A group of scuba divers have come across what seems to be a Russian tracking device in the waters off the coast of Wales. This surprising find happened on November 15 when the team from Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) conducted a dive in the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone near Wooltack Point in Pembrokeshire.
Initially, the divers thought the object was just a navigational buoy, but after a closer look, they realized it resembled a sonobuoy, an important tool for monitoring underwater sounds like those from submarines.
According to an independent defense expert, he is “confident” that the object is an imploded Russian RGB-1A sonobuoy. The find was made by volunteer diver Tim Smith-Gosling, who noticed the item stuck in a gully.
Following the examination of the device and discussions with colleagues from the Port Authority Waterway, the divers determined that its features were consistent with those of underwater detection equipment.
The buoy appears “battered” and is about 120 cm (50 inches) long, weighing roughly 15 kg (around 2.4 stone). After the team recovered it with a lifting bag, it was brought to the surface.
As a diving marshal, Kennard also mentioned that similar objects had been discovered in Cornwall and in the Republic of Ireland back in 2021.
After consulting with a contact from the former Royal Navy, the team followed the required procedures and reported the find to HM Coastguard. A spokesperson from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed that the report was filed on November 19, although no one was reported in danger or needing rescue, so there wouldn’t be any ensuing search operations.
While the team hadn’t stumbled upon anything like this before, it’s not uncommon for such devices to be found in UK waters, considering the history of naval operations there. In response to inquiries, a Royal Navy spokesperson stated they won’t comment on specific underwater finds due to security reasons but emphasized the UK’s ongoing efforts to monitor and protect its waters with advanced resources.
Defense analysts believe this sonobuoy type is typically deployed from Russia’s Tu-142M long-range maritime patrol aircraft. One expert mentioned that, while this particular device might no longer be in active use, several matching models have been reported washed ashore in the UK, Ireland, and Lithuania in recent years.
Dr. Andy Scollick, a strategic defense consultant, also recognized the object as a type of hydroacoustic buoy, likely an RGB-1. He pointed out striking similarities between this device and previous examples, noting that it lacks an identifying sleeve that should have been orange and marked with a serial number.
Reports of similar sonar buoys being found have emerged from Russia’s Novosibirsky region in 2023 and from Lithuania in 2024.
What Exactly is a Sonobuoy?
The term sonobuoy comes from combining the words sonar and buoy, referring to an acoustic sensor essential for detecting underwater objects like submarines. They are crucial for modern naval systems because traditional signals like radio and GPS don’t travel well through water.
These devices date back to World War II, where they were first deployed to find German U-boats, and have continued to be vital throughout the Cold War and military operations today, as well as search-and-rescue missions.
For example, sonobuoys were utilized during the 2023 search for the missing Titan submersible and in the 2014 search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
Authorities caution the public against touching or moving suspected sonobuoys due to potential hazards. Instead, they recommend calling 999 and contacting the coastguard.
This particular sonobuoy was discovered the same week the UK Defence Secretary John Healey noted the presence of the Russian vessel Yantar operating near UK waters. Although Russia describes this ship as a research vessel, Western nations have long kept a close watch on its movements, concerned it might be mapping undersea cables where the majority of the UK’s data transactions are routed.
Recently, it was reported that pilots from the Royal Air Force were targeted with lasers originating from the vessel, which Healey called a “deeply dangerous” act. He assured that the UK is ready for any further actions should the ship head south.
In a statement, the Russian Embassy denied any interests in British underwater communications.
