Mount Whitney Arrives in Georgia

Today, State Department spokesman Robert Wood denied Russian allegations that the Mount Whitney was delivering arms to Georgia. The Sixth Fleet flagship Mount Whitney arrived at the Poti roadstead on Friday, delivering 17 tons of alleged humanitarian aid to Georgia. The administration also denied reports in the local mass media that they would allow the Russians to inspect cargos departing the port. According to the American command, the port of Poti is sovereign Georgian territory. Russia asserts that the Atlantic Alliance is breaking international law and will bring the issue up at the UN.

Inside the Sevastopol' Anti-American Protests

Stupid Russian tricks:

The crew of the American warship "Dallas" couldn't walk around Sevastopol'. A group of activists from the internet forum sevastopol.info conducted psychological warfare against the NATO sailors.

As a participant in the forum by the nickname LenaDonbass told "Novyy Region", residents of Sevastopol' didn't want to let the crew of the American ship ashore. But the police convinced the picketers to temporarily relent since allegedly the sailors would only go ashore no earlier than five in the evening.

"People left and only then the Americans appeared", Elena said. "When they departed, we formed a human chain to block them. But they charged through like bulls, 30 or 35 guys, in an organized group, but in civilian clothes."

The Americans pressed part of the picket line into a barbed wire fence. Many were scratched bloody.

"Naturally, after this we were very angry, running after them through the city, not allowing them to photograph anything and warning merchants in stores that they were the crew of the Dallas", Elena said...

"When we said that these are the Americans that delivered weapons to Georgia, people reacted very aggressively. Guys went up to them and asked us to leave so they could kick some American ass. But we tried to head off illegal action. There are already a lot of charges against activists by the police", Elena explained.

In her opinion, thanks to the escort by forum activists they succeeded in avoiding a massive confrontation with the civilian population.

"There were a few confrontations, but we tried to not allow serious incidents and tried to not let any repeat themselves. Return to your ship, you aren't welcome here", Elena said.

Some American military guys decided to buy some ice cream on Nakhimov Square. But forum activists asked the girl not to sell them any.

"We went up to her and asked her not to sell the Americans ice cream, that they are killers who brought weapons to Georgia. She thanked us for the warning. Sailors went up to her and we told them that she didn't speak English and wouldn't sell them ice cream. They answered that everyone speaks the language of money. The girl knitted her eyebrows and turned away from them, confusing the Americans."


According to Elena, the forum activists were able to drive two groups of sailors back to the ship.

"The police began to curse us, saying that we were creating a circus. We began to curse them back and that they were carrying out an illegal order and provoking a clash between the peaceful population and the military yet again, only this time, with the American military", Elena emphasized.

She added that the activists were planning to report the actions of the police to the authorities.

"Its not the first time that the police provoked a clash. The Ukrainian military police hasn't stopped criminal activity so it was up to regular people to do it. As far as the Americans go - they protected them, and when nationalists come into town, they protect them, too," - according to indignant forum dwellers.

Remember that the Coast Guard ship Dallas pulled into port on 01 September at the invitation of the Ukrainians while it was on its way from Georgia. The next morning she was gone.

[...]

Next time, I hope an amphib pulls in with a Battalion Landing Team embarked and there is a no curfew liberty call and no shore patrol.

Those folks at sevastopol.info are a supremely classy bunch. Here is what one extremely active (12,000+ posts) member is encouraging other "activists" to send to the Mount Whitney on the occasion of her arrival in Poti:

Fucking niggers!

We hate all of you and we would start killing you in Sevastopol soon!

Kindest regards to your fucking black-ass monkey Kondoleeza!

Fuck you bloodу bastards!

Horrible racism? Check.

Incitement to violence? Check.

Likening us to animals? Check

You stay classy, Russia!

Comparison of Forces in the Black Sea

The Sverdlov class light cruiser Murmansk, Soroya Island, Norway, July 2008.(user "Andrew", photofile.name)


A long, boring article comparing the naval forces available to Russia and Ukraine and her allies (NATO), including Bulgaria, Rumania and Turkey. Mostly it is a rundown of the current availability of naval forces in the Black Sea, their capabilities and the note that Bulgaria, Turkey and Rumania aren't really constrained by the Montreux Convention limiting tonnage in the Black Sea.

The money paragraph comes at the very end:

It's abundantly clear that in general, the Russian Black Sea Fleet and Groups of Forces in this region is weak. In the big picture, we continue to lose our position in the Black Sea basin. And it would behoove the military-political leadership to immediately pay attention to this weakness.

This is an admission of insecurity and weakness. I think history has shown that a Russia that feels weak and insecure is a dangerous Russia.

Yuri Dolgoruki Prepares for Sea

04 Sep 2008

In the near future, the SSBN Yuri Dolgoruki will conduct sea trials in the test range in the White Sea. According to a 04 Sep story by Interfax, the preparations to go to sea are being done jointly with the crew and specialists from OAO Sevmash.

The testing will include checks of the power plant and combat systems. The exact date the boat will go to sea hasn't been announced.

