Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk14/2022

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at the morning of April 09


Weekly Brief

With the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman still operating in the Ionian Sea, most surface warships of the Mediterranean Task Force continue to be centered around the western part of Crete from where they can trail and shadow the carrier and its escorts. With the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle completing its Clemenceau 2022 exercise and returning to port, I expect the Russian Navy to retire one surface action group to Tartus for much needed rest, resupply and repairs.

It appears that one of the two Kilo class submarines operating in the Mediterranean suffered mechanical breakdowns that required the intervention of the specialized repair vessel PM-82. Only on April 08 did PM-82 start to return back towards Tartus after spending eleven days near Crete.

Daily Events

April 02

Rescue tug Sergei Balk is reported 80 nautical miles north of Haifa at 1200Z. The vessel most likely made contact with an unidentified vessel and is escorting it back towards Tartus [1].

Commercial satellite imagery showed a Kilo class submarine on the surface in a position east of Crete. The submarine was in the vicinity of the repair vessel PM-82 and the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo. It is most likely that the submarine developed mechanical problems that required the intervention of the PM-82 and its on board workshops. Orekhovo-Zuyevo most likely provided cover during the repairs [2].

Logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov is reported in a position 90 nautical miles west of Haifa at 1000Z [3].

April 03

Rescue tug Sergei Balk has returned at the port of Tartus around 0600Z [3]. The vessel most likely escorted an Iranian tanker. 

Logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov is reported in the port of Tartus. Her location was reported through her AIS signal [4].

April 04
Rescue tug Sergei Balk and logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov have left the port of Tartus. Both vessels were reported in a positions 34°59'N 035°05'E. Both vessels were heading west on course 278 with a speed of 5.8 knots. According to the AIS signal, Sergei Balk is eventually heading towards Alexandria [5].

Amur class repair vessel PM-82 continues to operate east of Crete [6]. The vessel has been reported in that area since March 28th and was spotted operating near a Kilo class submarine and Buyan-M class corvette.

April 05
Rescue tug Sergei Balk and logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov have made a rendez-vous with the fleet oiler Vyazma close to the east coast of Cyprus [7] [8]. The vessels were reported around 30 nautical miles west of Ayia Napa around 0600Z [9].

April 06
According to her AIS signal, the fleet tanker Vyazma departed the area east of Cyprus and headed off in a southern direction [10].

Udaloy class destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov was observed on satellite imagery in the Ionian sea at 10:30 UTC. The destroyer was observed sailing behind the carrier USS Harry Truman [11].

A group of Russian warships was observed west of Cyprus on commercial satellite imagery around 0850Z. The group is allegedly composed of Slava class cruiser Varyag, Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Tributs, Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Kasatonov and Grigorovich class frigate Admiral Grigorovich [12].

April 08
Amur class repair vessel PM-82 departed its zone east of Crete and headed east towards Tartus [13].

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 - Wk20/2024

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-18 Weekly Brief A significant reduction in combat strength took place with the departure of Northern and Baltic Fleet warships as well as the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo. This leaves the task force reduced to a detachment of the Pacific Fleet and the frigate Admiral Grigorovich.  The departure also included the two amphibious landing vessels, thus resulting in an end to maritime weapon shipments for Russian mercenary forces stationed in Libya. Daily Events May 11 Civilian oil tanker Okeansky Prospect entered the Mediterranean during the afternoon via the Strait of Gibraltar [ 1 ]. Weapons runner Sparta IV was anchored near Malta and would stay there until May 13th. Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed sailing near Sparta IV [ 2 ]. May 12 Logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov was observed entering the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar at 10.45 local time [ 3 ]. Russian oil tanker Vladimir Mon
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk36/2024

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-07 Weekly Brief Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin, most likely escorted by the frigate Neustrashimy, unexpectedly departed the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Their destination was not reported though several Russian interests are present in the region such as Sudan, Yemen and Iran. A long term Indian Ocean deployment appears to be unlikely since these deployments are almost always handled by vessels of Russia's Pacific Fleet. Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk has been closing in on the Strait of Gibraltar. The submarine and her escorts could be entering the Mediterranean in Week 37. Daily Events September 02 Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin is reported 120 to 140 nautical miles from the entrance of the Suez Canal. The vessel is escorted by an unidentified frigate [ 1 ]. September 03 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus confirmed the presence of Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa, frigate Admiral Grigorovich, Stere
Read more