Pacific Fleet's Asian Voyage - November - December 2020

November 01

Slava class cruiser RFS Varyag and Udaloy class destroyer RFS Admiral Panteleev left their port at Vladivostok and started a long range deployment in the Pacific Region. The warships are escorted by the light fleet oiler RFS Pechenga.

During the first day of their deployment, the warships checked their communication systems, held joint maneuvers, held an air defense exercise, conducted emergency rescue operations and held a replenishment at sea. During the air defense exercise, Russian aircraft played the role of hostile aircraft. [1]

November 02

Slava class cruiser RFS Varyag and Udaloy class destroyer RFS Admiral Panteleev were photographed at anchor near Vladivostok after completing several exercises. The open source report did not mention if these pictures were taking during the morning or evening hours. [2]

November 05

The Russian task force was captured on a Sentinel satellite image as it passed through the Sea of Japan around noon local time. The task force was located at the coordinates 37.86927 131.58486 at 02:15 Zulu or 11:15 local time and headed in a southern direction towards the Strait of Tsushima. The task force is composed of the destroyer RFS Admiral Panteleev leading the formation. Directly behind the Admiral Panteleev is the Dubna class light oiler RFS Pechenga. Slava class cruiser RFS Varyag sails in line with and to the port of the RFS Pechenga.



November 06

RFS Varyag and RFS Admiral Panteleev, together with the Dubna class light fleet oiler RFS Pechenga were spotted 50 kilometers northeast of Kamitsushima. Contact was made by the Hayabusa-class patrol boat IJN Otaka and the P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft Atsugi at around 9AM local time.
The task force was spotted heading southwest through the Strait of Tsushima towards the East China Sea. [3] [4]

November 21

Both the RFS Varyag and the RFS Admiral Panteleev were spotted in the Strait of Singapore and entering the Strait of Malacca. Transit in the Strait of Singapore took place between 11 and 12AM, local time. The escorting Dubna class light oiler RFS Pechenga was not spotted together with the warships, raising the question if it already passed through at an earlier moment or if the tanker took the long way around the Strait of Malacca. 
The time between the passing of the Strait of Tsushima and arriving at Singapore is explained by several typhoons passing through the South China Sea in the previous days, slowing the vessels down. [5]

December 01

RFS Varyag and the RFS Admiral Panteleev, together with their escorting sea tanker RFS Pechenga, have arrived at the port of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The three vessels will replenish their stocks of fuel and water during their stay. [6]
The ships are moored against each other with RFS Varyag tied up to the quay, followed by RFS Admiral Panteleev and RFS Pechenga. [7]


December 03

The surface task force has left the port of Trincomalee following their port call to replenish water and fuel supplies. Russian sources did not mention where the vessels will be heading next. [8] [9]

December 04 - 05

After leaving Sri Lanka, the task force conducted a two day bilateral exercise with the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal. The exercise was a regular PASSEX type exercises whereby warship meet during their transit and conduct joint maneuvers and communication exercises. The Indian Navy was represented by the frigate INS Shivalik and the corvette INS Kadmatt. TASS agency also reported that the two day exercise also involved anti-submarine warfare and helicopter operations. The exercise aimed to increase the operational compatibility, improve mutual understanding and exchange advanced experience. [10]
Due to the coronavirus, there was no exchange of liaison officers during the exercise. [11] [12]

December 14

Russian media announced that the Task force has entered the port of Tanjung Perak at Surabaya, Indonesia for a replenishment stop. All three vessels will replenish their water and oil supplies during this port call. [13] [14]

December 17

The Russian Task force has left the port of Tanjung Perak following the replenishment of fuel and water. The warships held a PASSEX exercise together with the Indonesian Navy which included communication and joint maneuvering exercises. [15]

December 29

The Russian Task Force returned back at its naval base in Vladivostok and concluded the end of its Pacific voyage which started on November 01. [16] [17]

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