First Look - Weekend Edition

Forward to the Med!

The Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Escort Ship (SKR) “Ladnyy” is taking part in joint task force operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Together with the NATO ships, the SKR “Ladnyy”, commanded by Captain 2nd Rank Aleksandr Shvarts, will track ships suspected of participating in terrorism, transporting weapons of mass destruction and means for their delivery, illegal maritime transport of narcotics and other activities. After preparations at base and learning the NATO governing documents, the SKR “Ladnyy” will conduct integration procedures and will be accepted into the order of battle of the Standing NATO Forces Mediterranean.

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It is worth noting that the “Ladnyy” successfully participated in a similar operation last year…


Russian MRKs in Belgium

The crews of two small missile ships (MRK) “Passat” and “Zyb’” met with the permanent Russian representative to NATO Dmitriy Rogozin and the chief military representative to NATO HQ Vice Admiral Valentin Kuznetsov in the port of Zebrugge, Belgium.

The ships arrived in port 28 June and were invited by the Commander in Chief of the Belgian Navy, Admiral Jan-Paul Robins to take part in an international naval festival.



Black Sea Fleet Ships Conduct Exercises at Sea

Tactical training took place in the central regions of the Black Sea under the command of the Black Sea Fleet Chief of Staff Aleksandr Troyan. During the exercises held in the past week, various aspects of the Black Sea Fleet participated including anti-submarine and strike forces, surface ships and aviation. Auxiliary ships supported the exercises.

The Escort Ship “Ladnyy”, small anti-submarine ships “Suzalets”, “Muromets” and “Aleksandrovets”, the small missile ship “Mirazh”, missile cutters and the submarine “Alrosa” performed specific tasks according to a unified plan, including torpedo firings…

Also warships from the strike forces conducted a missile strike on the landing force of a notional enemy, conducted salvage drills on damaged ships and practiced radiological, chemical and biological defense.

The Price of Fuel Keeps Ships at the Pier

According to the Commander of the Northren Fleet H. Maksimov, ships and submarines of the Northern Fleed are ready for deployment to the far reaches of the world ocean.

"This will be the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Training will take place under the direction of the Supreme Commander," the Admiral said in a conference with a correspondent from the "RosBalt" news service.

But will these plans come to nothing taking into account the cosmic takeoff of the price of oil?

Daily demand for fuel and POL for a destroyer or large ASW class ship is about 100 tons (the optimal-minimal figure). Thus, the daily expenditure of fuel for a six ship task force (three warships and three support ships) taking into account the functioning of support equipment can reach thousands of tons. It is not difficult to translate this into monetary expenditure, figuring that diesel costs 18 thousand rubles/ton (lubricants 20 percent less). One day of a task force at sea costs the Navy around 15-20 million rubles - just for fuel....

But this is far from all the expenditures: modern conditions demand shipborne aviation to complete the commander's missions. A helicopter demands around a half a ton of aviation kerosene/hour flight.

Aviation kerosene in Russia costs around 1380 dollars/ton today in Russia and in North-West Europe - 1270 dollars. World aviation kerosene prices have doubled in the last year, although in the West it has begun to fall in May, but in Russia, this hasn't happened. Right now (19 June, 2008) kerosene costs 6.2 percent less in Heathrow than in Moscow and in Dubai - 8.1 percent less.

The Navy will have to allocate a large sum of money for fuel to perform training during a three month deployment which, evidently, significantly differs from the sum which was calculated at the beginning of planning.

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If the situation in the world oil market doesn't stabilize, then the plans for Russian military vessels to deploy on the world oceans will look more and more problematic and protecting national shipping against piracy and maritime armed conflict will again have to be put off into the indeterminate future.

First Look - 22 June 2008

Negotiations With Pirates in Gulf of Aden Inconclusive


A report from the Gulf of Aden where pirates have captured two vessels with Russian sailors aboad. The situation is critical - the cargo vessel "Lemann Tamber" will run out of fuel tommorrow, cutting off electricity and the crew is without food or potable water. Negotiations with the pirates are unsuccessful.

