Russian Navy in 2018
Last year, the activity of our fleet has increased significantly, due primarily to an increase in the number of ships. Even the addition of one pennant will increase the number of points of presence in the oceans. In 2018, the number of ships in service was 3 more. It must be remembered that the transfer of a navy ship from construction or repair does not automatically make it a full-fledged combat unit, it takes about a year or two before it is sent to military service. For example, the fleet received a "Makarov" last year, and he began his service only in this. The main regions where our Navy is trying to ensure presence are the Mediterranean Sea (where constant presence is ensured), the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the western Indian Ocean (our ships there are on average 2-3 months a year).
Northern Fleet
This year, the crew of the Northern Fleet increased by 1 ship: the frigate “Admiral Gorshkov” was finally received from shipbuilders, the cruiser “Marshal Ustinov” started full-fledged combat service, but Admiral Levchenko’s BOD apparently was put into reserve. “Admiral Chabanenko” and “Admiral Kuznetsov” are under repair, “Peter the Great” did not go on long hikes, and the destroyer is not allowed to go further than the Barents Sea.
The outfit for participation in the parade this year was more modest than in the past - a detachment of warships of the Northern Fleet was sent to St. Petersburg as part of the Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser, the Eagle nuclear submarine cruiser, the Severomorsk large anti-ship cruiser and Admiral Gorshkov ”(last year Marshal Ustinov, Vice Admiral-Kulakov, Peter the Great and Dmitry Donskoy took part in the parade as well). Although, I think, the submarine cruiser “Eagle” was a worthy replacement for “Dmitry Donskoy”. After the parade, which took place on July 30, the detachment divided (as in the previous year) - part of the ships went to Severomorsk, and part - to combat service in the Mediterranean Sea. Last year, the cruiser Marshal Ustinov and BPC Severomorsk were sent to the Mediterranean.
Service in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean
In 2018, the service of Vice Admiral Kulakov lasted from mid-August to early November, while from September 1 to October 17, the ship was in the Red Sea on anti-piracy watch. It turns out that in the Mediterranean “Fists” was located, as they say, “passage”. This year, the ships of the Federation Council were located in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean from mid-August to the end of the year. The cruiser “Marshal Ustinov” served from mid-August to mid-November, being the core of our ship group. In particular, the cruiser took part in the largest exercises of our Navy, held in early September. Also during service, the cruiser made a call to Algeria (together with the BOD Severomorsk) and traditionally to Cyprus. Then Ustinov visited Ceuta on November 9, left the Mediterranean on November 12, and arrived in Severomorsk on November 20.
BBC "Severomorsk" meanwhile, on October 1, went into the Indian Ocean, where he made a two-month voyage. On October 5-9, the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk visited the port of Victoria of the Republic of Seychelles, visited the port of Pemba of the African Republic of Mozambique on October 15-17, October 21-24 - the port of Antsiranana in the northern part of the Republic of Madagascar. On November 11, in the Gulf of Aden, BPC Severomorsk took part in the Russian-Japanese naval anti-piracy teaching. From the Japanese side, the squadron "Ikazuti" participated in the exercise. On November 27, a detachment of ships of the Northern Fleet, headed by a large anti-submarine ship (BOD) Severomorsk, made an unofficial visit to the port of Karachi (Pakistan). On November 30, the crew of Severomorsk began participating in the active phase of the international Russian-Pakistani exercise on the anti-piracy activity Arabian Monsoon - 2018. From the Russian side, the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk and the sea tanker Kama took part in the exercise. The Pakistani Navy was represented by the Saif frigate, the Kuvat missile boat, the Karar patrol boat and the Sea King helicopter. On December 11-13, Severomorsk made its second business visit to the port of Djibouti, on December 20, the Suez Canal passed, 22-26 went to Limassol, and in January 2019 arrived in Sevastopol.
