Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk05/2021

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 minesweepers as additional protection of naval bases. The sonar systems are used to detect divers and objects placed on the seafloor. Previous naval exercises in the Baltic and Caspian Sea involved minesweepers searching for sabotage units attempting to place explosives at the anchorage place of Russian naval vessels.

Daily Events

January 31
Altay class fleet oiler RFS Kola was reported in  a position directly south of the Suez Canal by 1300Z and entered the Bay of Suez [1] [2]. The oiler normally travels together with the Steregushchy class corvette RFS Stoiky, suggesting that the corvette left the Mediterranean as well [3]. Both vessels will most likely head towards Pakistan and join the international naval exercise AMAN 2021 together with the frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich.
As for the Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov, the escorting tug Nikolay Chiker, was last located off the coast of Israel and heading south towards Suez [4].

February 01
TVZvezda confirms in an article that Steregushchy class corvette RFS Stoiky passed the Suez Canal together with the fleet oiler RFs Kola [5].

February 02
Rescue tug Nikolay Chiker has left the eastern Mediterranean and passed between the island of Crete and Karpathos during the morning in order to enter the Aegean Sea [6]. Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov is most likely with her, though this was not confirmed.


February 03
Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov and rescue tug Nikolay Chiker have arrived in the Greek port of Piraeus during the morning for a port visit and to resupply their stocks. [7] [8]
The Russian Ministry of Defense did not announce how long the frigate will remain at Piraeus but stated that the vessel will remain in the Mediterranean for the near future and continue her assigned tasks. The Ministry of Defense also stated that the vessel held several combat exercises in the previous days. These exercises included anti-submarine and anti-air warfare. [9]

February 05
RFS Admiral Kasatonov and rescue tug Nikolay Chiker have completed their port visit at Piraeus and headed back to sea. [10]
The next course of action for both vessels was not reported.

February 06
Aleksandrit class minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov transited the Bosporus and headed towards the Mediterranean. The vessel was spotted passing Istanbul around 0800Z. [11]
According to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the minesweeper is being escorted by rescue tug SB-36 of the Black Sea Fleet. [12] [13]

Rescue tug Nikolay Chiker and possibly frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov were located in a position 45 nautical miles south of the Dardanelles and heading north towards the Black Sea. [14]

February 07

Fleet tanker RFS Vyazma, a Kaliningradneft Class fleet tanker, was reported off the coast of Tangiers and entering the Mediterranean. The passage through the Strait of Gibraltar took place at 0955 Zulu (10:55 local time). [15]
An additional warships is reported trailing two nautical miles behind the RFS Vyazma. Misty weather at Gibraltar did not allow for a positive identification [16] but it is believed that the vessel is the a Descubierta class corvette. [17]

The AIS signals of rescue tug Nikolay Chiker and the Aleksandrit class minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov were reported north of the island of Limnos [18]. It appears that both vessels will make a rendezvous, possibly to supply the RFS Ivan Antonov.
The AIS signal of the SB-36 was located in the port of Sevastopol, suggesting that contrary to the statement made by the Ministry of Defense, the vessel is not escorting the RFS Ivan Antonov. [19]

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