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Showing posts from May, 2023

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk21/2023

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-27 Weekly Brief Naval activity of the task force remains low with the exception of the Improved Kilo class Krasnodar which has been at sea for several weeks. It is unknown if the vessel is conducting patrols or crew training in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Pacific Fleet task force made up of the Steregushchy class corvettes Gromky and Sovershennyy , escorted by Dubna class fleet oiler Pechenga, passed the Singapore on May 24th and could be heading towards the Mediterranean in order to relieve the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and fleet oiler Kola. Daily Events May 21 Three vessels were identified in port at Tartus as the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo, the Aleksandrit class minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov and the fleet oiler Kola. Clouds obscured the location where the submarines usually berth. Frigate Admiral Gorshkov appear to be absent from port [ 1 ]. May 25 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus showed the follo

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk20/2023

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-20 Weekly Brief Little information was provided through the means of OSINT. However, the Kilo class submarine Kransodar and the Aleksandrit class minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov remain absent from Tartus. This suggest that both vessels are engaged in training exercises and patrolling the area around Tartus. The presence of the Admiral Gorshkov together with the Sparta IV merchant vessels suggests that the frigate escorted the merchant through the Eastern Mediterranean. Daily Events May 15th Several Russian warships were observed moored inside the port of Tartus. These were identified as the Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo and the fleet oiler Kola. The merchant vessel Sparta IV was also observed undergoing loading/unloading operations [ 1 ].

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk19/2023

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-13 Weekly Brief Activity within the task force has been increasing during the week with several vessels heading back out to sea. The Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar have been the most active. The activity could be related to the passage of the merchant vessel Sparta IV which has been observed moving through the eastern Mediterranean on her sixth trip towards Tartus since October, most likely to pick up weapon systems and munitions for use in the war in Ukraine [ a ]. The small logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Pamorov has entered the Mediterranean as well. It will be interesting to see if the vessel will remain in the Mediterranean or will be allowed to pass the Turkish Straits to head back to her homebase on the Black Sea. A small task force from the Pacific Fleet might be heading to reinforce the Mediterranean Squadron. The task force consists of the Steregushc

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk18/2023

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-06 Weekly Brief Further reduction of the task force was observed with the departure of the intelligence collection vessel Yuri Ivanov. The departure of this vessels will result in less Russian coverage of NATO exercises within the Mediterranean. As for the remainder of the task force, little to no activity was reported at the beginning of the week though a Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar and the minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov were absent from the port of Tartus. Both vessels could have been deployed in the coastal zone which would explain the presence of an Italian P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft observing the area around Latakia. Daily Events April 30 Satellite imagery of the port of Latakia showed several Russian warships being moored inside the harbor. These vessels were identified as the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the corvette Orekhovo-Zuyeve and the fleet oiler Kola [ 1 ]. May 02 A P-8A Poseidon maritim