Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk35/2022

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-03


Weekly Brief

An unidentified submarine has entered the Mediterranean, the vessel is presumed to be a Russian nuclear powered submarine though official confirmation has yet to be released. NATO maritime patrol aircraft have been able to keep track of the submarine as it moved from the Strait of Gibraltar towards the Central Mediterranean.

Daily Events

August 27
Two P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft of the US Navy were reported conducting a search flight just east of the Strait of Gibraltar [1]. Meanwhile, French FREMM frigate Bretagne was conducting military operations at the eastern end of the Strait [2]. It is possible that a Russian submarine made a transit through the Strait of Gibraltar while being submerged.

September 01
Two British P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft departed the Sigonella airbase on Sicily and conducted a mission over the Strait of Sicily [3]. The aircraft could be looking for an unidentified Russian submarine presumed to be operational in the Mediterranean.

September 02
A US Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft conducted a search mission near Malta during the morning [4]. It is suggested that these aircraft are tracking a Russian nuclear submarine though the identity or class of submarine is not reported [5].
Other sources suggest that the submarine in question is the Improved Kilo class submarine Magadan [6]. This submarine is intended for the Pacific Fleet but allegedly could first serve six to eight months in the Mediterranean before heading towards Vladivostok.

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