Arctic hike
The annual Arctic trip was held in the standard composition - BOD, 2 BDK and ships and support ships. A distinctive feature was that this year the North Seamen passed through the NSR, taking part in the Vostok-2018 exercise together with the ships of the Pacific Fleet. On August 8, a detachment of ships and support vessels of the Northern Fleet left the main base of the Northern Fleet of Severomorsk in the Barents Sea and headed for the eastern Arctic. The detachment included the large anti-submarine ship "Vice-Admiral Kulakov", the large landing ships "Alexander Otrakovsky", "Kondopoga", the sea minesweeper "Vladimir Gumanenko", the icebreaker "Ilya Muromets", the tanker "Sergey Osipov", the rescue tug "Pamir" and kilochute vessel KIL-143. On August 14, a detachment of ships arrived in the northernmost port of the continental part of Russia - Dickson, where he stayed until August 18. Then the minesweeper "Vladimir Gumanenko" left the squad, until October 1, he was engaged in combat trawling in the Gulf of Ob. The actions of the minesweeper were ensured by the supply vessel Elbrus, for which it was the first long-distance voyage (the vessel entered service in April 2018). The rest of the pennants proceeded further eastward along the NSR, and on August 20 in the Kara Sea they met with the nuclear icebreaker “50 Years of Victory”. The squad also included the Northern Fleet hydrographic ship Horizont. On September 11, a squadron of warships and support vessels for the Northern Fleet arrived in Cape Vankarem in the Chukchi Sea to participate in the Vostok-2018 exercise, where he began preparations for an amphibious assault landing operation on the unequipped coast. On the amphibious ships were divisions of the Marine Corps and the Arctic Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Northern Fleet. At the first stage, with the fire support of the large anti-submarine ship "Vice-Admiral Kulakov" the marines fought for the landing and provided the approach of the big landing ships "Kondopoga" and "Alexander Otrakovsky" with the main forces. The landing of armored vehicles on the coast was practiced at the second stage of the exercise. It was carried out by the method of "emphasis", in which landing ships closely approach the coastline and the equipment goes directly to the shore. Fire support for the landing of the naval assault was also carried out by Ka-27 shipborne helicopters, which were raised from the side of the BOD Vice Admiral Kulakov. The marines marched along the tundra to the coast of the Bering Sea, where they were picked up by the BDK on September 18.
September 19 The forces of the Arctic grouping of the Northern Fleet set off on their return journey, and on October 11 they arrived in Severomorsk.
Baltic Fleet
In the Baltic, the fleet was replenished with the guard ship “Yaroslav the Wise”, which missed the 2017 campaign, while being repaired. "Fearless" and "Persistent" are still in long-term repair. Also, 3 out of 4 corvettes are on alert, but this year they were engaged in more characteristic tasks for their class. A detachment of ships of the Baltic Fleet as part of the patrol ship (TFR) "Yaroslav the Wise" and the tanker "Lena" began the transition to the Mediterranean Sea on April 15, April 21 the detachment passed the English Channel, on April 26 the ships passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea. Then, for 3 months, “Yaroslav the Wise” served in the region of Syria, having managed to go to Limassol three times during this time. On July 24, the sentry went through the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea, and on August 7 began a two-week anti-piracy watch in the Gulf of Aden. On August 21, the patrol passed the Suez Canal back to the Mediterranean. During the watch, "Yaroslav the Wise" managed to visit the ports of Sudan and Djibouti and conduct several ships. Then, until mid-October, the Baltic watchdog carried out tasks as part of the Operational Squadron. On October 15, Yaroslav the Wise ended combat service, Gibraltar passed, and returned to Baltiysk on October 28. During the year, Baltic corvettes twice managed to descend into the North Atlantic: in June-July, a detachment consisting of the corvettes Boiky and Resistant, and in October-November a detachment of ships belonging to the Corvee Soobrazitelny and Resistant. Trekking lasted on average about 20 days.
