Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task force composition As reported by OSINT on the morning of February 28 Weekly Brief Buyan-M class corvette RFS Vyshniy Volochek was last spotted escorting a tanker of unknown origin from Syria towards the Suez Canal. It is presumed that the tanker could be the Iranian flagged vessel Delbin. If so, the escort could possible be done to deter the Israeli Navy from harassing the passage of the tanker. The task force continues to decrease in size with the scheduled return of the RFS Saratov following the completion of its supply run towards Tartus and the relief of the Natya I class minesweeper RFS Valentil Pikul. Several vessels are however presumed to be heading back towards the Mediterranean and rejoin the task force. The Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Rostov-on-Don was last located halfway the English Channel on February 24 [ a ]. Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich and Bykov class patrol vessel RFS Dmitry Rogachev have completed their bilateral exercise with the Pak

TASS agency reported on February 17, 2021, that the latest vessels of Project 11711 Ivan Gren Class landing vessels will have a significant increase in displacement and carrying capacity. According to TASS agency, the vessels Vladimir Andreyev and Vasily Trushin will have a 40% increase in displacement which results in an increase of 100% in amphibious lift capacity for wheeled vehicles. The increase in both displacement and amphibious lift is achieved by increasing the dimensions, length and beam, of the vessels. Standard displacement is reported at 6.000 tons but the enlarged versions will thus have a displacement of around 8.400 tons. The machinery and power plant will be redesigned in order to cope with the additional weight. According to TASS, the new propulsion system will slightly increase the speed suggesting that these vessels will be faster then the 18 knots for the original vessels. As stated earlier, the amphibious lift capacity is increased with 100% though this is specif

Task force composition As reported by OSINT on the morning of February 21 Weekly Brief The Russian Navy withdrew the Vishnya class intelligence collection vessel RFS Priazove from the Mediterranean following deployment of191 days. No replacement was send to take over the task, suggesting that  the Russian Navy has collected enough data at the moment. Other naval activities remained within the scope of normal maritime deployment by the task force with a brief port visit of the RFS Admiral Kasatonov at Alexandria, Egypt, training for minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov and RFS Novocherkassk doing a new supply run towards Tartus. Daily events February 16 Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov and rescue tug Nikolay Chiker have arrived in the Port of Alexandira, Egypt [ 1 ]. The port visit will last until February 18 and both vessels will be replenishing their supplies of food and water during their stay [ 2 ] [ 3 ]. The fact that Nikolay Chiker is once again escorting RFS Admiral Kasatonov

February 15 Around 10 Su-27 fighter aircraft are involved in tactical exercises over the Kaliningrad Region. The exercise includes various stages which include evading an incoming airstrike and relocation to alternate airfields as well as launching missiles against simulated cruise missiles and simulated hostile bomber aircraft. Radiologic, Chemical and Biologic (RBC) teams are reported to be involved as well and they will train in decontamination of airfields. [ 1 ] February 16 The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Steregushchy class corvette RFS Boiky and Ropucha class landing vessels RFS Korolev and RFS Minsk held gunnery exercises at the Baltic Sea training grounds. The vessels reportedly engaged surface and aerial targets with their main artillery systems and close in weapon systems. Following the gunnery exercises, the vessels trained replenishment at sea by taking on supplies from the multipurpose support vessel Alexander Grebenshchikov and the sea tug Anatoly Ptitsyn.

February 09 The Zubr class amphibious landing vessel RFS Yevgeny Kocheshkov has entered the Yantar shipyard at Kaliningrad for a repair and maintenance period. These repairs are expected to last two week. [ 1 ] February 10 Bastion coastal missile defense systems held a combat exercise in the Kaliningrad Region. The mobile launchers were instructed to engage a simulated surface task force in the Baltic Sea. The exercise involved a march towards the firing positions and work out the target solutions in order to conduct a simulated launch. The role of the simulated task force was played by the Steregushchy class corvettes Boiky and Soobrazitelny. [ 2 ] February 13 Around 2.000 servicemen are undergoing small arms training at various locations in the Kaliningrad Region. Depending on the type of weapon assigned, the servicemen is to engage both stationary and moving targets at distances between 100 to 1.000 meters. [ 3 ]

Task force composition As reported by OSINT on the morning of February 14 Weekly Brief Following several weeks of changes, the task force composition remained relative stable though several internal shifts took place during the week. Rescue tug RFS Nikolay Chiker was detached from the frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov and escorted the minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov. RFS Vyazma was assigned to supply the RFS Admiral Kasatonov during her long range deployment while at the same time, the fleet oiler RFS Ivan Bubnov returned back to the Black Sea. By the end of the week, all Russian naval vessels appear to be at or heading towards the port of Tartus. Without the RFS Ivan Bubnov and the RFS Vyazma being attached to support the deployment of the RFS Admiral Kasatonov, the task force is without a dedicated fleet oiler. Several rescue tugs stationed in Tartus have the capacity however to support the naval vessels on a individual level. Daily events February 08 Rescue tug Nikolay Chiker is reported n

February 02 The Air assault battalion of the 336th Naval Infantry Regiment was involved in a combat readiness exercise at Kaliningrad. Over 300 marines were put on alert and marched out to their assembly area on the Khmelevka training ground. Once there, the marines were tasked to ambush a simulated convoy of hostile forces and to defend the coastal zone against an amphibious assault.  Marines have currently set up several command and observation points, deployed patrols and organized an all round defense of their positions.  The tactical exercise is expected to last several days. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] The crews of Iskander missile systems conducted electronic launches as part of a combat readiness test that is ongoing in the Kaliningrad Region. The crews had to take up firing positions covertly and conduct both single and group electronic launches against simulated enemy airfields, missile systems and command posts. Once the strike was launched, the crews were tasked to take up alternative posi

February 01 Pacific Fleet: The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the training program for the Pacific Fleet Naval Infantry has started. Around 1.500 servicemen are deployed at the training grounds in Bamburovo, Gornostay and Radygin to start their combat training. In the near future, these units will learn to cooperate with snipers, grenade launchers, engineers and reconnaissance units. [ 1 ] Baltic Fleet: Marines have started their training for the International Army Games, to be held in the summer, in order to qualify for the 'Marine Assault' competition. The training involves the rivers of BTR-82A APCs overcoming an obstacle course with a track bridge, a ditch, anti-tank hedgehogs and moving through the water. Gunners will have to engage ground and air targets both from a standstill as well as on the move. The necessary standards and skill needed to load an unload from landing ships will be trained as well. [ 2 ] February 02 Baltic Fleet: The Air assault battalion o

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT on the morning of February 07 Weekly Brief Russia's surface task force in the Mediterranean saw a significant reduction in numbers as Stereguschy class corvette RFS Stoiky and fleet oiler RFS Kola also left the Mediterranean. Together with the frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich and patrol vessel RFS Dmitry Rogachev, these vessels will take part in the Pakistani naval exercise AMAN 2021. Currently the Russian Navy operates two surface warships in the Mediterranean, the Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov and Buyan-M class corvette RFS Vyshniy Volochek. A further reduction in strength is expected to take place as RFS Admiral Kasatonov's escorting tug was spotted on February 06 in a position just 45 nautical miles south of the Dardanelles, suggesting that both vessels are heading towards the Black Sea. In turn, the Aleksandrit class minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov and rescue tug SB-36 entered the Mediterranean. Russia tends to use min