The Yuri Dolgoruki is the lead in the Borey-class/Project 955 strategic missile cruiser. She was launched in April, 2007 and it is expected to be commissioned later this year. Sevmash is currently constructing two more of the class - the Alexandr Nevskiy and the Vladimir Monomakh.

The Yuri Dolgoruki displaces 24,000 tons. The maximum speed is 29 knots. She is armed with six 650mm torpedo tubes, four 533mm torpedo tubes and 16 ballistic missile launchers for the Bulava.

For more of the latest on the troubled Bulava program, see Pavel Povdig's Strategic Nuclear Forces blog.

My bet is she goes to sea unarmed. And if she does go to sea with something in the tubes, it will be with ballast cans or a half tested, unreliable Bulava system so that the Russians can claim the usual bullshit about how their systems are "the best in the world with no analogue".

USNS Pathfinder Arrives in Sevastopol'

According to Zvezda News, USNS Pathfinder unexpectedly arrived in Sevastopol' at the invitaton of the Ukrainian Acadamy of Science to conduct joint research on the sea floor. This visit was kept quiet as evidenced by the man on the street interviews in which everyone thinks the American ship being mentioned is the recently departed USCSG Dallas. The reporter notes that the Pathfinder is equiped with all the latest electronic reconaissance gear.

USS Mount Whitney Transits Straits - USS Cowpens Allegedly Denied

From Zvezda TV News:

We have just received footage of the American destroyer (sic) Mount Whitney transiting the Dardanelles. According to the Turkish authorities, this is the third American vessel to transit the straits. The amphibious command destroyer can conduct strategic electronic reconnaissance and is one of the most modern ships in the American fleet. According to the Americans she is on her way to Georgia with humanitarian cargo.

The text of this TV reports adds that the Turkish government refused permission of the USS Cowpens to transit the straits.

First Look - 02 Sep 2008 (Zvezda News edition)

USNS Pathfinder enters the Black Sea



The latest Ameican Navy Ship "Pathfinder" has already been declared for passage through the Bosphorus and to the shores of Georgia. In a few hours she will enter Black Sea waters. Tomorrow morning she will have moored in one of Georgia's ports. The official version is that it is the latest American humanitarian mission. According to the Navy she has a research role and is credited to the scientific arm of the Navy, but they haven't said what kind of research role "Pathfinder" will have off the coast of Georgia. All that is known is that it carries equipment that could carry out virtually any sort of reconnaissance.

The "Smetlivyy" and the "Dallas" trade places. A re-shuffle at the port.

(Tr Note: I know Рокировка means "to castle" as in the chess move, but re-shuffling is probably better understood to English readers).



The American ship "Dallas" secretly disappeared from Sevastopol' this morning. The American Navy escort ship "Dallas" arrived in Crimean waters on Monday after delivering humanitarian aid to Georgia in Batumi. Ukrainians say that it was going to be a working visit. American sailors gathered for an excursion into town. Meanwhile, they were met by hundreds of locals who didn't want American Coasties spending their money shouted "Yankee Go Home!", not even allowing them to go ashore. So at before dawn they unexpectedly weighed anchor and left port. After that the Russian escort ship "Smetlivyy" pulled into port.

According to RosBusnesKonsalting:

[The "Smetlivyy"] was stationed off the coast of Abkazia for almost a month and a half and participated in the resolution of Georgian-Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhaz conflicts. In part, she controlled the landing of Black Sea Fleet Marines. The "Smetlivyy" entered port with no interference from the Ukrainian Navy.

According to fleet HQ, the fleet flagship "Moskva" is expected back in the near future. Besides her, right now the large landing ships "Azov", "Tsezar' Kunikov", "Yamal" and several auxiliary and salvage ships which were sent to the conflict zone are in Novorossiysk.

The submersible "Mir" discovers gas hydrates ("the fuel of the future" according to this report) on the floor of Lake Baikal, the worlds deepest freshwater lake. Cool pics from a mile down.

USCGS Dallas* in Sevastopol' - The Russkies Bring teh Funny

*or, as some bloggers have taken to call her, "Pampersnosets", a play on the Russian word for "aircraft carrier" or "avianosets".

Because we Americans need to find out the secret to what makes the Russian Navy so crappy. I made a port call on a frigate years ago to Severomorsk. I caught one of the Warrant Officers taking a tour of the ship surreptitiously chipping non-skid off the deck. I mentioned it to the OOD and he said, "Why don't they just ask? We can give them BUCKETS of it."

Point being that I don't think there is much point in being all covert and James Bond because I don't think there is much to learn from a Navy that isn't smart enough to mix some paint and sand together and coat their bare metal decks with it...

Oops. I gave away the secret formula.

Now on to the photo story...



Nothing gave away the spy. Not the sunglasses or the parachute on his back...


On board Dallas, "John" received his final instructions, explosives and poison capsule...


Stiff legged, he walks down the brow and onto land...


walking up to the very lair of the enemy - the Russian Black Sea Fleet base.


He succeeded in covertly bypassing the entrance to the base.


But an alert granny thwarted his secret plan...


...and hit his backpack with a death-dealing flag pole attached to a Communist flag.


While the police calmed down the wicked old bag...

..."John" faded into the crowd to complete his mission.


