Ropucha LST deployment - Spring 2021

Summary

In the second half of March, an unusual deployment of Ropucha class landing ship-tank (LST) was observed in the North Sea and Mediterranean. Two separate groups, one of the Northern and Baltic Fleet each, were observed heading into the Mediterranean for an unknown deployment. 

The first group to be observed consisted of all three operational active Ropucha's belonging to the Baltic Fleet, escorted by the Steregushchy class corvette RFS Boiky. All four vessels passed the English Channel on March 20, suggesting a normal training cruise up the Atlantic Ocean. However, on March 22 a second group passed through the North Sea and these vessels were identified as the Ropucha class LSTs RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy and the RFS Kondopoga under the escort of rescue tug SB-406. This group comprised half of all Ropucha class LSTs in service in the Northern Fleet.

Only four of the five Ropucha's were heading to the Mediterranean, with the RFS Minks being spotted heading back into the Baltic Sea on March 27. The final destination at this point remained open for speculation and several possibilities remained open. These included a supply run either to Libya, Sudan or Syria, a Mediterranean training exercise or a redeployment into the Black Sea in order to support amphibious training exercises to be held in April. The latter theory being briefly supported by a Ropucha being reported heading towards the Dardanelles on April 02.

On April 08, all four Ropucha class LSTs were observed at the port of Tartus, Syria. Their arrival there, in combination the last Syrian Express run conducted by the Tapir class LST RFS Saratov on March 18, suggest that these vessels conducted a supply run to the Russian forces present in Syria. This task is normally done by the Black Sea Fleet. However, in light of the Russian military build at the start of April in the Southern Military District for what Russia reported to be the completion of the winter training period suggests that the Black Sea Fleet is currently unable to supply the Russian forces in Syria.

At the moment of writing, it is believed that a large scale amphibious landing exercise is scheduled to take place in April for which the Black Sea Fleet will need all its LSTs and is thus unable to supply Syria in the meantime. As such, the Ropucha's of the Baltic and Northern Fleets were needed to temporarily take over the task of supplying Syria.

Daily Events

March 17

Ropucha class LSTs RFS Korolev and RFS Kaliningrad were spotted passing through the Oresund at 1130Z [1].

March 18

A Russian task force of one frigate, identified as the Steregushchy class corvette RFS Boiky, and three Ropucha class LSTs were spotted on satellite imagery passing the Skagerak and heading into the North Sea [2]. These Ropucha class LSTs were identified as the RFS Korolov, RFS Minsk and RFS Kaliningrad and comprise 100 percent of all Ropucha class serving in the Baltic Fleet.
The Russian news agency Interfax will report on March 21 that a British Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which took off from Lossiemouth Air Base in Scotland, followed the Russian ships while they were passing the Danish Straits [3].

March 19

All four vessels were seen on satellite imagery on a southwestern course in a position 65 nautical miles north of the Dutch naval base of Den Helder [4].

March 20

The task force passed the Strait of Dover during the morning hours and entered the English Channel [5] [6]. 

March 21

Suggestions are raised that the Russian task force is heading towards the Mediterranean [7].

March 22

Two Ropucha class vessels of the Northern Fleet are reported in the North Sea. These vessels were identified as the RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy and the RFS Kondopoga [8]. The vessels are escorted by the Sliva class tug SB-406 RFS Vikr [9]. The vessels were escorted by the Dutch Navy frigate RFS Van Speijk during the evening [10].

March 25

RFS Kaliningrad and RFS Korolev were spotted passing the Strait of Gibraltar and entering the Mediterranean during the evening [11] [12]. No passage of the RFS Minsk and Stereguschy class corvette RFS Boiky was observed though it is possible that these two vessels passed under the cover of darkness.

March 27

Steregushchy class corvette RFS Boiky and Ropucha class RFS Minsk were observed passing the Great Belt Bridge and entering the Baltic Sea at 0925 local time [13].

March 28

A Ropucha class vessel was spotted east of Europa Point at the Strait of Gibraltar. The vessel is shadowed by a Spanish Navy Vigia class OPV. Bad weather prevented identification of the vessel [14] but this is most likely one of the two Ropucha class vessels of the Northern Fleet which were last seen transiting the North Sea.

RFS Korolev and RFS Kaliningrad have made contact with the fleet oiler RFS Vyazma and rescue tug Nikolay Chiker in the western part of the Mediterranean [15].

March 29

Fleet oiler RFS Vyazma was spotted on an eastern course on satellite imagery in a position south of Sardinia. The oiler was seen resupplying an unidentified Ropucha class LST with rescue tug Nikolay Chiker trailing behind them [16]. The identity of the vessel was unknown but it is possible that this is the unidentified Ropacha which entered the Mediterranean on March 28 as both RFS Kaliningrad and RFS Korolev were last seen sailing together.

April 02

Satellite imagery shows several Russian warships traversing the Aegean Sea, one of them appears to be a Ropucha class landing ship heading north, towards the Bosporus [17]. This vessel is presumed to be the RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy though this could not be verified [18].

RFS Minsk, still escorted by the Stereguschy class corvette RFS Boiky, was reported near the Latvian coast [19].

April 08

Four Ropucha class LSTs were observed on satellite imagery of the Port of Tartus. Two vessels are shown moored inside the harbor and two others are reported at anchor outside the port [20].
The two Ropucha class inside the harbor are believed to be the RFS Kaliningrad and RFS Korolev from the Baltic Fleet as they were the first to enter the Mediterranean on March 25. If so, then the two vessels at anchor are the RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy and the RFS Kondopoga, of which only one could be visually observed entering the Mediterranean on March 28 under bad weather conditions.

April 12

New satellite imagery of the port of Tartus, Syria, revealed that all four Ropucha class LSTs have left the port and are back at sea [21].

April 15

A Ropucha class LST was spotted in the central part of the Aegean Sea on a northern course during the late afternoon [22]. The identity of the vessel could not be verified.

April 17

Ropucha class LSTs RFS Kondopoga and RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy of the northern fleet transited the Bosporus and headed towards the Black Sea [23]. The transit took place during the morning.