Black Sea Fleet deployments-Wk50/2021

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 warfare exercise against a simulated enemy surface vessel, played by the RFS Ladny. Four Su-30SM fighter aircraft and two Su-24M bombers trained missile strikes and bombing runs against the surface vessel. In the second phase of the exercise, a Bastion missile defense system tracked the warship and worked out a firing solution followed by an electronic launch [2].

Rescue tug SB-36 was observed around 0340Z between Feodosia and Opuk. The vessel is towing a target behind it, possibly for a naval gunnery exercise [3].

December 17
A small sized amphibious landing exercise took place at the Opuk training ground with marines disembarking from the Ropucha class landing vessel RFS Novocherkassk. The vessel also organized air defense and held communication and damage control exercises [4] [5]
It is unclear if the marines embarked were the same as the ones involved in embarkation exercises at Sevastopol on December 06.

Grisha class anti-submarine corvettes RFS Suzdalets and RFS Kasimov were involved in a naval gunnery exercise [6]. The exercise is part of a three-day combat training exercises aimed to protect the waters around the Novorossiysk naval base. The vessels are also scheduled to train in air-defense [7].

Popular posts from this blog

Russian Naval deployments during the Ukraine War

Image
March 17, 2022 At least six Russian warships were observed near Odessa. The warships maintained their distance and operated on the horizon. March 16, 2022 Several vessels entered the port of Sevastopol including the patrol vessel Vasily Bykov. The Bykov was rumored to be struck and sunk by a Ukrainian grad MLRS barrage near Odessa on March 07 dough this was never officially confirmed.  The visual confirmation of the vessel entering the port of Sevastopol undamaged indicates that if an MLRS attack took place, it did not struck the Bykov. Ropucha class landing vessel Kondopoga of the northern fleet allegedly also entered the port of Sevastopol. March 15, 2022 Several Russian warships and landing ships were spotted on commercial satellite imagery during the morning hours. The vessels were heading in the direction of Odessa.  The vessel leading the formation of landing ships appears to be minesweeper with her sweeping array deployed. During the evening, around 90 missiles were reported fir
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk42/2023

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Oct-21 Weekly Brief The task force continues to operate at sea with its maximum capacity it can deploy. Both corvettes are most likely covering the US naval deployments of the Gerald R. Ford carrier task force with fleet oiler Yelnya regularly sailing out of Tartus to refuel the vessels at sea. Daily Events October 14 Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar and the rescue tug Sergey Balk were visually observed passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and exiting the Mediterranean [ 1 ]. October 17 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus only showed the fleet oiler Yelnya present inside the harbor [ 2 ]. October 18 A radio signal belonging to the fleet oiler Yelnya was intercepted, placing the vessel in a position of 34.9° North, 35,8° East; just outside the port of Tartus [ 3 ].
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk41/2023

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Oct-14 Weekly Brief The Russian task force has been responding to the new situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the arrival of a US Navy carrier task force in the region. AGI vessel Kildin is keeping track of the carrier movements. At the same time, both corvettes departed Tartus, support by the Amur class repair vessel PM-82. Both corvettes most likely form a counterbalance to the US Navy presence and project power is support of local allies though the projected combat power falls far short of the deployed US maritime power in this region. Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar has been steadily heading towards the Strait of Gibraltar, escorted by rescue tug Sergey Balk. Both vessels will most likely transit on October 14th during the night to prevent visual observation. Daily Events October 09 Fleet oiler Yelnya replenished the Momo class intelligence collection vessel Kildin in a postion halfway Crete and Mersa Matr
Read more