne was deployed as part of a Nato operation to keep a watch on the kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it made its surfaced journey back to Russia from the eastern Mediterranean.

Footage shows how the Royal Navy vessel followed the Russian submarine’s progress after it was intercepted near the French coast, and before it was handed over to allied units. 

Earlier in the day, the Russian submarine had been observed by a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron. 

Once responsibility for Krasnodar had been handed over, HMS Tyne was quickly back on new tasking to shadow Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy as it headed westward from the Baltic Sea, through the busy Dover Strait.

Tyne and 815 Naval Air Squadron later monitored the corvette’s return journey to the Baltic alongside three merchant ships.

The warship has come back into service after maintenance and returns alongside her sister ships, HMS Mersey and Severn, at the forefront of operations protecting UK waters.

It is the latest deployment of a UK warship to follow Russian vessels through the Channel, with HMS St Albans and HMS Mersey involved in similar operations two weeks ago.

An observer from 815 Naval Air Squadron tracks the Krasnodar from a Wildcat helicopter from the UK Carrier Strike Group

This close-up of the helicopter observer’s screen shows the Krasnodar in detail as the Royal Navy keep close track of it in the Atlantic, before it entered tthe Channel

Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne was deployed as part of a Nato operation to keep a watch on the kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it made its surfaced journey back to Russia from the eastern Mediterranean

Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said: ‘The Royal Navy has once again demonstrated its readiness to secure UK waters and protect the public.

‘Our sailors acted swiftly and decisively to a potential Russian threat, and I pay tribute to their dedication, courage and professionalism.

‘National security is a foundation of the Government’s plan for change and we are giving our armed forces what they need to keep us secure home and strong abroad.’

HMS Tyne’s operations officer Lieutenant Bailey Denyer said: ‘Activations like the one we’ve seen on this patrol to track Krasnodar are our bread and butter – defending UK sovereignty and that of our Nato allies is at the very heart of what the Royal Navy does.’

A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘The patrol vessel intercepted Krasnodar on entry to the English Channel near the French coast, reporting on every move as it made its eastward journey before handing over duties to allies as the submarine left UK waters.

It is the latest deployment of a UK warship to follow Russian vessels through the Channel, with HMS St Albans and HMS Mersey involved in similar operations two weeks ago

HMS Tyne also kept an eye on Russian RFS Boikiy, top – one of a four-vessel task group that passed through the English Channel

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‘Earlier in its journey, Krasnodar was tracked by a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron deployed with the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in the Atlantic.

‘Once responsibility for Krasnodar had been handed over, HMS Tyne was quickly back on new tasking to shadow Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy as it headed westward from the Baltic Sea, through the busy Dover Strait.’

HMS Tyne is a patrol ship built to help protect UK waters, especially for things like fishing and it works with two sister ships ships, Mersey and Severn.

It is armed with a 20 mm cannon which can fire up to 450 rounds per minute as well as two general purpose machine guns.