Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk13/2021

Task force composition

As reported by OSINT at noon of April 03



Weekly Sitrep

The composition of the Russian Task Force in the Mediterranean has been undergoing several changes this week with the arrival and departures of several vessels. Most important is the departure of the Groshkov Class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov which is heading back to her naval base at Severomorsk. This leaves Russia with only one frigate available in the Mediterranean.
Steregushchy class corvette RFS Stoiky returned in the Mediterranean after being stuck south of the Suez Canal when it was blocked by the merchant vessel Ever Given. This vessel is expected to head back to the Baltic Fleet soon, probably escorting repair vessel PM-82 as the PM-138 makes its way towards the Syrian port of Tartus.
One of possibly three Ropucha class landing ships was seen traversing the Aegean Sea and heading towards the Black Sea. It is presumed that this is the Northern Fleet RFS Aleksandr Otrakovsky who might have entered the Mediterranean on March 28 but bad weather prevented any identification. The whereabouts of the Ropucha class vessels RFS Kaliningrad and RFS Korolev remain unknown but it is speculated that these two vessels could be heading towards Tartus.

Daily events

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 [1]. 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.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov has replenished her fuel supplies from the fleet oiler RFS Vyazma [5].

March 30
Project 18280 intelligence collection vessel RFS Ivan Khurs transited the Bosporus and headed into the Mediterranean [2].

The ASI signal of the Altay class fleet oiler RFS Kola was reported in the Great Bitter Lake of the Suez Canal during the morning. The vessel is heading north towards the Mediterranean [3]. Steregushchy class corvette RFS Stoiky is also passing the Suez Canal [4] [5].

Fleet oiler RFS Vyazma and rescue tug Nikolay Chiker were reported in a position 65 nautical miles northwest of Algiers and 360 nautical miles east of Gibraltar. Given the vessels speeds and course, they are expected to pass the Strait of Gibraltar on the evening/night of March 31 [6].

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Gorshkov class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov held an anti-submarine exercise in the central part of the Mediterranean. The exercise involved tracking a submarine and evade a simulated attack by submarines [7].

March 31
Altay class fleet oiler RFS Kola and Steregushchy class corvette RFS Stoiky, has arrived at the anchorage of Tartus, Syria, at 22:40 local time [8].

Frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov, fleet oiler RFS Vyazma and rescue tug RFS Nikolay Chiker are heading towards the Tofino Bank anchorage off Al Hociema, Morocco, located 80 nautical miles from the Strait of Gibraltar [9].

Rescue tug Prof. Nikolay Muru transited the Bosporus at 07:50 local time and headed into the Black Sea [10].

April 01
Frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov, fleet oiler RFS Vyazma and rescue tug RFS Nikolay Chiker passed the Strait of Gibraltar at 09:30 local time and headed towards the Atlantic Ocean [11] [12]. All three vessels will head towards the naval base at Severomorsk [13].

Amur class floating repair vessel PM-138 passed the Bosporus and headed into the Mediterranean [14]. The vessel will most likely head to Tartus, Syria, and provide technical support for the Russian warships operating in the eastern Mediterranean.

April 02
Several Russian vessels were seen on satellite imagery passing through the Aegean Sea. These vessels were identified as patrol vessel RFS Dmitiry Rogachev escorting the Russian tankers Yaz and Sig and an unidentified Ropucha class landing vessel [15]. All four vessels were on a northern course towards the Dardanelles. Amur class repair vessel PM-138 was also spotted heading south.

April 03
Bykov class patrol vessel RFS Dmitry Rogachev transited the Bosporus and headed into the Black Sea [16].

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