Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk38/2021

Task Force Compostion

As reported by OSINT at noon of September 25


Weekly Brief

The task force has been reduced to its normal since with the departure of the Northern and Pacific Fleet detachments. It is however unsupported with the departure of the PM-138 repair vessel and the Akademik Pashin fleet oiler. Operations by the task force are thus restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean where it can resupply at friendly and neutral ports such as Tartus, Syria, and Limassol, Cyprus.

Daily Events

September 19
Amur class repair vessel PM-138 passed the Bosporus and entered the Black Sea around 0400Z [1]. The vessel spent a total of 171 days in the Mediterranean, providing expert technical support for the Russian warships stationed at Tartus, Syria.

A Russian task force was reported at 1655Z in a position southeast of Sicily. The vessels appear to be the Udaloy class destroyer RFS Vice-Admiral Kulakov, fleet oiler RFS Akademik Pashin and rescue tug Altai [2]. She was later reported in a position 30 nautical miles north of Valetta, Malta, heading west [3].

September 20
Fleet oiler RFS Akademik Pashin is reported in a positions southwest of Sicily at 0556Z. The position is based on her AIS signal [2]. The vessel was later reported in a position 53 nautical miles north of Tunis and headed west at 1400Z [4].

Rescue tug SB-742 was reported 45 nautical miles west of Beirut at 0645Z and heading southwest against a speed of 6 knots. The vessel could be escorting the Improved Kilo class submarines RFS Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the RFS Volkhov which are planned to join the Pacific Fleet [5].

September 21
Rescue tug SB-742 reversed course at 0600Z when she was 30 nautical miles north of Port Said, Egypt [5]. A USAF Boeing RC-135U operating from Crete was later observed flying in the region where SB-742 operated [6], possibly monitoring the Russian naval activity and vessels heading towards the Suez Canal.

Fleet oiler RFS Akademik Pashin is reported in a position 45 nautical miles north of Bejaia at 1550Z. The vessel might be heading towards Algiers though this is yet to be confirmed [7].

The Russian research vessel Akademik Golitsyn is reportedly heading towards Algiers [8]. The vessel entered the Mediterranean on September 13 by passing through the Bosporus.

Ropucha class landing ship RFS Tsezar Kunikov passed the Bosporus and entered the Mediterranean en route towards the port of Tartus [9] [10] [11]. Passage took place around 17:11 local time [12].

September 22
Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Essen entered the port of Limassol, Cyprus, for a port visit [13]. The frigate will replenish her supplies and allow some rest to the crew before heading back to sea [14] [15] [16].

Fleet oiler RFS Akademik Pashin is reported at a distance of 182 nautical miles east of Gibraltar and heading west [17]. The vessel should pass the Strait of Gibraltar in the evening of September 23 [18].

A group of Russian warships have entered the Suez Canal during the morning hours. These include the Gremyashchy class corvette RFS Gremyashchy and the Improved Kilo class submarines RFS Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the RFS Volkhov [19]. All three vessels are planned to join the Pacific Fleet.

Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Stary Oskol has reportedly completed her tasks as part of the task force stationed in the Mediterranean and is heading back to her home port of Novorossiysk at the Black Sea [20].

September 23
Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Stary Oskol transited the Bosporus and headed towards the Black Sea [21] [22]. The passage took place around 08:45 local time [23].

Rescue tug Captain Gurev is reported in the Red Sea at 53 nautical miles west of El Qoseir. The vessel is expected to enter the Suez Canal at 1000Z [24].

Udaloy class destroyer RFS Vice-Admiral Kulakov, fleet oiler RFs Akademik Pashin and rescue tug Altai passed the Strait of Gibraltar and headed into the Atlantic Ocean [25].

September 24
Research vessel Akademik Golistyn passed Europa Point at Gibraltar at 06:30 local time and headed into the Atlantic Ocean [26].

Tapir class landing vessel RFS Orsk returned form a supply run at Tartus and passed through the Bosporus [27]. The transit took place around 08:15 local time [28].

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