Russian Navy - News and Analysis

  Daily Events December 29 The task force, made up of the Slava class cruiser RFS Varyag, the Udaloy class destroyer RFS Admiral Tributs and the fleet tanker Boris Butoma departed the port of Vladivostok [ 1 ] [ 2 ]. The winter campaign will take place in Indian Ocean with a port visit scheduled at the Seychelles [ 3 ] [ 4 ].  Later during the day,  the Japanese Ministry of Defense reports that the task force was observed passing through the Strait of Tsushima [ 5 ] [ 6 ]. January 11 After having past through the Sea of Japan, East and South China Sea, the task force has passed through the Strait of Malacca and entered the Indian Ocean. The vessels are heading towards the Seychelles for a port visit that will coincide with the 105th anniversary of armored cruiser RFS Varyag arriving at the port of Victoria [ 7 ]. January 13 The task force arrived at the port of Cochin/Kochi in India for a port visit during which water and fuel supplies will be replenished [ 8 ]. All three vessels arriv

Fleet Overview Weekly Brief Most naval activity within the Black Sea remains isolated to crew training with no abnormal activity being reported. Dailly Events December 28 Satellite radar imagery of the port of Sevastopol shows that one Grigorovich class frigate and the corvette RFS Bora have left port between the morning of December 27 and the afternoon of December 28 [ 1 ]. December 29 Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Essen and her on board Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopter held an anti-submarine exercise in the Black Sea. The helicopter made several take-offs and landings and initiated searches for a simulated submarine. The frigate limited her actions to training flight deck operations [ 2 ]. January 02 The crew of Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Veliky Novgorod held a damage control exercise while the submarine was in port. The crew had to respond to a fire that broke out in one of the compartment [ 3 ].

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of January 01 Weekly Brief Additional naval forces have entered the Mediterranean, these include an Aleksandrit class minehunter, RFS Georgy Kurbatov, the logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov and possibly the Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Novorossiysk. Although these vessels are heading to the Black Sea, it is unknown if they will stay for a longer period in the Mediterranean before moving on. Daily Events December 25 Aleksandrit class minehunter RFS Georgy Kurbatov reportedly passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. The vessel is heading towards the Black Sea where it will join the Black Sea Fleet [ 1 ]. Elbrus class logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov also entered the Mediterranean around 0530Z [ 2 ][ 3 ]. December 26 Rescue tug Spasatel Bekh passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. The vessel is presumably escorting the Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Novorossiysk. Bad w

Fleet overview Weekly Brief The reported naval activity involved the ongoing state trails of two smaller Russian warships, RFS Tsiklon and the RFS Sergei Kotov.  Several vessels are heading towards the Black Sea to rejoin the fleet. These include the Aleksandrit class minehunter RFS Georgy Kurbatov and the logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov. Rescue tug Spasatel Bekh appears to be escorting a submarine, presumed to be the RFS Novorossiysk. Visual confirmation of the submarine entering the Mediterranean was not possible due to bad weather. The submarine was also not seen leaving the Baltic Sea or passing the English Channel. Daily Events December 20 Karakurt class corvette RFS Tsiklon has tested her artillery systems as part of the state trails. Firing took place against simulated coastal and aerial targets [ 1 ]. The leadership of the Black Sea Fleet has been called together at the naval base of Novorossiysk. The officers are to work out modern methods and force deployments to solv

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of December 25 Weekly Brief Limited naval activity was reported with the capital warships of the task force conducting flight deck operations at the beginning of the week. Both Baltic Fleet Ropucha class vessels departed the Mediterranean in spite of earlier rumors that both vessels were headed towards the Black Sea. It appears both vessels conducted a Syrian express run, most likely delivering military equipment to the Russian contingent operating in Syria. Daily Events December 18 Frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich and patrol vessel RFS Dmitry Rogachev held flight deck operations at an unreported location in the Mediterranean. Ka-27PS helicopters, carried by the vessels themselves, set out to train search and rescue operations and tracking submarines [ 1 ]. Rescue tug SB-742 moved into the Black Sea after passing the Bosporus. The vessel returned from the joint Russian-Egyptian naval exercise at Alexandria via Tartus [ 2 ]. Logi

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of December 18 Weekly Brief The reported naval movement was limited to landing vessels traversing the Mediterranean. Two Baltic Fleet Ropucha class landing vessels are reportedly heading back towards their naval base in the Baltic Sea with a passage at Gibraltar expected at December 18. These vessels most likely conducted a supply run towards the Syrian port of Tartus though the content of the cargo was not reported by OSINT. The cargo however did originate from the Kaliningrad Region as both vessels initially arrived at Tartus from Kaliningrad without stopping anywhere. Tapir class landing vessel Orsk once again transported military equipment towards Tartus. The vessel has a fast turn around time, passing the Bosporus outbound on December 8 meaning that she was loaded at Sevastopol between December 9 to 16. Her cargo was reported as armored personnel carriers. Daily Events December 15 Ropucha class landing vessels RFS Korolov