In a radio telephone call with Valentin Bartashev, the captain of the "Tamber" explains how they have run out of water and food after almost a month of captivity. Bartashev explains that the company suggested breaking into the emergency rations in the survival gear but the pirates have not allowed access to the gear. All tweleve members of the crew are being confined in a 6-9 meter/square space above deck. Through an interlocutor, the families of the imprisoned men have communications with them. The interlocutor, the editor of a maritime journal Mikhail Vojenko says that the situation is unstable and the pirates are constantly under the influence of narcotics and they constantly threaten to execute the whole crew. Other times they threaten to take the crew ashore and negotiate from there. Vojtenko says that the pirates have painted themselves in a corner and have nothing to do but wait for payment of ransom, originally $2 million, now $750,000. The company has already agreed to pay the ransom, but a question remains about how fast the company can deliver the money. Use of force against the pirates has for now been ruled out while the prisoner's lives are in danger. The reporter notes that less than two miles away is a second ship with Russian sailors aboard. There, without giving details, the reporter asserts that conditions are harsher and time is also running out for them.

First Look - 19 June 2008

(Photo: website of BPK Admiral Yumashev)

The Ochakov Could Become the Flagship
The official newspaper of the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) is reporting that the large anti-submarine ship (BPK) “Ochakov”, which has just finished repairs, could become the flagship of the BSF instead of the cruiser “Moskva”.

“This project 1134B BPK (Kara class), designed more than 40 years ago, has entered the 21st Century with a millennial overhaul with the aim of extending its service life 15-20 years. This is an unprecedented event for the fleet…”

Intermediate repairs began at the end of the 80s, however, with the breakup of the Soviet Union, they were never finished. Additionally a serious fire in 1993 significantly complicated the technical condition of the “Ochakov”.

Right now the ship is in repairs in the Sevastopol’ Shipyard. It is planned to re-introduce the “Ochakov” to the fleet in 2004-2005 (sic) after completion of repairs.


The CinC Russian Navy Discusses Security Issues with Turkey

The Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Vladimir Vysotskiy completed a three day visit to Turkey yesterday where he discussed Black Sea security and stability issues with the Ministry of National Defense.

“The CinC visited the Turkish Defense Ministry, the HQ of the Turkish Navy, the main naval base at Gel’dzuk and also visited the frigate “Oruchreis”, the missile cutter “Tufan” and the submarine “Burakreis””.

He also visited the surface observation and control center for movement of ships in the straits zone, the “Stambul” shipyard, the Naval Academy and the Turkish Naval Museum.

Torpedoman/Mineman Day in the Russian Navy

Mu_Rena at "The Sea is Everything" notes that 20 June marks the 155th anniversary of the first use of torpedoes against an attacking enemy force by the Russian Navy. The Imperial Russian Navy used these new weapons against an Anglo-French squadron attacking Kronstadt Island and other Russian Navy targets in the Gulf of Finland. Mu_Rena congratulates all minemen and torpedomen and posts this video as a present to all of you:

Americans Visit Zvezdochka Shipyard

Two foreign delegations were received at the Zvezdochka Shipyard last week.

A group of specialists from the US Department of Defense worked at the enterprise 09-10 June. The Americans are financing the scrapping of the project 941 Akula-class strategic underwater missile cruiser TK-13 within the framework of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. The American parters inspected the work done on the ship and discussed prospective projects with specialists from the shipyard in the course of two days.

Zvezdochka recieved a high level delegation of officers from the UK Ministry of Defense on the 10th to plan work in the framework of the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) program. The delegation headed by Vice Admiral Simon Lister acquainted themselves with the creation of a facility at the Severodvinsk-based wharf for the disposal of nuclear submarines and the capability of the facility to safely dispose of submarines. During the course of the visit they discussed the possibility of the Zvezdochka Shipyard, which has a great deal of experience decomissioning submarines, participating in the disposal of Royal Navy submarines. The discussions involve British submarines that have already been defueled.

First Look - 17 June 2008

French and American Sailors Protect the Pallada from Pirates

While making an around the world cruise, the sail-training frigate "Pallada" successfully cleared the Gulf of Aden last week, where maritime bandits have been especially impertinent, chasing down ships and taking their crews prisoner.

We remind you that a Russian ship and her crew was taken prisoner here not long ago. In order to avoid a similar emergency with the cadet sailing ship, Russian authorities have contacted the sailors of several nations whose ships stand watch in the Indian Ocean through Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Navy channels.

The call was heard. During the "Pallada's" transit of the Gulf of Aden, the sailing ship was under constant visual surveillance of a French military vessel patrolling the dangerous area.

