Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk27/2021

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at noon of July 11


Weekly Brief

The departure of the Slava class cruiser RFS Moskva and her escort was an unexpected event. The deployment of cruisers in the Mediterranean normally last several weeks to months with various port visits and naval exercises taking place. Her departure coincided with the British carrier strike group (CSG21) moving towards the Suez canal. It can be reasoned that RFS Moskva was deployed in the Mediterranean as a countermove against the deployment of HMS Defender and HNLMS Evertsen in the Black Sea and the passing of these two warships in waters that Russia claims as its own.

The two Northern Fleet landing vessels RFS Kondopoga and RFS Alexander Otrakovsky entered back into the Mediterranean and are heading towards Tartus. Both vessels have been in the Black Sea for the past two months in support of military exercises in the Crimea. It remains unclear if both vessels will return to the Northern Fleet upon completion of their "Syrian Express" supply run towards Tartus.  wo Baltic Fleet landing ships still remain in the Black Sea which indicates that the need for additional amphibious lift capacity is still required in the Black Sea.

Daily Events

July 05
Slava class cruiser RFS Moskva and frigate RFS Admiral Essen left he Mediterranean and passed the Bosporus during the afternoon [1] [2] [3]. Both vessels had recently entered the Mediterranean on June 18 in order to hold naval exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean. These exercises took place around June 28.
No reason why these vessels returned back to the Black Sea following their short stay in the Mediterranean was reported as it was expected that the cruiser and her escorting frigate would remain in the Eastern Mediterranean to monitor British and US carrier groups.

July 07
Northern Fleet Ropucha class landing ship RFS Kondopoga and RFS Alexander Otrakovsky passed the Bosporus and are heading towards the Syrian port of Tartus [4] [5]. Both vessels entered the Black Sea on April 17 and remained detached to the Black Sea Fleet. RFS Alexander Otrakovsky conducted a previous supply run towards Tartus between May 18 and May 30.

July 08
Buyan-M class corvette RFS Ingushetia passed the Bosporus and headed into the Mediterranean [6] .The vessel is part of the 41st Missile Boat Brigade, 166th Small missile ship battalion based at Novorossiysk. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that she will replace the Buyan-M class corvette RFS Orekhovo Zuevo which is deployed in the Mediterranean since February 28 [7].

July 10
At 0700Z, the Buyan-M class corvette RFS Orekhovo Zuevo left the Mediterranean via the Bosporus [8].

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