Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk52/2021

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 weather did not allow for a visual observation [4]. 

December 27
Tapir class landing vessel RFS Orsk passed the Bosporus around 18:00Z. The transit was visually observed [5].

December 28
The AIS signal of Elbrus class logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov was reported north of Bizerte during the morning. The vessel is heading east towards the Central Mediterranean [6].
The AIS signal of Rescue tug Spasatel Bekh was reported northwest of Algiers around noon. The vessel is also continuing on an eastern course [6].

December 31
Better images of the passage of the Kilo class submarine were released on this date, showing the submarine making the passage on December 26 [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