UK deploys a destroyer to track Russian aircraft carrier

[dipsydoodle]

(Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday it had deployed a destroyer to track a Russian aircraft carrier sailing close to its coastal waters, the latest in a series of such incidents and a reminder of underlying tensions between London and Moscow.

A spokesman from Britain's Ministry of Defence said HMS Dragon had been "activated" on Wednesday in response to the approach of a Russian task force including the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier.

"It was activated yesterday to meet the Admiral Kuznetsov task force," the spokesman told Reuters.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is capable of carrying up to 26 fixed-wing fighters and 24 helicopters. A Russian naval spokesman said last month the vessel had completed a deployment as part of Moscow's naval force in the Mediterranean and was on its way back to its base of Severomorsk in north-west Russia.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/08/uk-britain-russia-carrier-idUKKBN0DO0X520140508

[Ed Suspicious]

1. Is Putin hoping for WWIII?

[dipsydoodle]

2. No - it says

"the vessel had completed a deployment as part of Moscow's naval force in the Mediterranean and was on its way back to its base of Severomorsk in north-west Russia."

There is no other practical way of reaching that base.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

3. The UK military establishment is trying to justify its existence

[Jeneral2885]

4. old news

what's more important is the UK destroyers do not have any large anti-ship missile capabilities.