The British frigate HMS Richmond escorted a Type 055 destroyer and a logistics ship from the Chinese Navy as they headed to Russia

Por

12 August, 2024

The presence of a Task Group from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), consisting of a Type 055 destroyer and a logistics ship, in recent weeks has prompted a significant deployment of air and naval assets from European navies. Among these was the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, which deployed one of its Type 23 frigates (HMS Richmond) for monitoring and tracking operations as the Chinese surface units headed to St. Petersburg to join the celebrations for Russia’s Navy Day.

As reported last month, European naval forces, under NATO, were put on alert in response to the presence of a Chinese ship formation. This Task Group from the People’s Liberation Army Navy was comprised of the Type 055 destroyer Jiaozuo and the Type 903A logistics supply ship Honghu, which passed through UK waters, adhering to current maritime regulations, while navigating the North Sea en route to St. Petersburg.

The presence of the Chinese Navy prompted the Royal Navy to deploy the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, which, departing from Plymouth Naval Base, monitored and tracked the activity of the previously mentioned Jiaozuo destroyer and Honghu ship.

Although the presence of Chinese naval assets in European territorial waters is not common, this was not the first time such a presence has been recorded. In 2019, a similar event occurred when the Xian destroyer was also sent by the PLA Navy to represent China during the Russian Navy Day celebrations, being escorted through British waters by the frigates HMS St Albans and HMS Westminster.

Regarding the presence of the Chinese ships, the Jiaozuo docked in St. Petersburg at the end of last July, where the crew and authorities conducted a series of protocol visits in the city.

According to a report from July 23: “…the destroyer arrived in St. Petersburg today, July 23, being received by naval authorities from the Russian Navy and the Chinese Consul General in the city, Luo Zhanhui. Later, aboard the cruiser Aurora, various types of protocol meetings were held between the naval commands. However, Russian media did not report the presence of the ‘Honghu’ in the city, nor its current location. Various OSINT sources have speculated that the logistics ship might not have been part of the protocol visit.” After the visit, the Chinese ships conducted drills in the Gulf of Finland with Russian Navy assets, in what, according to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), was a PASSEX-type exercise.

Returning to the surveillance and escort work carried out by the British frigate, the Royal Navy highlighted the joint work with other allied navies within NATO to monitor the PLA Navy ships, as was the case with the French Navy and the Belgian Navy.

“These escorts are a clear demonstration of how the Royal Navy continues to protect the sovereignty of UK waters. Working closely with our allies to support Euro-Atlantic security is a top priority for this government,” said the UK’s Armed Forces Minister, Luke Pollard. He added, “I thank the crew of HMS Richmond for conducting a safe and professional transit and for all they do to keep our nation safe at home and strong abroad.”

*Photographs: Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.