Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk02/2021

Task Force composition

As reported by OSINT on the morning of January 17

Weekly Brief

The Russian naval task force in the Mediterranean has been strengthened by the arrival of two warships, the Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov and the Bykov class patrol boat RFS Dmity Rogachev. This strengthening of the surface task force is only temporary, as both the RFS Admiral Kasatonov and RFS Stoiky are reported to be on a long distance voyage with deployments in the Indian Ocean. It is therefore possible that both RFS Admiral Kasatonov and RFS Stoiky, together with the oiler RFS Kola, will take part in the AMAN-2021 anti-piracy training exercise at Karachi, Pakistan in February.
Submarine RFS Novorossiysk has left the Mediterranean and is currently underway to the Yantar shipyard in the Baltic Sea for repairs and modernization, leaving the RFS Stary Oshkol as the only submarine present in the Mediterranean. Type 636.6 improved Kilo class submarine RFS Krasnodar has completed her repairs and modernization and will start her sea trails soon. It is expected that once her sea trails are over, the submarine will rejoin the task force stationed in the Mediterranean though this is yet to be officially confirmed.

Daily events

January 11
Alligator class landing ship RFS Saratov transited the Bosporus and headed towards the naval base at Tartus, Syria. [1] [2]

January 12
Rescue tug Prof Nikolay Muru, located southeast of Almeria, Spain; was on a southern course at 1300Z and heading towards the Algerian coast. The Altay class oiler RFS Kola was at the meantime located outside Algerian territorial waters near Bani Saf. [3]

Gorshkov class frigate RFS Kasatonov was spotted on commercial satellite imagery in a position near Lisbon. The vessel and its escorting rescue tug Nikolay Chiker were seen on a southeastern course, suggesting that both vessels might head towards the Mediterranean. [4]

January 13
Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich reportedly conducted air defense exercises in recent days. The exercises involved defense against simulated cruise missiles. [5]

A Kilo class submarine escorted by the rescue tug Prof. Nikolay Muru passed the Strait of Gibraltar during the morning. Both vessels headed west towards the Atlantic Ocean [6]. The submarine passed at 12:17 local time [7] and the rescue tug at 12:24 local time [8]. This submarine is was identified as the RFS Novorossiysk [9].

The AIS signal of the rescue tug Nikolay Chiker, escorting the Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov, was last reported near Cape St Vincent, Portugal. The signal did not provide data to determine if the frigate is heading towards the coast of Morocco or turning towards the Strait of Gibraltar. [10]

January 14
Gorshkov class frigate RFS Kasatonov and rescue tug Nikolay Chiker transited through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. [11] [12]
The vessel will perform several military and diplomatic tasks while deployed in the Mediterranean. Several ports will be visited during her deployment. [13] [14]

January 15
Vasily Bykov class patrol boat RFS Dmitry Rogachev transited the Bosporus and headed towards the Mediterranean. The time of the crossing was reported at 13:30Z. [15]

Altay class tanker RFS Kola refueled the Gorshkov class frigate RFS Kasatonov and its escort, the rescue tug Nikolay Chiker. Anti-terror teams of Naval Infantry stationed on board of the warships ensured the safety of the vessels during the resupply.
All ships also held damage control exercises focusing on firefighting with both stationary and portable fire extinguishers. [16]

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