Baltic Fleet Deployments - Wk 40/2020

September 28

A large scale amphibious exercise is announced for the Kaliningrad Region. Over 1.000 servicemen supported by 100 pieces of military equipment will take part in this exercise which reportedly last until the end of week 40. The first stage of the exercise will be the embarkation on landing ships and crafts followed by a transition towards the training area. The main task assigned to the Naval Infantry is to capture territory held by simulated opposing forces and liberate coastal infrastructure. The operational maneuver envisions blocking the enemy force followed by its destruction through combined arms. [1]

Reconnaissance troops equipped with Orlan and Zastava UAVs reportedly arrived on the Khmelevka training ground. These troops will provide real time reconnaissance and observation during the amphibious landing. These UAVs will also be used to collect information on the movements made by the opposing forces. [2]

September 29

A company sized unit conducted an amphibious landing on the Khmelevka training ground in the Kaliningrad Region. The marines were embarked on the Ropucha class landing ships RFS Koroloev and RFS Minsk, Zubr class hovercraft RFS Evgeny Kocheshkov and on three landing craft, most likely of the Dygong class. Naval artillery and airstrikes took place prior to the amphibious landing. Su-30SM and Su-24 bombers of the naval aviation regiment provided the air support during this phase. Both the airstrikes as the naval gunfire targeted simulated air defense and coastal batteries.
The marines landed on the beach in their BTR-82A APCs. According to Russian sources, the BTR-82As left the ships and approached the coast under their own power.

the exercise reportedly focused on how fast the marines could be deployed from their bases, load up in the landing ships and be deployed on a hostile coast. [3]

A tactical artillery exercise was held at the Pravdinsky training ground in the Kaliningrad. Over 500 soldiers, supported by 100 pieces of military equipment made a forced march from their barracks toards the training grounds. Once there, around 20 different fire missions were trained which saw the use of Grad and Urgan MLRS as well as Hyacinth, Msta-S and Akatsia self-propelled guns. [4]

September 30

A battalion sized unit of around 500 marines conducted a night march of around 120km towards their forward operating area as part of a large scale tactical exercise in the Kaliningrad Region. The marines reportedly had to neutralize groups of special forces during the march to prevent their movement from being detected. During the daytime, the marines started to set up command posts and field fortifications as preparation for further exercises during this week. [7]

S-400 missile systems were deployed during an air-defense exercise. The missile systems track a group of hostile aircraft, simulated by Su-27 fighters and Mi-8 helicopters. Once the hostile aircraft entered Russian airspace, the S-400 systems conducted electronic launches. According to Russian sources, the exercise was successful. [6]

A counter terrorism exercise was held near the town of Sovetsk with over 100 soldiers taking part. The drill involved increasing the protection of of the storage area for military equipment as well as blocking the approaches to the town. The simulated enemy was destroyed with small arms fire and BTR-80 APCs when these checkpoints came under attack. [5]

October 01

Another artillery exercise took place, this time at the training grounds in Pavenkovo. Just as on September 29, over 500 soldiers conducted around 20 different fire missions which saw the use Urgan MLRS as well as the 152mm Hyacinth self-propelled gun. The artillery men trained in hitting targets as fast as possible with a minimum use of ammunition. [8]

Live firing exercises were held on the Pavenkovo training ground where the marines of the Baltic Fleet have been active since the beginning of the week. The live firing exercises included firing small arms, anti-tank weapons and artillery as well as the weapon systems mounted on the BTR-82As. Aside from live firing exercises, the marines also trained in mobile operations, both offensive and defensive, and the interaction between the marines and supporting artillery units. [9]

October 02

The battalion sized group of Baltic Fleet Naval Infantry have returned to their barracks in Baltiysk following a 120km night-time march from the training grounds in Pavenkovo. [10]

Minesweeper Alexander Obukhov has located 12 contact mines at an unspecified location in the Baltic Sea. The mines date back from the second World War and were discovered by the on board sonar system Alexandrite and the remote controlled Sea Scan device. Unmanned Underwater Vehicles were used to inspect the sea mines as water conditions were unsuitable to dispatch divers. [11]

October 03

Frigate RFS Gremyashchiy conducted sea trails at the training ranges in the Baltic Fleet. The trails saw the testing of her radio equipment, radar systems and air defense systems. Several aircraft of the Baltic Fleet Naval Aviation were involved who played the part of hostile aircraft flying at different altitudes and speeds. The aircraft involved were identified as Ka-27 helicopters and Su-30SM, Su-27 and Su-24 fighter aircraft. [12]