Now the "Pallada" is on her way to Malaysian shores and should arrive there around the 25th of June. It should be noted that that area isn't the safest part of the world ocean either. Chinese "Triads" have operated fast pirate motorboats in the area. By the way, the "Pallada" will be under reliable watch here also - an American Carrier Strike Group is operating in the area now.

In any case, additional security precautions have been taken on the ship. In part, they have reinforced the watch, turned on full lighting at night and have manned the fire mains and can turn a stream of water from the fire hoses on the pirates if they attempt to board forcibly.

We remind you that the frigate "Pallada", on which there are 122 cadets, set out on an around the world cruise from Vladivostok on the 2nd of Novemeber, 2007. The cruise is in honor of a previous around the world cruise 190 years ago.

First Look - 16 June 2008

There have been no first looks for the last few day because of the lack of Navy news on Russian websites that hasn't appeared in English on the wires.

Russian Blogger Publishes Photos From BALTOPS-2008

Gettysburg (CG 64):



Exercise portrait:



Click the link for more pictures...

Russia Builds New Indian Frigate



Video of the ceremony marking the keel laying of the third project 11356 frigate built for India in Kaliningrad. A Russian Orthodox priest blesses the proceedings and "the Indians aren't against it".

Russia Day - The Navy Celebrates

In Sevastopol', the Black Sea Fleet conducted a "maritime parade". Here the Commander of the Black Sea Fleet reviews major combatants including the escort ship "Ladnyy":



The 12th of June is celebrated as "Russia Day", the day in 1990 that Russia declared it's sovereignty from the Soviet Union. One would think that Russia would take it as seriously as we take our Independence Day. One would be wrong. A few years ago, I was part of an official team taking part in a regularly scheduled treaty regulated activity. The Russians scheduled us to be present during "Russia Day" and were shocked when the factory we were visiting shut down for a long five day weekend in honor of "Russia Day". Our Russian hosts had forgotten that "Russia Day" was being celebrated during our activities and we sat around our hotel for a few days and twiddled our thumbs.

Good times, good times....

Cool Pic of the Day

"The Decisions of the 27th Communist Party Congress Come to Life"

No photograph encapsulates my contempt for Communism and the people that did stuff like this to their own country more.

(Photo: Author)

First Look - 11 June 2008

The Russian Fleet Will Receive New Ships in 2008

The latest tests of the Shchuka Project (Akula 2) SSN at the Amur Shipyard at Komsomol’sk na Amur have been successful.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the boat will be commissioned into the fleet in 2008. According to experts, it will be the fastest and quietest multi-purpose submarine in the fleet.

In addition, the Caspian Sea Flotilla will receive the newest escort ship “Dagestan” and two small landing craft. This is according to the Commander in Chief of the Caspian Sea Flotilla Vice Admiral Vikto Kravchuk, speaking on front of the Makhachkala Brigade of Maritime Security for the Caspian Flotilla region on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
(See next article for further details.)



The Caspian Sea Flotilla will receive the newest escort ship “Dagestan” and two small landing craft. This is according to the Commander in Chief of the Caspian Sea Flotilla Vice Admiral Vikto Kravchuk, speaking on front of the Makhachkala Brigade of Maritime Security for the Caspian Flotilla region on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.

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The celebration of this anniversary takes place with intensive preparations for the exercise “Caucauses-2008” in the background. According to the Admiral, “Now the ships of the brigade are charged with defense of shipping, supporting maritime commerce, guarding the fishing industry and development of the continental shelf”.

The escort ship “Tartarstan”, built in the Zelenograd Shipyard, was commissioned into the brigade in 2003 as well as the small “Serna” class small landing craft. Earlier, the CinC Russian Navy noted that “Dagestan” will significantly exceed the armament of the “Tartarstan”. The escort ship will perform search, surveillance and destruction of surface, subsurface and air targets. It is equipped with the universal strike missile “Uran”, with a range of 350 km, anti-air and anti-submarine defenses, special devices to detect and destroy torpedoes as well as acoustic detection devices. A Ka-28 or Ka-31 can be based on board.

The “Serna” class small landing craft can transport and land on an unequipped beach 45 tons of military equipment and 92 marines, a greater amount than other classes of landing craft. The “Serna” class is capable of speeds of 30 knots in sea states up to five while delivering a medium T-80 tank to a beach up to 1000km away. Additionally, the “Serna” is capable of getting itself off of bars.