Black Sea Fleet
With the introduction of "Admiral Makarov" in the Black Sea Fleet now 5 "running" guard, which allows you to organize a permanent presence in the Mediterranean 2-3 pennants 2 rank. Oh, so if another “Moscow” is to be repaired ... It is still not clear what is happening with “Inquisitive” - toli repair it, told also in the sludge. Since the beginning of the year, only Admiral Grigorovich has served on the coast of Syria. Since March 14, the Admiral Essen and Pytlivy CKRs were added to it, then the Pytlivy went to Sevastopol on April 2-21, and from April 21 there were already 4 Black Sea guards in the Mediterranean - “Grigorovich”, “Essen”, “ Inquisitive "and the old man" Sharp-witted. June 1, "Grigorovich" and "Inquisitive" returned to the base in Sevastopol. On June 30, the Essen returned home, and only the Sharp-witted remained in the Mediterranean Sea from the ships of the Black Sea Fleet. At the end of August, "Sharp-witted" went to the Black Sea, and in its place stood up on duty "Grigorovich" and "Essen", plus "Makarov" came to the Mediterranean litter from the Baltic. Thus, by the beginning of September, Syria had all the three Admirals, as well as the Baltic Yaroslav the Wise, the North Sea cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the MRS Vyshny Volochek, plus 2 DEPLs, several BDKs, a minesweeper — an impressive squadron! In addition to the traditional visit to Limassol, which became our home as a home for our sailors, the Admiral Essen managed to visit the island of Poros (Greece) and the city of Messina on the island of Sicily (Italy). In October, the squadron gradually went home - on October 4, Makarov arrived in Sevastopol, on October 18, Grigorovich. On November 5, “Admiral Makarov” again went to the shores of Syria, and almost in the new year he served in a pair with “Essen”, who came to Sevastopol on December 26. Also in the Mediterranean during the year carried out their service IRC "Grad Sviyazhsk", "Veliky Ustyug" and "Vyshniy Volochek", minesweepers "Ivan Golubets", "Vice-Admiral Zakharyin", "Turbinist" and "Valentin Pikul", BDK " Azov "and" Nikolay Filchenkov "and anti-diversion boats.
Pacific Fleet
Pacific Fleet: "stability is a sign of excellence." There are no changes in the ship composition, no changes in activity. All the same 2 campaign per year. Corvette continues to develop near polygons ... On the other hand, if we compare the Pacific Fleet with the Northern Fleet, then at approximately the same list structure in the Far East, ships to distant lands go more and more often. The Pacific Fleet in the ranks of 5 ships of the 1st rank, on long voyages there were 4, on the Federation Council in the ranks of 5 ships of the 1st rank, on long voyages there were 3. Last year the same picture, and before last. In general, the most subtle and most diligent. The first campaign on May 7 - July 11. A detachment of ships of the Pacific Fleet as part of the large anti-submarine ships Admiral Vinogradov, Admiral Tributs and the medium sea tanker Pechenga visited the ports of Kompong Som (Cambodia), Sattahip (Thailand), Camran (Vietnam), Manila (Philippines) during long voyages. and the naval base of the Japan Self-Defense Forces Maizuru.
The second campaign began on October 1. A detachment of warships of the Pacific Fleet as part of the cruiser Varyag, the BOD Admiral Panteleyev and the large sea tanker Boris Butoma visited the port of Hakodate on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, the Republic of Korea, the port of Qingdao (China), the port of Muara (Brunei), the military Changi Sea Base (Singapore) and the Indian port of Vishakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh. On December 16, in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian port of Vishakhapatnam, the Russian-Indian exercise Indra Navi-2018 was completed in the framework of which the naval interaction of seafarers of the two countries was practiced to protect shipping and economic activities at sea.
On December 20-24, a detachment of ships of the Pacific Fleet (Pacific Fleet) as part of the Order of Nakhimov Guards missile cruiser (GRKR) "Varyag", a large anti-submarine ship (BOD) "Admiral Panteleev" and a large sea tanker "Boris Butoma" completed a business call at naval base (naval base) Colombo (Sri Lanka).