Bonus addendum to the story: One of the commenters observed, "At least he wasn't a ((black guy))."

You stay classy, Russia!

Meanwhile, our crack team of scuba diving cats prepare to infiltrate the Russian Black Sea fleet base:



as their paratrooper cat-patriots prepare to infiltrate HQ and claw a couple of couches or something:

AP: Cruiser "Aurora" Docks in Abkhazia

What next from the AP? The Constitution making a port call in Batumi?

Poti's port reportedly suffered heavy damage from the Russian military. In addition, Russian troops have established checkpoints on the northern approach to the city, and a U.S. ship docking there could have been seen as a direct challenge.

Meanwhile, the Russian missile cruiser Aurora and two missile boats anchored at the port of Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, some 300 kilometers north of Batumi. The Russian Navy says the ships will be involved in peacekeeping operations.

"Massive" Protests as Dallas Arrives in Sevastopol'

The Russians living in Sevastopol' are not happy. No translation of a little old woman giving us the finger should be necessary...



UPDATE 0840 01 Sep:

I'm guessing liberty has been secured.

More pics:








In a parody of the traditional bread and salt wecoming ceremony, a young lady welcomes Dallas with a cartoonish bomb.

31 August: Pics from the Pier in Sukhumi

Vesti Gives More Details on The Battle of the Black Sea

Note: The official Russian line being pushed in the video is that it was the Tbilisi that was sunk by the Mirazh the night of the 10th. That is clearly untrue and/or a lie, for whatever reason the Russian government chooses to lie about this seemingly unimportant detail. They even go as far as to show the CNN footage of a burning Tbilisi, cropped to avoid showing that the Tbilisi is burning at the pier!

Whatever.

The translation may vary slightly from the video since I am working off a transcript and not the video.

Russian naval blogger U-96 comments:

Whats up with these "five fast moving Georgian boats" with "powerful anti-ship missiles" when there are only two missile boats in the Georgian order of battle?
Besides that, there weren't any SSMs and the radars weren't working.

In the article the sunken vessel was named as the "Tbilisi", but the internet is lousy with pics of that missile boat burning in Poti.

Same as it ever was...more questions than answers. A shame.

More and more details have come out over the past week concerning the Georgian intrusion into South Ossetia. The author of the program "Special Correspondent" Arkady Mamontov has discovered more detail about the battle that took place on the Black Sea between Russian and Georgian forces.

It happened the night of August 10th. The first sea battle between Russian and Georgian forces has already taken place. It was on the third day after the beginning of the bombardment of a sleeping Tskhinvali ordered by Saakashvili. Not everyone knows the details of this clash.

Early in the morning on that day, a group of Black Sea Fleet ships departed from Novorossiysk port and set course for Sukhumi, Abkhazia. On board two large landing ships (BDKs) were 500 peacekeepers with their equipment. They were being transported to Abkhazia to ensure the security of the local population and deter an attack by the Georgian Army. They were escorted by two ships, including the small missile boat (MRK) "Mirazh".

At the same time five high-speed Georgian boats departed Poti on an intercepting course. Their task - attack and sink our ships. The tactics for this attack were worked out by American specialists: fast-moving small boats, armed with powerful anti-ship missiles suddenly strike the BDKs and depart. Upon a successful attack the result would be shock and awe. Hundreds of dead marines, burning ships and a victorious communique for Saakashvili: "We cut off the intervention" and "The Russian Navy isn't good for anything." But it turned out the other way. "Vesti" has succeeded in getting more information from participants in the clash.

18:39 - Russian radar detected a couple of high-speed surface targets heading on an attack course toward our line of ships.

18:40 - An enemy boat approached at a critical distance. Then the flagship issued a command to the BDK "Tsezar' Kunikov" to open fire with a warning shot. One of the ships launched an anti-aircraft missile which landed between the Georgian ships. But they didn't stop, instead gaining speed and tried to reach the so-called "dead zone", where missiles are useless. And then the MRK "Mirazh" recieved the command to destroy the enemy. The distance to the target was 35km. Preparation to fire, calculations, all of that was done in literally a few minutes. Sea battles always go quickly.

18:41 - The commander of the "Mirazh" gave the command to fire. The Georgian sailors had the advantage of speed while ours had the advantage of reaction time. The first missile was launched at the target. A few seconds later and the second was on its way. The flight time to the Georgian ship "Tbilisi" - a minute and 20 seconds. Range to the enemy - 25km.

The first missile hit the machinery spaces on the "Tbilisi". A second later and the bridge was hit. There was a bright blotch on the radar screen of our ship for 30 seconds which meant complete destruction of the target, accompanied by a large burst of heat energy.

18:50 - The commander of the "Mirazh" gave the command to change position. The ship changed course and made for shore at high speed, completing a turn and again turning on an attack course. The radar showed only four targets. One of them was a Georgian boat, gaining speed and closing our ships. The "Mirazh" opened fire with a salvo from the "Osa" (SA-N-4).

At that time the range was down to 15km. The first missile hit the Georgian boat, which immediately began to smoke, slowed and attempted to exit the line of fire. The rest of the Georgian ships disengaged, sharply turning about. As our sailors noted, this maneuver was executed competently. The "Mirazh" did not pursue the beaten enemy as there was no order to finish them off.

