Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk50/2021

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 and RFS Minsk are allegedly heading towards the Strait of Gibraltar, possibly returning to the Baltic Sea. Their passage at Gibraltar is expected around December 18 [1].

December 17
Tapir class landing vessel RFS Orsk was visually observed when she passed the Bosporus. The vessel is heading to the Syrian naval base at Tartus and transports armored personnel carriers [2].

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