Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk11/2022

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at the morning of March 19

Weekly Brief

Fragmented information at the end of the week indicates that the Russian task force is operating in relatively large numbers in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. Both Slava class cruisers operate in the Ionian Sea where they keep monitoring the US, French and Italian tri-carrier exercises. It is doubtful if these two cruisers operate without their escorts but these escort ships have not yet been detected and/or reported through OSINT.
A secondary force operates in the Eastern Mediterranean, possibly in cooperation with an Improved Kilo Class submarine. Their purpose is less known and could range from training to acting as a covering force for the Slava class cruisers. The fleet tanker Vyazma operates south of Crete where it can support both groups.

There are unconfirmed reports of an Akula class submarine operating in the Mediterranean. If true, the submarine will most likely attempt to detect and track the US and French nuclear submarine that are known to escort their aircraft carriers.
The presence of such a vessel can not be confirmed through OSINT means at this time. If such a submarine was present she must have passed Gibraltar though without the means to track such a vessel, ship spotters at Gibraltar were not in position to watch for the passage. The submarine, if present in the Mediterranean, might also have passed Gibraltar during the night, preventing visual detection.

Daily Events

March 16
A Slava class cruiser was spotted operating south of Crete. The vessel was on an eastern course, most likely to meet up with the fleet tanker Vyazma [1].
The cruiser most likely returned from the Ionian Sea where a French and US carrier group are operating together.

March 18
The Russian task force is allegedly operating in relatively large numbers. Slava class cruisers Marshal Ustinov and Varyag are reported in the Ionian Sea, west of Crete. Grigorovich class frigate Admiral Grigorovich and Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo are reported in the Eastern Mediterranean, possibly in the company of an Improved Kilo Class submarine [2].
Fleet tanker Vyazma is operating southwest of the island Gavdos, itself located south of Crete, where it was in proximity with the super yacht Solaris [3] [4]. The yacht is owned by Roman Abramovich and is moving out of European waters in order to prevent being seized as part of the sanctions against Russia.

There are also unconfirmed reports of a Russian nuclear submarine, presumed to be an Akula class, is also in the Mediterranean. The passage of this submarine at Gibraltar was not reported.

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