Baltic Fleet Deployments - Wk 46/2020
November 10
Pilots of the Naval Aviation regiment trained in landing Ka-27 anti-submarine and rescue helicopters practiced landing on board of the helidecks of the corvettes RFS Steregushchy and RFS Boiky. Over 30 landings were conducted with the corvettes laying stationary and on the move. According to Russian sources, night time deck landings were trained as well. The training flights also included training the tactics for detecting and tracking hostile submarines. [1]
A small scale amphibious landing was held at an unspecified location on the coastline of the Kaliningrad Region. A subunit of the 879th Air-Assault Battalion, 336th Naval Infantry Brigade, conducted the amphibious landing. This subunit was mounted in ten BTR-82A APCs which is the standard size of a Russian company.
Transit to the coastline was done on board of two Zubr class hovercrafts, the RFS Evgeniy Kocheshkov and the RFS Mordoviya. During the transit, both hovercrafts trained in engaging surface and air targets with the AK-630 close in weapon system. Additional exercises on board of these hovercraft involved damage control and radiation, chemical and biological protection of the ship while at sea. [2]
Transit to the coastline was done on board of two Zubr class hovercrafts, the RFS Evgeniy Kocheshkov and the RFS Mordoviya. During the transit, both hovercrafts trained in engaging surface and air targets with the AK-630 close in weapon system. Additional exercises on board of these hovercraft involved damage control and radiation, chemical and biological protection of the ship while at sea. [2]
November 11
The Ivan Gren class amphibious landing ship RFS Petr Morgunov has completed her state trails in the Baltic Sea and will be delivered to the Russian Navy by the end of the year. The vessel went to sea on November 2 for her final trails during which artillery systems were checked and helicopter operations were preformed. [6]
Reconnaissance units of the Naval Infantry and Marine special forces conducted several parachute jumps in the Kaliningrad Region. The jumps were conducted from a Mi-8 helicopter from altitudes of around 800 meters. The training took place in full combat gear in both day and nighttime and saw the use of several parachute systems such as the Malva and Crossbow systems.
Once on the ground, the marines conducted several clandestine operations such as taking prisoners, sabotaging lines of communication and conducting patrols behind enemy lines. The reconnaissance units relied on the the GLONASS satellite navigation system during these tasks.
Up to 150 jumps will be conducted until the end of the week. [3]
The armed forces in Kaliningrad will reportedly receive over 700 new trained servicemen during the period from November 16 to 30. Over 450 military personnel, will arrive from the 467th district training center of the Western Military District, located in the city of Kovrov, Vladimir region. Additional newly trained specialists will also come from training centers located in Chita, Chelyabinsk, Znamensk, Yeisk, Novosibirsk and Ostrogozhsk.
More than 400 mechanics-drivers and gunners, as well as about 300 signalmen, snipers, junior commanders, anti-aircraft gunners and artillerymen will also be joining the armed forces in Kaliningrad as well. [4]
November 12
The Russian ministry of defense reported that parachute training for the reconnaissance units of the Naval Infantry and Marine special forces continued on November 12. No changes in the set up of the training compared to November 11 were reported. [5]
Helicopter operations were held on board of the corvette RFS Gremyashchiy as part of her state trails in the Baltic Sea. The Ka-27 helicopters were flown by pilots of the 29th State Flight Test Center and took place during the day and night. In total, over 20 helicopter landings took place on the flight deck when the corvette was both drifting and on the move. [9]
November 13
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it will train over 300 servicemen as operator-gunner and driver-mechanic for the armed forces in Kaliningrad. The training will take place in the town of Gusev between December 1 and 30. The best driver-mechanics will be selected to operate the new T-72B3M main battle tanks scheduled to enter service in the Kaliningrad armed forces. [7]
November 14
The Baltic Fleet has started training with the Forpost UAV in the Kaliningrad Region. The UAV will be deployed in order to monitor ship movements in the Baltic Sea. One of the training missions involved the search for a small ship in distress which had lost its power. The role of the ship in distress was played by a fast boat.
The Forpost UAV is a pure reconnaissance drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera, a color video camera on a gyro-stabilized turntable, a photo camera, and relay equipment. It is able to transmit target data for other strike weapons. [8]