Ships of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Will Take Part in International Exercises

Ships of the Russian BSF will participate in international exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, according to K1R Igor’ Dygalo, the press secretary for the Russian Navy.

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He added that the BSF escort ship “Ladnyy” has finished initial preparations for her participation for the second time in “Active Endeavor” in August 2008, a joint NATO anti-terror exercise in the Mediterranean Sea.

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He also said that the Black Sea Maritime Operational Group BLACKSEAFOR is planned for activation in August.

“From the moment of the creation of the BLACKSEAFOR group in 2001, BSF ships have operated with ships from other countries in the Black Sea littoral, carrying out missions with the goal of supporting security and stability.”




Aircraft of the Russian Northern Fleet Carried Out Flights over the Arctic.

Two Northern Fleet Aviation Tu-142 Bear F ASW aircraft carried out a planned flight over the Arctic today…including over the polar regions.

First Look - 10 June 2008

The Russian Navy Will Expand Its Presence on the World Oceans

General-Lieutenant B.Shamanov, Chief of the Combat Readiness Directorate of the General Staff announced, “The Russian Navy will expand its presence in the Atlantic, Pacific and the Northern Latitudes.”

“The Navy has a defined mission during the summer training period – presence not only in the Atlantic, but in the Pacific also. The subsurface forces of the Northern Fleet will increase its activities also,” Shamanov added.


Tu-95 Strategic Bombers Successfully Complete Their Assignment

Two Tu-95 strategic missile carriers successfully completed a flight of “great radius” according to plans to patrol the far reaches of the Arctic region.

A pair of aircraft also dealt with the issue of maximum re-fueling in the air. Having carried out the 20 hour flight, the crews returned to its home base at Engles’.

The planes were escorted by NATO fighters during the patrol.


A Task Group of Baltic Fleet Ships Participate in the Active Phase of BALTOPS-2008.

After a meeting of participants in Gdynia, Poland, a Task Group of Baltic Fleet ships set sail to take part in the active phase of the international maritime exercise BALTOPS-2008. Ships from 13 nations are participating in the exercise. The escort ship “Neustrashimyy” and the large landing ship “Kaliningrad” are representing the Russian Navy. There is a detachment of marines on the landing ship and eight armored vehicles. The escort ship has a Ka-27 embarked, whose crew made 10 training landings during the transit from Baltiysk to Gdynia.

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According to the plan of maneuver, there will be an ASW exercise, searching for and tracking submarines with helicopters. There will also be a gunnex during the active phase against surface and air targets, a maneuvering exercise, a communications exercise, an anti-air exercise, an ASW exercise against a notional enemy submarine, maritime stop and search exercises as well as anti-terrorism exercises.


The Salvage Ship “Geogriy Titov” Returns to Severomorsk.


Sevmash: We Helped Our Collegues

Sevmash workers helped test a project 971 SSN at the Amur Shipyard. A group of engineers specializing in steam pipe fitting, cooling machinery and high pressure air systems returned from a far eastern TDY. “Thanks to your workers, who offered valuable help in testing,” wrote the General Director of OAO Amur Shipyard to the leadership of OAO Sevmash, listing the workers by name. OAO Sevmash built seven project 971 boats between 1984 and 2001….

According to the newspaper “Kommersant”, construction of the project 971 SSN has stretched out to 20 years because of funding deficits at the Amur Shipyard. Workers in Severodvinsk aren’t throwing their brothers under the bus at a difficult moment – the turbines successfully took steam at the facility in Bol’shoy Kamen’. The Sevmash team plans to go back out there soon to participate in dockside trials and testing.

Cold War Stories: Guardfish Vs. K-184, Part VI

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V

07 June. We got a message from Pacific Fleet Command: “Maintain caution, do not execute a trail of the American submarine.” We detected a possible BPS-9 bearing 172 relative in single sweep mode. By the end of the broadcast, sonar detected and held propeller sounds bearing 090 relative for five minutes. We detected a leak of KhGTsEhN-601 (TR Note: again, in Russian ХГЦЭН – 601) from the starboard reactor and I decided to vent it since the level of radioactivity and aerosols began to rise in the 6th compartment. The crew heard the propeller noises from a possible submarine on the port side throughout the boat.

