Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk07/2021

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 instead of the fleet oiler RFS Vyazma suggest that the latter is now assigned to the task force stationed at Tartus, Syria.

February 17
Minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov held a mine-counter warfare exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. The minesweeper was tasked to identify and make a passage through a simulated minefield. Once the minesweeper made it through the minefield it had to repel a simulated airstrike made by low flying target with the use if its anti-aircraft weapon systems [4] [5].

February 18
Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov and rescue tug Nikolay Chiker left the port of Alexandria, Egypt, during the afternoon [6].

February 19
Ropucha class landing ship RFS Novocherkassk has transited the Bosporus and is heading towards the port of Tartus, Syria [7].

February 20
The AIS signal of rescue tug Nikolay Chiker was last spotted west of the port of Tartus, Syria [8]. It is suggested that the rescue tug and frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov are heading towards the port.

February 21
Vishnya class intelligence collection vessel RFS Priazove transited the Bosporus and headed into the Black Sea [9]. The vessel was deployed in the Mediterranean for 191 days [10].

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