At 19:28 after sweeping the area, the "Mirazh" got back into line and continued to Sukhumi. From the commodore's report: "One target was destroyed out of five, one was damaged and three fled. Missile expendature: two anti-surface missiles, one anti-air missile, no loss of personnel. No damage to friendly ships."

The "Mirazh" is one of the first to return from Causasian shores to her homeport of Sevastopol'. She was greeted with fireworks and cheers, but during her entrance into the bay a Ukrainian ship made a point of passing by. It must be said that it was the exact same type of boat sunk by the "Mirazh" on 10 August. From sources in the Ukrainian Navy HQ, it became known that an order came down from Kiev to put a ship and a tug in the roadstead in order to demonstrate to the Russian sailors their dissatisfaction and also to point out who controls Sevastopol' harbor.

It was noticed that there were people in civilian clothes on board the Ukrainian boat directing the operation. Everything was very unpleasant. And only the festive reception by the people of Sevastopol' kept this from blowing up into something scandalous. The sailors of the "Mirazh" watched how the people of Sevastopol' greeted them. The Russian ship smartly pulled into the bay, fully conscious of their force and power, maneuvered and avoided the Ukrainian boat and tug as if they didn't even notice them.

Protests to Meet Dallas in Sevastopol'

In a live report from Sevastopol', a TV Zvezda correspondent reports that the inhabitants of the "City of Russian Naval Glory" are not too happy with the rumored visit of the USCGS "Dallas" and that protesters will turn out, although it is unclear how many will turn out since tomorrow is "Den' Znaniya", or "Day of Knowledge", the day children return to school and a big holiday in the former Soviet Union.

Ruckus in the Caucusus - A Brutul Russian Self-Examination

What isn't addressed by this "Independent Military Review" article? Use of surface to surface tactical missiles like this SS-26/Iskandr.

(Photo: Arms Control Wonk)

Lessons of the Five Day War

Events in South Ossetia became a test of the soundness of Russia’s conception of national security. Judging how successfully she passed this exam is complicated for now. Although from a military point of view, the Russian Army carried out a successful operation.

Weaknesses on the Part of the Russian Army

Analysis of the performance of our forces shows that they performed well. It is true that they resolved the Roki Pass issue with difficulty. The Vladikavkaz-Tskhinvali Highway (167km) has a very limited ability to permit operations. The extended movement of Army columns through the narrow throat of the Roki tunnel to the South Ossetian capital and the necessity to successfully concentrate a significant amount of detachments from various regions of the Russian Federation created the impression of a deliberate Russian Command.

They had to commit forces to battle piecemeal and they couldn’t just change the situation on the move.

Despite all this our forces in South Ossetia nearly doubled in a day. The speed of the Russian Army reaction and the effectiveness of their strikes turned out to be unexpected by not only the Georgian leadership, but also for the West and also for some pessimistic domestic observers. In three days, in the most isolated and complicated terrain, a very powerful group of forces with support was formed, able to quickly destroy the Georgian Army group of the same size.

Most of the losses suffered in this war by our forces were suffered on the move to Tskhinvali.

Reinforcement by air was not possible because of active opposition from Georgian anti-air systems.

But the operation to bring Georgia to peace revealed more than a few deficiencies on the part of the Russian Armed Forces. One should recognize that in terms of operational and battle support and technical equipage the Army is not very ready for similar conflicts.

Upon analysis of the Russian Army’s performance, one can note the following deficiencies:

- An absence of a combined joint command (the Americans created this 20 years ago), and also an absence of information troops.

- Even in the non-fine grain mode, GLONASS wasn’t used. The Georgian Army had an autonomous targeting system. We don’t have a comparable system. The main problem is the lack of the necessary Space Forces and GLONASS receivers. Connected to this deficiency, the Army couldn’t use precision and guided munitions like the “Santimetr” (TR Note: A type of laser guided 152mm round), the “Smel’chak” (TR Note: A type of rocket assisted guided projectile) and the “Gran’” (TR Note: A type of 120mm guided mortar round).




- The untimely deployment of reconnaissance assets (SIGINT and space) which then couldn’t provide information to the country's leadership on the concentration of Georgian forces.

- Electronic warfare assets were not used to suppress the Georgian air defense network.

- Discrepancies between naval charts and army maps.

- The lack of aviation forward observers which allowed Georgian artillery and MLRS to bombard Tshinvali for 14 hours unimpeded. One reason for this is that the operations groups of the Air Force couldn’t assign two or three men to forward units without the parallel deployment of Command Posts and Reserve Command Posts, so they couldn’t really control aviation assets. Therefore, armored columns rolled without air cover. The 58th Army did not employ airborne troops or helicopter borne mining units to cut off the Georgian retreat.

Traditional Russian Army weaknesses remain, as far as can be judged, night operations, reconnaissance, communications and rear services support, although in this case, given the weakness of the enemy, these deficiencies didn’t play a substantial role during combat operations. The conflict showed that artillery retains a key role in land operations and also keenly showed the necessity to strengthen the attention paid to the issue of counter-battery.