Weekly Brief It appears that the Improved Kilo class submarines RFS Veliky Novgorod and RFS Stary Oskol have received a large intake of recruits and are starting to train the basics. The description of the L-1 submarine course suggest that the very basics drills on board of submarine are being thought before the vessel is ready to depart from port. It is very likely that these new crews were also the ones who took part in the training of how to escape submarines during emergencies. This course took place on December 01 in Week 48. Exercises December 14 The crews of the Improved Kilo class submarines RFS Veliky Novgorod and RFS Stary Oskol have started the L-1 training course. The L-1 course focusses on preparing the vessel to go to sea, loading ammunition, organizing security when moored and working out the calculation required for diving, surfacing and launching missiles [ 1 ]. December 16 Naval aviation aircraft and a Bastion coastal missile defense system were involved in a naval wa

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of December 11 Weekly Brief With the arrival of the landing vessel RFS Tsezar Kunikov in the Mediterranean, there is reason to believe that Russia is rotation a company sized unit in and out of Syria. The vessel was involved in an embarkation drill on December 07 where it loaded a company sized element of Naval Infantry. The vessel was supposed to go to Opuk but instead headed straight towards the Bosporus, jugged from the transit times needed between Sevastopol and Istanbul. The vessel was visually observed in the Bosporus as heavy loaded, based on its waterline, which lends credence that a company sized NI unit and their BTRs are heading towards Syria. It is unknown if they will relieve another unit already present in Syria. The main surface combatants of the task force continue to be used for naval diplomacy by participating in a joint naval exercise with the Egyptian Navy. These vessels were previously also reported taking

Weekly Brief Several naval transits took place with the loaded landing vessel RFS Tsezar Kunikov heading towards Tartus, Syria, and the RFS Novocherkask heading into the Sea of Azov. Other vessels such as the RFS Sergei Kotov and RFS Cyclon are conducting regular training exercises and factory trails respectively. Exercises and movements December 06 The Naval Aviation regiment are holding combat exercises as part of the winter training program. The aircraft and helicopters train in engaging coastal and naval targets as well as search and track submarines and surface vessels. Around 20 aircraft take part in the training exercise, these include Su-30SM fighters, Su-24M bombers, Be-12, An-26 aircraft, Mi-8 and Ka-27 helicopters [ 1 ] [ 2 ]. December 07 Ropucha class LSTs RFS Tsezar Kunikov and RFS Novocherkassk embarked around 10 pieces of military equipment of the 810th NI Brigade and an unspecified amount of marines. The embarkation took place at Cossack Bay in Sevastopol. Both vessels

  December 03 Pacific Fleet Marines of the 150th NI Brigade at the Primorsky Region made the first parachute jumps of the new training year that started on December 01. The marines jumped out of Mi-8AMTSh helicopters and An-26 transport aircraft flying at altitudes of 600 meters [ 1 ]. Black Sea Fleet A battalion sized group of 500 marines of the 810th NI Brigade are holding training exercises at Crimea. The marines will hold live firing exercises with small arms and anti-tank missile systems. driver-mechanics will also train in overcoming obstacles and driving over rough terrain and beaches [ 2 ]. When being deployed towards the training areas, the marines also worked out the actions needed to secure the marching column against attacks made by hostile reconnaissance and sabotage groups [ 3 ]. December 04 Northern Fleet The so called Kirkenes Red Banner Marine Corps Brigade held a hand-to-hand combat championship. Twelve teams of various units within the brigade took part in the champi

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of December 04 Weekly Brief Limited naval activity was reported by OSINT during this week. Frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich and patrol vessel RFS Dmitry Rogachev are scheduled to take part in a joint naval exercise with the Egyptian Navy. The exercise is called Bridge of Friendship. Last week, both vessels were in a similar joint exercise together with the Algerian Navy. Logistic vessel RFS Vice-Admiral Paromov has been at sea in the Eastern Mediterranean with a short port call at Limassol, Cyprus. It is unknown if the vessel is supporting other Russian warships at sea or conducting sea trails and regular training. Daily Events November 30 Logistic support vessel RFS Vice-Admiral Paromov reportedly departed the port of Tartus [ 1 ]. December 02 Logistic support vessel RFS Vice-Admiral Paromov arrived at the port of Limassol, Cyprus, around 0900Z [ 1 ]. Frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich, patrol vessel RFS Dmitry Rogachev and rescue