Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk08/2021

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 Pakistani Navy on February 20 [b]. The AIS signal of their escorting rescue tug SB-739 was last detected on February 24 in a position east of Masirah Island, Oman. The vessel was heading towards the Strait of Bab el Maneb with a speed of 11 knots.

Screenshot Marinetraffic.com

Daily events

February 22
Tapir class landing ship RFS Saratov transited the Bosporus at 0430Z and headed into the Black Sea. The transit was monitored by Turkish Coast Guard RHIB 4307 [1].

February 25
Natya I class minesweeper RFS Valentin Pikul transited the Bosphorus around 0840Z and headed towards the Black Sea [2]. The minesweeper spent 85 days deployed in the Mediterranean [3] [4].

February 27
The Buyan-M class corvette RFS Vyshniy Volochek was seen on commercial satellite imagery in the eastern Mediterranean escorting a tanker towards the Suez Canal [5]. The tanker was previously seen at anchor near Baniyas, Syria, on the 24th. It is suspected to be the Iranian tanker Delbin but this was yet to be confirmed [6].

February 28
Buyan-M class corvette RFS Orekhovo-Zuevo transited the Bosporus during the late afternoon and headed towards the Mediterranean [7]. The vessel will replace the corvette RFS Vyshniy Volochek [8].

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