HUNT FOR REDS OFF DOVER Putin sends attack submarine into English Channel just days before England’s Russia clash at Euro 2016

THE sub had been tracked since Sunday and was intercepted by HMS Kent in the North Sea. 

HMS Kent monitors the Russian sub as it enters English waters

VLADIMIR Putin has sent an attack submarine into the English Channel  just days before England battle Russia in the Euros

This pic also shows a Russian support tug in Putin’s latest act of sabre-rattling

The Sun can reveal the kilo-class submarine Stary Oskol  armed with missiles and torpedoes  will pass through the Dover Straits at 10am tomorrow. England’s heroes in defence on board Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent had intercepted the Russian supersub in the North Sea.

Putin has 48 Kilo-class submarines with each carrying a fearsome arsenal of 18 torpedoes, plus cruise missiles, mines and surface to air missiles

Exclusive pictures obtained by The Sun show the diesel-electric powered submarine  sailing above the surface monitored by HMS Kent. A Russian support tug can also be seen in the shock pictures certain to inflame patriotic passions ahead of England’s opener.

Workers attend the launching ceremony of the Stary Oskol in 2014, built to deliver the Russian Black Sea Fleet

Putin’s latest act of sabre-rattling comes ahead of England’s crunch curtain-raiser against Russia on Saturday night at the Stade Velodrome, Marseille. Insiders said the sub had been tracked since Sunday by anti-submarine Type 23 frigate HMS Kent after it left her home port at Severmorsk.
The submarine was picked up in the North Sea and closely marked as she sailed down the UK’s eastern coastal flank, in a defensive move certain to inspire Roy Hodgson’s squad.

Royal Navy sources refused to say where the sub was headed  but based on previous journeys it is expected to be sailing for the Black Sea. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was quick to hail the Royal Navy for snuffing out Putin’s latest attempt to intimidate the UK ahead of the Euros.


Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “This shows that the Navy is maintaining a vigilant watch in international and territorial waters to keep Britain safe and protect us from potential threats.”

And HMS Kent’s Commanding Officer, Commander Daniel Thomas, added: “Locating this submarine was a combined effort with NATO allies and shadowing such units is routine activity for the Royal Navy.

“We continue to escort the submarine as it conducts its passage, providing a visible presence.” It is the first time in over a decade a Russian submarine has been spotted in the English Channel  although some have certainly made the journey unseen and unreported.

Although the Channel is deemed to be international waters, the UK maintains a perpetual defensive presence. And fearsome frigates provide a determined show of strength to potential adversaries.

Insiders revealed HMS Kent raced from Scapa Flow to escort the Russian submarine after conducting centenary commemorations for the Battle of Jutland. During a sombre service to mark the largest naval battle of World War I HMS Kent fired a 21 gun salute.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has 48 Kilo-class submarines with each carrying a fearsome arsenal of 18 torpedoes, plus cruise missiles, mines and surface to air missiles.

The Sun can reveal this latest provocation comes after FIVE subs were suspected of snooping off the coast of Britain at the same time last winter.

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Frigate HMS Sutherland and a British hunter killer submarine joined NATO forces tracking and gathering intelligence on the boats in a “surge” of clandestine underwater activity not seen since the Cold War.

The Sun revealed maritime patrol aircraft were flown into RAF Lossiemouth from the US, Canada and France in November to take part in the search, scouring the seas off Britain.

But at the time it was thought they were hunting one sub not five simultaneously. Canadian submarine HMCS Windsor was diverted from the largest NATO exercise in a decade to assist the mission, conducting her search between the North Sea and Gibraltar.

Prime Minister David Cameron personally oversaw the Royal Navy’s highly-classified operation last November, speaking to senior officers on a daily basis, sources said.

It is believed that several Russian submarines were sent to covertly monitor NATO exercise “Trident Juncture” involving 30 countries and 36,000 sailors, soldiers and air personnel  but were then spotted.

A military expert said: “Putin has made his intentions clear in recent years, we have a resurgent Russia.
“This is the level of submarine activity I would now expect it is a clandestine battle unseen by the wider world, fought beneath the waves.

“The NATO forces most capable of finding Russian boats must have worked together to maintain maritime security in the Atlantic.

“But it’s now more important than ever that the government gets on with building the Type-26 frigates.”
The extent of the Russian surge in to the North Atlantic was only revealed when the Canadian sub crew returned to port last month.

It confirmed fears Putin’s large-scale military building programme which began in 2009 is now being put to work. Commander US Naval Forces Europe Admiral Mark Ferguson said in April that Russia is now deploying more boats than it has in decades.

“The submarines that we’re seeing are much more stealthy,” he said. “We’re seeing (the Russians) have more advanced weapons systems, missile systems that can attack land at long ranges, and we also see their operating proficiency is getting better as they range farther from home waters.”