Yesterday Afternoon

The 58th Army has a lot of obsolete tanks in its order of battle (T-62s and T-72s make up 60%-75%). Even the T-72B is equipped with first generation dynamic defense, or “reactive armor”. Even though the T-72 BM tanks were mounted with “Kontakt-5” (TR Note: Kontakt-5 is a more modern type of reactive armor), they didn’t carry the so called tandem shaped ammunition that the Georgian Army already has.

If today tanks that were built more than 30 years ago could be called modern at a stretch, then their night sights can’t stand up to criticism. They are blinded by muzzle flashes and allow target observation at only a few hundred meters. Infrared lighting increases the observation and targeting range, but they very seriously compromise the cover of the vehicle. Old tanks didn’t have GPS, didn’t have infrared detection, nor did they have IFF.

In the columns, it was the same with the BMP-1s and BMD-1s. They have a ton of armor, primitive targeting systems primitive observation instruments. For armored transport that is an unhappy picture. Until now the motorized, airborne and recon troops roll sitting on top of the armor (it’s safer like that), because the vehicles are not defended against shell fragments or from armor piercing shells, torching everyone inside. “It is parade equipment, not suited for battle,” more than one correspondent has written the Independent Military Review.

The long participation of Army detachments in counter-terror operations in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan has had a negative effect on the Army. Tactical lessons learned there turned out to be ineffective in clashes with a well equipped and armed foe like the Georgian Army. There were times when the Georgians found themselves in the “kill zone”. Russian units fired at each other because they couldn’t determine their exact positions. Soldiers in the 58th Army admitted to using American GPS, but after two days of operations in Georgia, Georgia became a GPS “white spot”. Fire adjustment had to be done with instruments made decades ago. Remote sensing (TR Note: GEOINT?) of the Earth by satellite wasn’t employed only because there weren’t enough receivers.

During combat operations, lack of cooperative organization was noted between tank and motorized detachments. At the same time there was weak coordination between artillery and tankers and between artillery and recon.

The Russian Air Force was barely employed in any organized way. This was due to political limitations; so infrastructure, transport, communications, Georgia’s industry and government organs were not subject to attack. It’s obvious that there is a severe shortage of modern precision weaponry in the Russian Air Force, most of all the X-555 satellite guided missile (TR Note: The follow on to the AS-15/Kent) as well as the frontal aviation anti-radar Kh-28 (AS-9/Kyle) and the Kh-58U (AS-11/Kilter). The main armament of our aviation remains iron bombs and unguided rockets.

There was practically a complete absence of UAVs. There is one type of medium unmanned aerial vehicles in our OOB, the “Pchela” (Bee). All of the mechanical “insects” weigh around 140kg. Their operational radius is about 60km with a flight time of about two hours. The “Pchela” was employed effectively in the first and second Chechen campaigns. Unfortunately because of a relative lack of resources, the equipment is physically worn.




Aviation lost four aircraft, confirmed by the international search and rescue satellite system COSPAS-SARSAD. Using the long-range strategic Tu-22M bomber for tactical reconnaissance was extremely irrational. It was a blunder on the part of Air Force Command.

Examining the war one must recognize that the 1998 decision of the Ministry of Defense to withdraw Army Aviation from the Infantry has turned out unsuccessful. In contrast, every American Army Corps has more than 800 helicopters (up to 350 attack helicopters) and a division has 100 to 150.

The War in the Caucusus has shown that Army Aviation regiments were directly subordinated to the unified Air Force command in vain. As a matter of fact it couldn’t allocate aviation assets or give daily assignments to squadrons in support of the motorized troops. It is doubtful that this could be accomplished given the overload of the communications system with requests for support from the infantry. It’s obvious since 58th Army Aviation didn’t participate in operational-tactical and tactical airmobile landings.

The control of aviation was also complicated because in general there are no operational forward air controllers in the air armies of the Air Force, Air Defense or in the central centralized apparatus of the Air Force. A nightmare developed after the departure of controllers from Air Defense Aviation and they became “specialists” controlling helo detachments. It’s not the fault of the personnel, coming from service in the Air Force and the Air Defense troops not knowing the specifics about the Army, that they weren’t prepared to employ and control support aircraft. This was clearly demonstrated in the course of 58th Army operations.

Pressing Measures

The Russian Armed Forces need immediate modernization. A concrete time line needs to be named (2015). Which is all well and good but the Army is fighting right now. The results of the fighting in Trans-Caucasia should prod the Russian political-military establishment into taking immediate measures.

It seems that the Russian President should decree the formation of Information Warfare Troops and its composition should include government outlets of the mass media as well as military mass media.

It also makes sense to transfer control of Army Aviation from the Air and Air Defense Forces back to the Army and re-establish command of Army Aviation in Combined Arms Armies and Corps. Simultaneously give responsibility for Army Aviation and Air Defense to the CinC Army, the command troops of the military district and the combined arms units along with the re-creation of aviation control detachments. Putting Army Aviation back with the Army allows development of plans in support of the ground troops and also allows approximately a 30 percent reduction in Air Force staffs and increases the effectiveness in the utilization of aviation in the interests of the operations and combat actions of units.

