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Russia's navy looks to show the flag again
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| 10 April 2001 |
Richard Scott JDW Naval Editor
London
The
Russian Navy is planning more overseas deployments following the return
of the Pacific Fleet's Udaloy-class anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates
Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Panteleyev from the Pacific Fleet's first
major deployment in seven years. Returning on 28 March, the two ships and a replenishment tanker spent over two months away from their homeport of Vladivostock, visiting Mumbai to participate in the Indian Navy's international fleet review and then returning via Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Missile and artillery live firing drills were carried out on the return leg, and the two ships also shadowed the US Kitty Hawk-class carrier USS Kitty Hawk for a time.
According to Vice Adm Vladislav Ilyin, First Deputy Chief of the Naval Main Staff, the Slava (Atlant)-class cruiser Moskva, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, plans to visit Cannes in southern France and possibly the naval base at Toulon in August or September. A submarine from the Northern fleet may visit the UK in mid-year as part of centennial celebrations for the Royal Navy's submarine service, and the Udaloy II ASW frigate Admiral Chabanenko may pay a courtesy visit to Cuba.
The Main Naval Staff is also still pursuing plans to deploy a Russian task group to the Mediterranean in late 2001/early 2002. This squadron will include the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the Kirov-class missile cruiser Pytor Velikiy, the frigate Admiral Chabanenko, a multirole nuclear submarine from the Northern Fleet, a Sovremenny-class destroyer from the Baltic Fleet, and several units from the Black Sea Fleet.
A similar deployment had been planned for late 2000. However, this was cancelled in the wake of the loss of the Oscar 11-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kursk last August during exercises in the Barents Sea.
Fuel shortages and a lack of maintenance have placed severe restrictions on the ability of the navy to undertake long-distance deployments in recent years. Those ships in a seagoing condition have generally been restricted to short periods of sea time in home waters.
However, senior naval officers are keen to resume 'show the flag' deployments, albeit on a limited basis, to demonstrate the navy's continued ability to deploy into areas where Russia sees a strategic interest.