Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk50/2020

Task Force composition












Remark: The Buyan-M class corvette was previously wrongly identified as the RFS Orekhovo-Zuyevo. However, this vessel was present in the Black Sea during the Russian-Egyptian naval exercise "Bridge of Friendship" at the end of November 2020. She did not return to the Mediterranean following this exercise. Buyan-M class corvette RFS Vyshniy Volovhek however did transit into the Mediterranean on November 24, her transit was reported by twitter user @YorukIsik.

Auxiliary ships












Inbound vessels







General events

December 08:
Project 304 repair vessel PM-82 of the Baltic Fleet completed her passage through the English Channel and entered into the Atlantic Ocean. An anti-terror group of the Naval Infantry is on board to protect the vessel during its deployment. [1] [2]

December 11:
Commercial satellite imagery, posted by Twitter user @OSINT_1, showed several vessels moored in the port of Tartus with the LSTs RFS Saratov and RFS Novocherkassk maneuvering outside the harbor entrance. The ships inside the harbor were identified by @OSINT_1 as the frigate RFS Admiral Essen, corvette RFS Vyshniy Volochyok, MCM vessel RFS Valentin Pikul and the submarine RFS Novorossiysk. Two axillary vessels were also spotted and identified as the rescue tug Prof Nikolay Muru and the tugboat SB-739. [3]

December 12:
Project 304 repair vessel PM-82 of the Baltic Fleet passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. [4] [5]

Twitter user @key2med also reported the transit of the Project 22160 class corvette RFs Vasily Bykov, Type 636.6 improved Kilo class submarine RFS Stariy Oskol and the rescue tug Captain Gurev through the Strait of Gibraltar. All three vessels passed Europa Point during the afternoon and were on a course heading towards the Tofino Bank anchorage at Al Hociema, Morocco. [6] [7] [8]

LSTs RFS Saratov and RFS Novocherkaskk were seen on commercial satellite around 09:10Z at a position west of Cyprus. Both vessels were on a northwestern course back towards the Aegean. [9] Given their location, these vessels most likely were seen leaving Tartus on the commercial sattelite image of December 11.

Popular posts from this blog

Russian Naval deployments during the Ukraine War

Image
March 17, 2022 At least six Russian warships were observed near Odessa. The warships maintained their distance and operated on the horizon. March 16, 2022 Several vessels entered the port of Sevastopol including the patrol vessel Vasily Bykov. The Bykov was rumored to be struck and sunk by a Ukrainian grad MLRS barrage near Odessa on March 07 dough this was never officially confirmed.  The visual confirmation of the vessel entering the port of Sevastopol undamaged indicates that if an MLRS attack took place, it did not struck the Bykov. Ropucha class landing vessel Kondopoga of the northern fleet allegedly also entered the port of Sevastopol. March 15, 2022 Several Russian warships and landing ships were spotted on commercial satellite imagery during the morning hours. The vessels were heading in the direction of Odessa.  The vessel leading the formation of landing ships appears to be minesweeper with her sweeping array deployed. During the evening, around 90 missiles were reported fir
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk20/2024

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-18 Weekly Brief A significant reduction in combat strength took place with the departure of Northern and Baltic Fleet warships as well as the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo. This leaves the task force reduced to a detachment of the Pacific Fleet and the frigate Admiral Grigorovich.  The departure also included the two amphibious landing vessels, thus resulting in an end to maritime weapon shipments for Russian mercenary forces stationed in Libya. Daily Events May 11 Civilian oil tanker Okeansky Prospect entered the Mediterranean during the afternoon via the Strait of Gibraltar [ 1 ]. Weapons runner Sparta IV was anchored near Malta and would stay there until May 13th. Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed sailing near Sparta IV [ 2 ]. May 12 Logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov was observed entering the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar at 10.45 local time [ 3 ]. Russian oil tanker Vladimir Mon
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk36/2024

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-07 Weekly Brief Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin, most likely escorted by the frigate Neustrashimy, unexpectedly departed the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Their destination was not reported though several Russian interests are present in the region such as Sudan, Yemen and Iran. A long term Indian Ocean deployment appears to be unlikely since these deployments are almost always handled by vessels of Russia's Pacific Fleet. Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk has been closing in on the Strait of Gibraltar. The submarine and her escorts could be entering the Mediterranean in Week 37. Daily Events September 02 Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin is reported 120 to 140 nautical miles from the entrance of the Suez Canal. The vessel is escorted by an unidentified frigate [ 1 ]. September 03 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus confirmed the presence of Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa, frigate Admiral Grigorovich, Stere
Read more