It is crucial that all ground attack aircraft and helicopters be equipped immediately with the most modern countermeasures against the most modern of MANPADS. Without this Aviation support of ground forces will be doomed to suffer losses in any operation.

UAVs in the hands of Georgian soldiers – it is an everyday policy of on-line constant surveillance of the battlefield as well as guidance of artillery and aircraft. Meanwhile Russia has decided to put off until 2012 the procurement of strike UAVs which are being jointly offered by the firms “Irkut”, “Yakolev” and “Sukhoi”. Russia is behind the most developed countries in this regard. Russia is behind the USA and Israel by an eternity and even behind India and Pakistan by a dozen years. All over the world a struggle for supremacy in the UAV arena is ongoing since there is a clear advantage for those who can execute strikes on targets deep in the enemy's rear.

It makes perfect sense to equip the Russian Army with global satellite navigation receivers. But first of all the GLONASS orbital satellite system needs to be fully deployed (currently there are 13 in orbit while 24 are needed). Only around the clock presence of four satellites above a given area provides exact coordinates. The Army also needs to be provided with portable and stationary receivers.

Besides that, other attendant problems need to be resolved, such as the development of new radar stations to detect and identify UAVs and other small flying objects and targets, since armaments and equipment currently in the Russian Army inventory can’t cope with them.

There needs to be a decision on the development of new IFF systems for weapons and combat equipment of various generations so that the Army can effectively cooperate with the Air Force and with SPETSNAZ detachments, the Navy with the Air Force and the Navy with the Army. In addition, special detachable panels need to be developed for visual recognition (colored panels) of vehicles.

With the transition to digital technology in the Russian Army, it is imperative to begin the creation of operational-tactical centers for fire organization.

Squads, platoons and companies must again be trained how to operate while surrounded. Motorized rifle and airborne companies must be introduced to the subject of “Breakout of surrounded platoons and squads” in training.

In order to support complex gunnery missions on shore targets, the problem of compatibility of maritime charts and Army topographical charts in the coastal zone must be resolved.

A Sevastopol' Port Call for "Dallas"

Kiev, 30 August (Novyy Region, Mikhail Ryabov) - The United States Coast Guard ship "Dallas" plans to make a working port visit to Sevastopol' on 01 September at 0800 at the invitation of the Ukrainian government. As opposed to the reception given the Russian training vessel "Perekop", which was refused a worthy mooring spot in the hero-city, the American Coast Guard ship will be offered the best place - a spot in the sea port.

It is remarkable that the US Coast Guard ship "Dallas", which has been in the Black Sea since 24 August, will visit Sevastopol' after completing her "humanitarian" mission in the Georgian port of Batumi. Astonished journalists observing the American activity evoked the secretness of the unloading operation of the "humanitarian" cargo, which took place at night at a specially cordoned off space, guarded by service memebers during the "humanitarian mission". The answer to questions about the cargo was straightforwardly simple - "water for wounded Georgian soldiers". Taking into account how quickly the combat readiness of the Georgian Army is being recovered, one can come to the conclusion that the Americans are not only providing water to the "unfortunate" Georgians, but also something that needs to be supplied in secret and guarded.

The choice of 01 September for inviting the "dear" guests wasn't chosen accidently. Knowing the mood of Crimeans and residents Sevastopol' with regard to NATO, they hope that residents of the city can't turn out expressing Russian glory and that they wont turn out in full strength because of "Knowledge Day", the day when parents send their kids to school and workers have to go to work.

(...)

Overview of Russian Black Sea Fleet OOB and Capabilities

Navy Day, 2006. The Black Sea Fleet striking power on display.

(TR Note: Mistakes in ship types and capabilities are the article's, not mine).

Ships Have Entered Our Sea…

30 August 2008, by Igor' Chubakha

In the near future, the North Atlantic Alliance plans to raise the number of ships in the Black Sea to 18 units. Granted, the approximately 25 units of fully combat capable Russian Black Sea Fleet units seem weaker in fire power than the NATO complement. It seems that the achievement of this notional superiority is the main goal of the American “humanitarian operation” and is official “cover” which the delivery of help to the population of Georgia supports.

And thus, right now there are 10 NATO ships in the Black Sea. They are the destroyer “McFaul”, the frigate “Taylor” and the guard ship “Dallas” (all are part of the American Navy), the frigate “General Pulaski” (Poland), the frigates “Lubeck” (FRG) and “Admiral Juan de Bourbon (Spain) and also four Turkish vessels.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, eight more ships are expected, including the Sixth Fleet flagship, the destroyer “Mount Whitney”, which poses a serious threat of introducing strategic electronic reconnaissance and command and control of various operations. The Turkish government has also been notified that the American cruiser “Cowpens” will be transiting the straits.

The destroyer “McFaul” is armed with two torpedo mounts, two 20mm guns, a 54mm anti-aircraft cannon, two 25mm cannons and four 12.5mm machine guns. There are ASROC anti-submarine missiles, Standard air-defense missiles and Tomahawk anti-ship cruise missiles which can be armed with nuclear warheads and are capable of being employed against land targets in the vertical launch tubes. Some estimates say that there are 50 Tomahawks on board “McFaul” capable of hitting targets at a range of 3000km.