08 June. Our break-off maneuver from the American submarine didn’t yield any results. Sonar could still detect it periodically. We sent three messages about detecting the American submarine. During the broadcast that night all the lights on the “Nakat” ESM screen were lit up (“flash” type), which gave the impression that there was, maybe 1-2 cables away, a radar operating nearby, so we immediately dove to 60 meters. The next time we came to PD to catch the broadcast, we detected a BPS-9. We continued our break-off course, speed and depth while using active countermeasures.

09 June. Sonar detected a submarine bearing 150 relative. I decided to break contact with the American boat, creating two pockets of water turbulence, placing two active countermeasures between the boats and opening range by changes in course, speed and depth. I went to the navigator’s stand when the junior navigator, Junior Lieutenant A.V.Konev (now a Vice Admiral and Deputy Commander of the Pacific Ocean Fleet) told me a joke: “Comrade Commander, isn’t it just like a circus ring, where our boat runs in a circle while the American boat plays trainer?” I smiled. Right then the Political Assistant, K2R G.Ya.Antonov, called me up and asked, “Can’t we just talk to the Americans?” Once the joking started, I answered back in jest, “Don your IDA-59s!” The situation on the conn was tense. You could read on people’s faces the weight on their souls, but if you joked around a little bit, it meant that everything would be okay. We broke off from the Americans, since we couldn’t detect them anymore. An Orion ASW aircraft flew in the area of the lost datum, conducting a search, but we were already gone. We got the order to begin searching for an SSBN along a route measuring 400 NM and then return to base, arriving on the 19th of June. The route back to base was exactly the same as the route out.

10 June. We took up our assigned position an began to search for the SSBN at 0600. Periodically we executed a maneuver to uncover any submarines following us. None were found.

11 June. Mid-day we came to PD for the broadcast and detected a ship visually bearing 070, range 40 cables. Sonar once again didn’t detect anything. Acoustic conditions for us were terrible. At 1837, sonar heard propeller sounds. While maintaining caution, we came to periscope depth. At periscope depth we saw the stern of a 15,000 ton displacement ship heading away from us at a distance of about 9 cables. In this way, you can say that we determined the effective range versus surface contacts of our passive sonar.

12 June. At 2200, we finished our ASW search for the SSBN and began to transit back to base. Forty days on deployment and there wasn’t one message that came in that wasn’t inflammatory in some way, and this was peace time!

13 June. We got the intel summary: “The ASW carrier “Tripoli” is en route Okinawa”. We will soon pass Okinawa and exit the East China Sea.

14 June. We continue in the East China Sea.

15 June. We came to PD that night for the broadcast and nothing came to our address. Cloudiness was 3, sea state 2, visibility 3 miles. We shot stars and used Loran to determine our position. The crew is preparing the boat and the reports for the return to base.

16 June. At 0200 we fixed out position near the island of Dandzo: we got a visual bearing to the light and distance to the island using the radar in single sweep mode. At 0600, we fixed our position again and entered the Korean Straits submerged at a depth of 40 meters. At 1200 we fixed our position using Loran A (four lines intersecting in one spot). On the approach to Tsushima, I wanted to confirm our position, but sonar heard the sounds of propellers bearing 148 which escorted us for 40 minutes. Sonar couldn’t classify the noise. After that we again came to PD to confirm our position. The weather: still, hazy, visibility 20-30 cables.

17 June. We passed Ulin-Do island in front of surfacing point one. The depth there went to 2000 meters and more. Weather: fog, sea state 2.

18 June. There is a mass hair cutting and showering amongst the crew and everyone changes into their special clothes.

19 June. And now we have moored. The staff, an orchestra and the division commander, Kontra-Admiral I.I.Verenikin met us. A new task was put before the crew: meet the Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union, who will inspect the boat and the shore accommodations. They just took away our rest and relaxation.

Next: The conclusion...

Cold War Stories - Playing Chicken

One of several photographs of a collision with the Echo II K-22, 22 August 1976. Source: Aviation Week via John Kessler and Destroyersonline

K-22 and Voge (FF 1047) Collide in the Mediterranean Sea

The Soviet Echo II class SSGN K-22 was finishing up operations in the Mediterranean Sea near Crete. On 28 August, 1976 the boat was 150 miles to the south-west of the island when it came to PD at 1628. The commander spotted the Knox-class frigate Moinester (FF 1097) in the periscope. The captain immediately estimated bearing and range by eye, bearing 183 relative, range 40-50 cables (in reality, B192 R20 cables). Instead of breaking off, the captain decided to maintain contact for training.

