Russia calls UK carrier ‘convenient target’ in naval war of words
Moscow angrily lashes out after UK defense secretary dismissively terms Russia’s only aircraft carrier ‘dilapidated’
Russia on Thursday mocked Britain’s brand new HMS Elizabeth II aircraft carrier, saying it was above all a “convenient target” for Moscow’s forces.
The Russian defense ministry described as “arrogant” comments by British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, who earlier this week labeled Russia’s only aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov as “dilapidated” and said Moscow would look at the UK’s new vessel “with a little bit of envy.”
Fallon’s comments “prove a clear lack of naval knowledge,” ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.
“Unlike the Admiral Kuznetsov, which is equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-submarine missiles and especially Granit missiles to hit ships, the British aircraft carrier is nothing but a big, convenient target in the sea,” he added.
“With this in mind, it is in the interest of the British Royal Navy not to show off the ‘beauty’ of its aircraft carrier in open waters any closer than from several hundred miles.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth, a 280-meter (919-foot), 65,000-ton vessel, is the largest and most powerful ship ever built for the Royal Navy and set off for its first sea trial on Monday.
The mighty @HMSQnlz at sea pic.twitter.com/P7PfuOH3qZ
— NavyLookout (@NavyLookout) June 28, 2017
It cost £3 billion ($3.8 billion) to build.
The Soviet-era Admiral Kuznetsov was involved in Moscow’s air campaign in support of President Bashar Assad in Syria but suffered several high-profile mishaps.
The ship is now back in Russia and set to undergo costly refurbishments at a port in the northern city of Murmansk.
Relations between former Cold War foes Russia and Britain have slumped to their lowest point in decades over the Ukraine conflict.
