Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk11/2021

Task force composition

As reported by OSINT on the morning of March 21


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.

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].

Popular posts from this blog

Russian Naval deployments during the Ukraine War

Image
March 17, 2022 At least six Russian warships were observed near Odessa. The warships maintained their distance and operated on the horizon. March 16, 2022 Several vessels entered the port of Sevastopol including the patrol vessel Vasily Bykov. The Bykov was rumored to be struck and sunk by a Ukrainian grad MLRS barrage near Odessa on March 07 dough this was never officially confirmed.  The visual confirmation of the vessel entering the port of Sevastopol undamaged indicates that if an MLRS attack took place, it did not struck the Bykov. Ropucha class landing vessel Kondopoga of the northern fleet allegedly also entered the port of Sevastopol. March 15, 2022 Several Russian warships and landing ships were spotted on commercial satellite imagery during the morning hours. The vessels were heading in the direction of Odessa.  The vessel leading the formation of landing ships appears to be minesweeper with her sweeping array deployed. During the evening, around 90 missiles were reported fir
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk20/2024

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-18 Weekly Brief A significant reduction in combat strength took place with the departure of Northern and Baltic Fleet warships as well as the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo. This leaves the task force reduced to a detachment of the Pacific Fleet and the frigate Admiral Grigorovich.  The departure also included the two amphibious landing vessels, thus resulting in an end to maritime weapon shipments for Russian mercenary forces stationed in Libya. Daily Events May 11 Civilian oil tanker Okeansky Prospect entered the Mediterranean during the afternoon via the Strait of Gibraltar [ 1 ]. Weapons runner Sparta IV was anchored near Malta and would stay there until May 13th. Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed sailing near Sparta IV [ 2 ]. May 12 Logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov was observed entering the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar at 10.45 local time [ 3 ]. Russian oil tanker Vladimir Mon
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk36/2024

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-07 Weekly Brief Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin, most likely escorted by the frigate Neustrashimy, unexpectedly departed the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Their destination was not reported though several Russian interests are present in the region such as Sudan, Yemen and Iran. A long term Indian Ocean deployment appears to be unlikely since these deployments are almost always handled by vessels of Russia's Pacific Fleet. Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk has been closing in on the Strait of Gibraltar. The submarine and her escorts could be entering the Mediterranean in Week 37. Daily Events September 02 Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin is reported 120 to 140 nautical miles from the entrance of the Suez Canal. The vessel is escorted by an unidentified frigate [ 1 ]. September 03 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus confirmed the presence of Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa, frigate Admiral Grigorovich, Stere
Read more