At 1636 the boat dove to 140 meters, turning on C110 10kts and began to close the American frigate. The water depth was 2900 meters, SS 1-2, wind 280 3m/sec, visibility daytime unlimited. The captain of the submarine considered himself as detected by the frigate and maneuvered and varied his speed in order to carry out a break away maneuver. Thanks to his incompetent actions he created a poor sonar environment for his sonar and received spotty data from the targets, and didn’t have a clear view of the surface situation. Maneuvering on a parallel course with the Moinester, distance became 17.5 cables, unacceptably close (course 050).

In these conditions, he came to PD three times – 1650, 1738 and 1753 – and never saw the second frigate. The submarine captain gave the verbal order to quit updating the log, did not sound a general alarm, did not share the data on target movement with the XO, the Nav or the tracking party. He constantly made mistakes in estimating distance and more than once approached at high speed into the skip zone (3-5 cables) from the frigate Moinester. At 1753, the captain detected the frigate bearing 062 relative, 7 cables and turned sharply left, beginning a zig-zag maneuver. The SSGN continued on a general heading of 320 at a depth of 4-5 meters, exposing the sail above the surface of the water. Because of the zig-zagging and the vibration produced by the violent maneuvers, observation through the periscope was difficult and the captain lost sight of the frigate several times, finally losing contact at 1815.

Ten minutes later, unexpectedly for him he saw a second American frigate at very close range. At 1825 the commander of K-22 gave the command “Emergency deep” and “Down periscope”. These measures were too late and the SSGN plowed into the port side of the frigate Voge a minute later at 17 knots under the helo hanger. The blow was struck by the bow of the boat and followed up with the forward part of the sail. The boat received huge dents in the hull, cracks in the bulkheads and a damaged screw. The Voge lost way and was towed at first to the base in Crete and to Toulon, France for repairs in September. The Soviet boat suffered damage to the bow on the outer hull and the sonar dome for the “Kerch’” system was damaged as was the “Argument” missile guidance antenna. The boat had to surface and departed the area of the accident under its own power while being escorted by Soviet ships. Emergency repairs were conducted at Kithera anchorage and after than the boat returned to Severodvinsk for major repairs.

Time Magazine described the incident in its 27 March 1977 issue like this:

One day last August a Soviet Echo Il-class submarine cruising almost submerged trailed a slowly steaming American frigate, the U.S.S. Voge, for nearly an hour. Suddenly, the sub turned straight toward the Voge and sped up sharply. The American sailors, who photographed the sub as it charged toward them, waited for it to turn away. But it kept coming. Moving fast—about 17 knots—the sub slammed into the left quarter of the Voge, bounced off, then wallowed in the frigate's wake. The Voge limped off with one injured crewman and a gashed hull. The sub, with damage visible on its bow, deck, conning tower and missile ports, eventually churned off slowly in another direction.

First Look - 08 June 2008

The Black Sea Fleet's main base is still in Sevastopol' for now.

Novorossiysk Prepares to Greet the Black Sea Fleet

Unprecedented constructon has begun in Novorossiysk. The goal of the construction is a base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. A mole is being constructed right now. It is a unique hydro-technical structure, an analogue of which cannot be found in the world (TR Note: As always with the Russians. Yawn.)

The harbor, designed to protect ships of the Black Sea Fleet will be finished by 2014. It will be a kilometer and a half long. The construction will take place at a depth of 45 meters. General-Major Michael Tashlyk, the commander of Spets-Stroy Russia in the Southern Federal District has declared that no one else in the world has done such construction work at such a depth on such a scale. (TR Note: Again. Yawn.)

The base will be completed by 2020. Forty billion rubles have been allocated for this program. We remind you that the lease on the Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol' runs out in 2017.




Fire Drill Conducted on the "Yuri Dolgorukiy"

OAO Sevmash conducted a fire drill on the SSBN Yuri Dolgorukiy. Colonel-General Pavel Plat, the chief military expert for the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) observed the exercise. According to the scenario, a fire broke out in one of the compartments. In addition to civilian firefighters, members of the crew under the command of Kapitan First Rank Konstantin Mit'kin extinguished the "blaze".

