Baltic Fleet Deployments - Wk 26/2020
June 22
More news became available regarding the sea trails of the Project 20835 frigate RFS Gremyashchiy. The vessel is currently docked at the Severnaya Verf at Saint Petersburg where an internal audit regarding her factory sea trails is being held. While in the shipyard, she will undergo a dock inspection as the plant’s specialists will audit the ship systems, perform tank cleaning and other work on the underwater hull, restore the insulation and paint coatings, and work out the crew’s comments. The audit will last until the end of July and the frigate is expected to start her final state trails in August. [1] [2]
June 23
Type 636.6 Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky dived to a maximum depth of 190 meters in the Baltic Sea. The submarine performed this dive as part of a test during which her crew tested and monitored the various systems on board of the submarine. the crew also practiced several returns to the surface before continuing her combat training. During her test dives, the submarine was escorted by the Parachim class corvette RFS Aleksin and the minesweeper Leonid Sobolev. Several towing and rescue vessels were also present in order to provide assistance in the case of an emergency. The submarine RFS Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky will be transferred to the Pacific Fleet once she passes her state trails. [1]
June 24
Russian sources did not mention any military activity such as deployments and training. This is due to the Victory Day parade held at both Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg.
June 25
More details about the ongoing training of snipers in the Kaliningrad Region have been reported. During this week, snipers trained hitting targets at distances of 1.000 meters. Practical skills centered around reconnaissance, nighttime navigation, the use of camouflage and planning escape routes once the mission is completed. Around 50 soldiers are still participating in this training which will last until the end of the month. [1]
June 26
The AS-26 deep-sea diving submarine was deployed in the Baltic Sea for a rescue training operation. The submarine is designed to attack itself to sunken submarines and dock with the escape hatch so that stranded personnel can escape. the role of the sunken submarine was played by an unmarked Kilo class submarine which first dove to the seabed of the Baltic Sea. The AS-26 was then instructed to approach the Kilo class submarine and attach itself to the escape hatch. The exercise was terminated once personnel was transferred between both subs. The Kilo class submarine which took part in the exercise was in all probability the RFS Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky who earlier this week conducted her first deep sea diving tests. [1]
Rescuing people trapped in submarines requires speed as time is of the essence. The Kursk disaster in 2000 showed that Russian submarine rescue vessels and their rescue submarines were neglected after a decade of budget cuts. Regular drills and exercises are to prevent a repeat of the Kursk disaster where the necessary skills were not present and maintenance of the submarine was neglected. regular training allows the crew to maintain their skills and forces a full inspection of the rescue submarine once before it is deployed.
While the Baltic Fleet has a smaller submarine force compared to the Northern and Pacific Fleets, it needs its own rescue submarine in the case of an accident. Unlike the United States or Great-Britain, Russia does not have the capabilities of deploying its rescue subs over vast distances, so waiting for the rescue subs of the Northern and Pacific Fleets to arrive is not an option.
June 26
A company sized unit of ground forces in Kaliningrad trained how to deploy their BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles in a combat scenario. Over 100 soldiers with 20 pieces of military equipment trained their driving and shooting skills with the BMP-2. The targets set up for this course included a firing position for grenade launchers and recoilless rifles as well as groups of enemy soldiers. All targets were engaged from distances between 300 and 900 meters from both a stationary position as well as during movement. The use of tracer rounds during the exercise allowed the crew to adjust their fire. [1]
June 23
Type 636.6 Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky dived to a maximum depth of 190 meters in the Baltic Sea. The submarine performed this dive as part of a test during which her crew tested and monitored the various systems on board of the submarine. the crew also practiced several returns to the surface before continuing her combat training. During her test dives, the submarine was escorted by the Parachim class corvette RFS Aleksin and the minesweeper Leonid Sobolev. Several towing and rescue vessels were also present in order to provide assistance in the case of an emergency. The submarine RFS Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky will be transferred to the Pacific Fleet once she passes her state trails. [1]
June 24
Russian sources did not mention any military activity such as deployments and training. This is due to the Victory Day parade held at both Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg.
June 25
More details about the ongoing training of snipers in the Kaliningrad Region have been reported. During this week, snipers trained hitting targets at distances of 1.000 meters. Practical skills centered around reconnaissance, nighttime navigation, the use of camouflage and planning escape routes once the mission is completed. Around 50 soldiers are still participating in this training which will last until the end of the month. [1]
June 26
The AS-26 deep-sea diving submarine was deployed in the Baltic Sea for a rescue training operation. The submarine is designed to attack itself to sunken submarines and dock with the escape hatch so that stranded personnel can escape. the role of the sunken submarine was played by an unmarked Kilo class submarine which first dove to the seabed of the Baltic Sea. The AS-26 was then instructed to approach the Kilo class submarine and attach itself to the escape hatch. The exercise was terminated once personnel was transferred between both subs. The Kilo class submarine which took part in the exercise was in all probability the RFS Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky who earlier this week conducted her first deep sea diving tests. [1]
Rescuing people trapped in submarines requires speed as time is of the essence. The Kursk disaster in 2000 showed that Russian submarine rescue vessels and their rescue submarines were neglected after a decade of budget cuts. Regular drills and exercises are to prevent a repeat of the Kursk disaster where the necessary skills were not present and maintenance of the submarine was neglected. regular training allows the crew to maintain their skills and forces a full inspection of the rescue submarine once before it is deployed.
While the Baltic Fleet has a smaller submarine force compared to the Northern and Pacific Fleets, it needs its own rescue submarine in the case of an accident. Unlike the United States or Great-Britain, Russia does not have the capabilities of deploying its rescue subs over vast distances, so waiting for the rescue subs of the Northern and Pacific Fleets to arrive is not an option.
June 26
A company sized unit of ground forces in Kaliningrad trained how to deploy their BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles in a combat scenario. Over 100 soldiers with 20 pieces of military equipment trained their driving and shooting skills with the BMP-2. The targets set up for this course included a firing position for grenade launchers and recoilless rifles as well as groups of enemy soldiers. All targets were engaged from distances between 300 and 900 meters from both a stationary position as well as during movement. The use of tracer rounds during the exercise allowed the crew to adjust their fire. [1]
