Ocean Shield 2023 - After action report

Summery

Following a three year hiatus, the Baltic Fleet once again held an Ocean-Shield exercise. Contrary to previous editions, the security situation for Russia in the Baltic Sea has changed significantly due to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Most countries in the Baltic are now on a hostile footing with Russia, compared to a more neutral stance in 2020 when the last Ocean Shield exercise took place. Also, al countries surrounding the Baltic Sea are now either part of NATO or in the process of joining NATO. 
Ocean Shield 2023 will thus have to take this new security situation in account.

Daily Events

August 2
The Russian Ministry of defense reported the start of the Ocean Shield 2023 naval exercise in the Baltic Sea. The exercise is held under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov and will involved around 30 warships, 20 support vessels and 30 aircraft of the naval aviation [1].

Altay class fleet oiler Yalyna is expected to make an out of area deployment to the North Sea. The vessel can support up to three Russian warships [2].

August 4
Minesweepers Alexander Obukhov and Pavel Khenov were reported at sea with both vessels operating together. The vessels were engaged in an air defense exercise, using their 30mm autocannons for defense. The next serial in this day of exercises involved CBRN protection exercises while at sea followed by defending the vessel against underwater sabotage teams while anchored at a roadstead [3].

August 9
Parachim class anti-submarine corvettes Urengoy and Zelenodolsk formed a task group and operated together in an exercise involving searching for submarines. Both vessels will also lay minefields and hold gunnery exercises against sea and aerial targets [4].

August 16
Steregushchy class corvette Boiky conducted anti-submarine exercises in the Baltic Sea. The exercise involved the deployment of the ship borne Ka-27 helicopter. The exercise was followed by electronic launches of Uran anti-ship missiles against a simulated enemy surface task force. The series of exercises was finished with the conclusion of an air defense exercise [5].

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