It was a high level exercise. At the end of the event, the captain of the Dolgoruki was given an icon of the Holy Mary in the Burning Bush (TR Note: As a theme in the Russian Orthodox art, depiction of the Blessed Virgin in the center of the two four-pointed stars, holding close the Child in clerical robes as the "Great High Priest") on behalf of the leadership of the Russian MES, considered to defend lives against fire and the savior of firefighters.

First Look - 07 June 2008

French Ship "Tourville (F 610) to Visit Severomorsk

The French Navy Ship "Tourville" will begin a port visit to the main Northern Fleet base on 11 June. It is planned that the ship will moor at 1100. The port call will continue through 16 June.

Note: I know from personal experience that Severomorsk/Murmansk is not exactly Pattaya Beach. Its quite possible that the French sailors on liberty will run out of things to do by 1110 and then all you will be left with is a bunch of guys in striped t-shirts with little puff balls on their flat hats wandering aimlessly around Severomorsk. The best part of a port call in Severomorsk: the trip down the spectacular Kola Fjord out. The trip in is not as good, 'cause when you're standing there at parade rest manning the rails and snot is dripping down your nose and freezing to your upper lip in July, you know you're pretty miserable.


Bold Monarch-2008 Wraps Up



The participants of Bold Monarch-2008 pull into Arendal, Norway for the final ceremony. The Georgiy Titov pulls into a fjord almost as big as she is, the Danish Police dress up like it's Charles Dickens' Day, there is the dreaded "gift exchange" (any START inspectors in the audience know what I'm talking about), American officers think that TV Zvezda streaming on the Internet on the Dutch Ship "Rotterdam" is the greatest thing since sliced bread and the Norwegians and the Russians plan on a bi-lateral submarine exercise in the Barents for next year.

Should have thought about that last thing ten years ago.

Port Arthur Today

A Russian blogger goes to Port Arthur and comes back with some pictures of the historic battlefield:



From Perepelinna Heights: The view of Electric Bluff and the Western Basin behind it.



The Western Basin.



The Western Basin after the Seige of Port Arthur. (Photo: Wikipedia)



This is why foreigners aren't allowed on top of Perepelinna, although its clearly visible from space.

Cold War Stories: Guardfish Vs. K-184, Part V

(Photo: USS Ticonderoga (CVS 14)).

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

The deployment turns into the "Seinfeld" of deployments - a patrol about nothing. K-184 aimlessly punches holes in the ocean very slowly as Guardfish follows, at least until K-184 makes up for the deafness of her sonar shack...

28 May. We took station in the Philippines Sea. Two messages were received in which there was an order to take up a new area in the form of a circle with a radius of 50 miles; also it was reported that it was leaked to the American press that Soviet submarines were discovered in the South China Sea. Admiral N.I.Smirnov, the Commander of the Pacific Ocean Fleet calls upon us to maintain our covert posture and curses K-57 for reporting the fact that she took station. Covertness was lost by Headquarters during our workups for deployment: the transit route was available to anyone who wasn’t lazy, all the boats set out on the same route, they ordered us to report our position by radio, there wasn’t any sort of cover story created to cover our departure from base. During our PD to receive the broadcast we detected a radar operating in single sweep mode bearing 170 relative. The horizon was clear. We weren’t able to determine the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) or the pulse duration since the radar operated only three seconds. Its possible that it’s a BPS-9 carried by a Permit class SSN.

David Minton writes: After passing through the Bashi Straits, the Echo II established a new patrol zone in the Philippines Sea south of Okinawa. It was the worst acoustic conditions that you could imagine. At night, natural ambient noise and frequent rains deafened sonar. It became ever more difficult to maintain contact so Guardfish had to maintain trail of the Echo II at an even closer distance. Shore worked out a detailed procedure for handing off the Echo II to another US boat. We got that message on the broadcast.

29 May. We took position in the new water, speed 6 knots, with no explicit mission. I made the decision to begin a search for American and Japanese surface ships. During the broadcast, we detected a radar operating in single sweep mode bearing 175 relative. The horizon was clear. We weren’t able to determine the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) or the pulse duration since the radar operated only five seconds. Its possible that it’s a BPS-9 carried by a Permit class SSN.