The other NATO ships are armed with 64 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and around eight helicopters of various classes.

The frigate “Taylor” is armed with Harpoon missiles and Standard anti-aircraft missiles. She has two helicopters for ASW. The Coast Guard vessel “Dallas” is fulfilling the role of auxiliary vessel. Built in 1971, the destroyer “Mount Whitney” belongs to the “Blue Ridge” class of amphibious command ships and has weak defensive weaponry, since it is designed to travel with a heavy escort. The crew numbers 720 an there is a helo deck. The missile cruiser “Cowpens” is armed with the multi-function automatic anti-air system “Aegis” and also can carry Tomahawks on-board.

That such a quantity of cruise missiles is on board ships delivering humanitarian aid alarms Russia, to put it mildly. The deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Colonel-General Anatoliy Nogovitsyn, commenting on this fact announced: “We take this into account and make conclusions.”

During this press conference he reminded the gathering of the similarity to the run up to operations in Iraq in 1991. “The Americans have experience chartering civilian ships during Desert Storm to carry military cargos to build up their forces,” Nogovitstyn recalled.

At the same time last Wednesday in the port of Sukhumi, two small missile boats and the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the missile cruiser “Moskva” made the first official visit in the framework of Russia’s recognition of an independent Abkhazia. The Russian Black Sea fleet, besides auxiliaries, consists of the following units:

- The 30th Division of Surface Ships, including the 11th Brigade of ASW shps (Guards missile cruiser (RKR) “Moskva”, the large anti-submarine ships (BPK) “Kerch’” and “Ochakov”, the guard ships (SKR) “Smetlivyy”, “Ladnyy”, and "Pitlivyy" ).
-The 197th Brigade of landing ships (the large landing ships (BDK) “Nikolay Fil’chenkov”, “Orsk”, “Saratov”, “Azov”, “Novocherkassk”, “Tsezar’ Kunikov”, “Yamal’” ).
- The 247th Independent Division of Submarines consisting of the diesel submarines (PL) “Alrosa” and “B-380” (which is in overhaul at the moment).
- The 68th Waterspace Guard Brigade, including the 400th Anti-Submarine Warfare Division (small anti-submarine ships (MPK) “Aleksandrovets”, “Vladimirets”, “Muromets” and “Suzdalets” ) and the 418th Minsweeper Division (four ships).
- The 41st Brigade of Missile Boats including the 66th Novorossiyskiy Division of small missile ships (MRK) – surface effects missile ships “Bora” and “Samum” and also the MRKs “Shtil’” and “Mirazh”, and the 295th Sulinskiy Division of missile boats (six units).
-The 184th Waterspace Guard Brigade (Novorossiysk) including the 181st ASW Division (MPKs “Povorino”, “Yejsk” and “Kasimov” and the 170th Minesweeper Division – six units.

It is worth noting that a significant portion of the Russian ships of the Black Sea Fleet are in pitiful condition. Therefore the numbers vary when evaluating the combat readiness of Black Sea Fleet forces. According to the head of the Navy League in Saint Petersburg, Admiral Nikolay Orlov, today the Black Sea Fleet is “a small detachment which covers the southern border and no more. Twenty five ships, what’s that, a task group? That’s not enough to support the South”. Orlov is sure.

On the other hand, part of the military mission of the Russian ships based in Sevastopol’ and Novorossiysk can be done without leaving the pier. But that turns them into convenient static targets.

(Tr Note: Article outlines combat capabilities of certain Black Sea Fleet units, which can be found here.)

No one wants to fantasize about what would happen if NATO and the Russian Black Sea Fleet entered into a military clash and opened fire.

As the former commander of the Black Sea Fleet and Chief of Staff of the Navy Admiral Igor’ Kasatonov said, “If we take into account only ships with regard to the combat potential of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and NATOs planned buildup – NATO has the advantage. But, if it’s necessary, Russia will use all of her armed forces, including aviation.”

First Look: 29 August

Retired Admiral Kasatonov - There wont be a Third World War in the Black Sea

There won't be an armed clash between the Black Sea Fleet and NATO ships in the Black Sea, says the former commander of the Black Sea Fleet Admiral Igor' Kasatonov.

"There wont be a Third World War here. This is our house. It is our zone of influence. They are uninterested in it. It is not Iran, nor is it Afghanistan. They will leave as quick as they've come", the Admiral declared to RIA Novosti on Thursday.




A video report on Pacific Fleet exercises involving 15 ships and submarines with live fire against ground, sea and air targets. The highlight of the video is an absolutely stunning shot of a coastal defense missile battery at the mouth of what appears to be Avachinskaya Bay, Kamchatka, firing at a notional target at sea. Not to be missed.

Scuttlebutt: Was a Civilian Ship Almost Smoked During the Battle of the Black Sea? Probably not, but...

