Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk11/2021
Task force composition
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Weekly Brief
Deployment of the Russian task force during this week was largely in response to the presence of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier action group (CAG) in the region of Crete. NATO assets kept a close watch on the transit of the submarine RFS Rostov-on-Don as it passed through the Eisenhower's area of operations. The threat level of this submarine is high given the fact that conventional powered submarines have penetrated the protective screen of US Navy carrier groups in the past and acquired firing solutions on the carrier.
Russian surface vessels were spotted of Lebanon on March 16 in what appears to be a naval exercise which involved the majority of the major surface combatants deployed in the Mediterranean minus the two frigates of which one, the RFS Admiral Kasatonov, was deployed near Crete to monitor the Eisenhower CAG.
Russian surface vessels were spotted of Lebanon on March 16 in what appears to be a naval exercise which involved the majority of the major surface combatants deployed in the Mediterranean minus the two frigates of which one, the RFS Admiral Kasatonov, was deployed near Crete to monitor the Eisenhower CAG.
The task force remained largely unchanged with the exception of the departure of the Tapir class LST RFS Saratov after completing another supply run towards Tartus and the departure of the Buyan-M class corvette RFS Vishny Volochek. RFS Vishny Volochek was scheduled to depart as it is relieved by the RFS Orekhovo-Zuevo. In return, the high seas rescue vessel Sergey Balk entered the Mediterranean. This vessel is specialized in towing and rescue operations on the high seas and could possibly be the new escort for the RFS Admiral Kasatonov as it continues its long range deployment which will most likely take her into the Indian Ocean.
Daily events
March 15
A Greek maritime patrol aircraft was patrolling the area between Sicily and Greece during the morning. The aircraft most likely tracked the Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Rostov-on-Don and her escort, rescue tug Prof. Nikolay Muru [1].
Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov was last spotted on commercial satellite imagery in the center of the Eastern Mediterranean. The vessel was heading on a northern course, possibly to intercept a Mistral class LHD which was halfway Crete and Cyprus and heading east [2].
March 16
Improved Kilo class submarine and her escort were spotted on commercial satellite imagery in a position southwest of Crete, Greece. Both vessels are shadowed by what is believed to be an Italian Bergamini class FREMM frigate [3].
Several vessels were seen on commercial satellite imagery in a position west of Beirut, Lebanon. These vessels included the Buyan-M class corvette RFS Orekhovo-Zuevo, the Bykov class patrol vessel RFS Dmitry Rogachev, Aleksandrit class minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov and a Grachonok-class anti-saboteur vessel [4].
March 17
Buyan-M class corvette RFS Vishny Volochek passed through the Bosporus during the morning and headed towards the Black Sea [5]. The vessel spent a total of 131 days deployed in the Mediterranean [6] and is heading back towards Sevastopol [7].
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov has recently been operating in a position southwest of Crete, Greece. The vessel was involved in maritime training which focused on defensive actions on an individual level during transit at sea [8].
March 18
Tapir class landing ship RFS Saratov transited the Bosporus and headed towards the Black Sea. The passage was recorded at 0430Z [9].
A United States Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft is reported in the area between southern Lebanon and Cyprus. The aircraft is allegedly searching for a Russian submarine that is submerged in this region [10].
High seas rescue vessel Sergey Balk transited the Bosporus and headed towards the Mediterranean. The vessel is part of the Black Sea Fleet 205th auxiliary squadron and is capable of towing and damage control operations [11]. The transit took place around 17:14 local time [12].
March 19
Rescue tug Nikolay Chiker and sea tanker RFS Vyazma were reported in a position 21 nautical miles south of Crete at 1150Z [13]. Both vessels were heading on a eastern course.
March 21
During the afternoon, satellite imagery of the port of Tartus, Suria, was made available showing several Russian warships inside the port. These vessels were identified by twitter user @OSINT_1 as Buyan-M class corvette RFS Orekhovo-Zuev, Aleksandrit class minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov, repair vessel PM-82, small fleet tanker RFS Iman, a Kilo class submarine, rescue tugs Nikolay Muru and Yakov Grebelsky; and a Grachonok-class anti-saboteur vessel. North of the port, a second Kilo class submarine was spotted on the surface [14].