30 May. During the broadcast, we detected a radar operating in single sweep mode bearing 175 relative. The horizon was clear. I heard out a suggestion from the XO and Combat Systems Officer on how to flush out the foreign submarine and break off contact.

31 May. We got a message on the broadcast ordering us to yet another area and also received word that supposedly the US found out about the locations of all of our boats in the South China Sea. Other areas were assigned to K-7, K-45 and K-57. The transit lane to these areas border some reefs and bars. The Pac Fleet Command reminded us about navigational safety. The ASW carrier “Ticonderoga” is approaching the Philippines Sea. President Nixon flew to Iran and his Secretary of Defense gave the order to shut down the “Safeguard” anti-ballistic missile system.

01 June. During the broadcast, we detected a radar operating in single sweep mode bearing 175 relative. The horizon was clear. We got the intel summary: “The ASW carrier “Ticonderoga” arrived in port Guam for refueling. There are three CVAs in the Gulf of Tonkin and one CVA to the east of Saigon.”

02 June. We carried out a special maneuver to attempt to flush out the foreign submarine that was possibly following us. We didn’t find anything. That day we came to PD for the broadcast and we observed a 10,000 ton displacement transport bearing 280 true, range 40 cables. Sonar didn’t detect anything before coming to PD because the acoustics were so bad.

03 June. We read in the intel summary: “The ASW carrier “Ticonderoga” is transiting to the Philippines.” K-45 was ordered to transit the Bashi Straits to occupy new water, once again past the bars and reefs. And again came the warnings on navigation from Fleet Headquarters. Soon we’ll have spent a whole month at sea, splitting atoms for no apparent reason, although they could have given us the task of searching for and following a carrier. For a month we cruised at 6 knots in the same 50 mile radius circle, hearing and seeing nothing.

04 June. Intel summary: “The ASW carrier “Ticonderoga” is entering the Luzon Strait.

05 June. Intel summary: “The ASW carrier “Ticonderoga” has arrived in port, Subic Bay.” I called the department heads together to discuss the patrol report, warning that I didn’t want any whitewashes and to write what happened in actuality.

06 June. From 29 May to 06 June during our time at periscope depth receiving the broadcast, we were making brief detections of a radar operating astern of us, following us in our baffles at low speed, executing special maneuvers, although we couldn’t detect anything. At 1200, we came to PD and caught the broadcast. I made a low power periscope sweep and followed it up with a high power examination of the horizon, and there it was in our port quarter – I see a submarine periscope at a range of 5 or 6 cables about 2 meters out of the water. I gave the scope to the XO, K3R L.V.Shaipov and he confirmed that he saw a periscope. When I went to look again, it was gone. Sonar didn’t detect anything. I immediately sent a message to shore informing them of the detection of an American submarine. We detected a radar in single sweep mode operating astern of us and assumed it was a BPS-9 belonging to a Permit class SSN. We dove to 80 meters, turned about to search our baffles, speed four knots. After 30 minutes, we broke off from the American boat, changing speed and course, using active acoustic countermeasures.


David Minton writes: “Shore has worked out detailed procedures for turning over trail of the Echo II SSGN to another American boat. We got the message on the broadcast. As Guardfish was at periscope depth, we got an urgent message that the Echo II had suddenly come to PD and visually detected Guardfish. Maneuvers subsequent to this were aggressive and at high speed. To continue the trail of an alerted foe wasn’t possible and we lost contact with the Echo II.

To be continued...

First Look - 05 June 2008

Baltic Fleet Sailors Will Participate in Baltops-2008

A Baltic Fleet detachment of ships consisting of the Escort Ship “Neustrashimyy” and the Large Landing Ship “Kaliningrad” departed the main naval base at Baltiysk. The commodore is Kapitan 1st Rank Oleg Gurinov. The Baltic Fleet sailors will represent the Russian Navy during the annual international maritime exercise “Baltops-2008”.

Representatives of the Naval Attache Association Visited the Northern Fleet Missile Cruiser “Marshal Ustinov”.



(Photo: Macsnavylinks)

Cool Pic of the Day

Dive Tender VM-154 with the catamaran-hull salvage lifting ship "Kommuna" in the background. The "Kommuna" was laid down for the Imperial Russian Navy in 1913.

(Photo: Sevastopol.ru)