From Livejournal user U-96:

While representatives of the Russian Black Sea Fleet maintain silence about the subject of at exactly what target the MRK "Mirazh" shot a "Malakhit" anti-ship missile (SS-N-9/Siren), this info has surfaced in RuNet:

On 09 August 2008, 30 miles North-West of the Georgian port of Poti, 25 miles from the shore the Moldovan cargo ship "Lotos-1" carrying 1475 tons of wheat from Yejsk to Poti came under missile fire.

Fragments of the second, having exploded 50 to 100 meters off the port side at an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 meters inflicted insignificant damage to the superstructure. All members of the crew survived. The ship did not lose way and exited the combat zone, thankfully making it to Kerch'

Caption: One of the fragments which fell on the deck, which everyone seems to think is the wing of a missile.




Up to now the victim of the "Mirazh" has changed from RKA "Dioskuriya" to "Tblilisi" and finally settled on the guard vessel "Georgiy Toreli". The first two were proven to be destroyed in Poti and it's been deduced that the third was the victim of an anti-ship missile attack.

Since this information has surfaced in the forums that allegedly the "Toreli" has turned up in one piece and remains in Batumi. This has prompted the following commentary from Exeter:


In general, I fear that the real target was the unfortunate Moldovan merchant ship. (...) So, roughly, we will see.

So, we have in Batumi, it seems:

From the Navy - "Guriya", "Atiya" and seemingly both landing ships.

From the Coast Guard - it seems the "Georgiy Toreli, "Sukhumi", "General Mazniashvili", "Kodori", R-102, R-103, R-104, R-105, R-106, R-0111, R-0115, R-0116.

In Poti, it is more or less confirmed that the following were sunk:

From the Navy - "Dioskuriya", "Tbilisi", "Tskhaltubo" and some indications that "Kutaisi" was also sunk.

From the Coast Guard - "Ayeti", "Tsotne Dadiani" (it seems that it is her hulk on the bow of the "Ayeti"), R-204 and R-205?

Not counting the small boys like the "Aistov", the fate of 10 units is unclear: "Akmeta", "Iveriya", "Mestiya", "Gantiadi", "Gali", R-203, R-206, R-207, R-208, R-209.

I have a question, by the way, were these antiquities like "Akmeta", "Gantiadi" and "Gali" in the OOB at the beginning of the war?

Now I won't flog a dead horse about where "10 units" went and all that, or where that first Malakhit went. A more interesting intrigue surrounds the second Malakhit and the Moldovan ship.

And so, for starters, what's up with the rust bucket?

The Lotos-1 is a STK class river cargo ship:



The Project 326 - the ship is equipped with two covered cargo holds and a container deck.

So supposedly this "river boat", laden to the hold covers with wheat was hit the night of the 9th of August by one of the Mirazh's missiles, that is almost hit. The missile for some reason (was there a self-destruct command?) exploded 50 to 100 meters from the cargo ship, showering her with fragments.

Purely theoretically one could imagine that the MRK took the slow moving, but clearly defined on the radar screen 82 meter long Moldovan for a Georgian boat in the nighttime murk. Generally a lot like that can happen in battle...

Some sort of guidance error could have occurred, when the homing seeker "skipped" the small boat and targeted the clearly defined, large carcass of the dry-cargo vessel. This was caught on the MRK in time and they gave to command to destruct (shit, I can't remember, if the P-120 has a comms link with the ship after launch?)...

All of this is theoretical. It's more likely that the above photo of the "missile fragment" could allegedly even remind one of the part of a Malakhit wing. Like this...



So to throw a monkey wrench in the works, one thing shakes these theories to the root.

The warhead of a Malakhit is packed with 840kg of explosives, packed into a nine meter long missile and travels at almost the speed of sound.

I imagine the explosion of a P-120 at a range of 100 meters from a dry-cargo vessel and...And I don't understand how that could just wet the underwear of the crew. Just the shockwave from a 100 meters and the fragments should have turned the port side of the Moldovan into a colander!

In short, mysteries continue to remain mysteries.

Where is C6F? The World Wonders...

TV "Zvezda"'s answer to Morgan Spurlock goes looking for the Mount Whitney (LCC-20) and "nine other ships that were with her at the roadstead" in Gaeta, Italy and finds nothing. The local purveyor of spirits/seamstress informs the viewers that the Mount Whitney is a ship and it is not suprising that she doesn't always stay in port. She then says that the Mount Whitney is on her way to Georgia, adding that the reporter must have seen that on TV. The reporter concludes that there is ample evidence to suggest that the Mount Whitney is on her way to the Black Sea.

You keep looking TV "Zvezda"! I'm sure the Mount Whitney is bound to turn up soon!

A Russian Grammar Note

It is like the entire Russian blogosphere got the same memo simultaneously. Since the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent republics, the RuNet has now renamed "Tskhivali" and "Sukhumi" "Tskhinval" and "Sukhum" respectively. And while in the past, these place names were indeclinable (that is, their forms did not change according to their function in the sentence), now they are declinable according to standard Russian grammar rules.

As far as I can tell, "Poti" remains Poti and not "Pot" and "Tbilisi" remains Tbilisi and not "Tbilis" or even "Tiflis". I suppose we'll know that Russia has "liberated" the rest of Georgia when those changes are made in RuNet...