Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk32/2021

Task Force Composition
As reported by OSINT at the morning of August 14

Weekly Brief

Naval activity in the Mediterranean increased but remains related to ships moving back and forth to their new deployment areas such as RFS Admiral Makarov returning to the Black Sea and triaging vessel RFS Smolny transiting through the Mediterranean.

Amur class repair vessel PM-138 is reported at sea, escorted by rescue tug Sergei Balk. This is unusual as the vessel normally remains in the port of Tartus in order to support the Russian warships moored there. She could possible head for the Red Sea though this is not confirmed. 
Amur class repair vessels normally serve six months in the Mediterranean before being replaced. The PM-138 arrived only at April 01 and is expected to rotate out around October. A previous deployment in the Red Sea took place between April-28 and June-18.

Daily Events

August 09
Rescue tug Sergei Balk allegedly reversed course in and headed back towards the Mediterranean. The vessel was previously reported in the Aegean Sea but is now heading back in the direction of Tartus, Syria. It is very likely that she is escorting the minesweeper RFS Ivan Golubets [1].

Natya class minesweeper RFS Ivan Golubets completed a mine countermeasure exercise at an unspecified location in the Mediterranean. The vessel and its crew used various methods to search for mines as the vessel is heading towards Tartus. The crew also trained in damage control, air defense and anti-sabotage [2].

August 11
Rescue tug Sergei Balk and Natya class minesweeper RFs Ivan Golubets were reported south of Ayia Napa during the late morning. Both vessels are expected to reach Tartus in the morning of August 12 [3].

August 10
Russian Navy training vessel RFS Smolny has entered the Mediterranean. The vessel passed Europa Point in the Strait of Gibraltar around 09:15 local time in the morning [4].
On board are around 200 cadets of the 2nd and 4th grades at the Naval Academy. The vessel left Kronstadt on June 29 and is heading towards Sevastopol. The training cruise is expected to last until October [5].

August 13
Admiral Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Makarov has left the Mediterranean and transited back to the Black Sea via the Bosporus [6]. The vessel, which is part of the 30th Surface Ship Division, has spent 103 days in the Mediterranean [7].

Rescue tug Sergei Balk transmitted a weather report to the headquarters in Sevastopol. The transmission took place halfway Cyprus and Syria at position 34 42 N 34 54 E and was broadcasted on 8345 kHz [8]. There are reports that the vessel left Tartus during the forenoon [9].

Amur class repair vessel PM-138 allegedly sailed out of Tartus, Syria, during the afternoon [10].

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