Russian Navy: Status and News #5

Russian Navy begins major exercises in the Pacific Ocean

MOSCOW, June 10-RIA Novosti. InRussia has started naval maneuvers, the Defense Ministry said.
"In accordance with the training plan of the military command bodies of the forces (troops) Pacific Fleet for 2021, in the central part An operational exercise of diverse fleet forces in the far Sea zone is being conducted in the Pacific Ocean, " the ministry said.

It is led by the Commander of the Pacific Fleet AdmiralSergey Avakyants.
Participants will work out various tasks ,including " managing groups away from their bases while protecting and defending ocean communications," as well as interaction between ships and aircraft.

Tactical teams have already traveled approximately four thousand kilometers and deployed forces at the designated point. The maneuvers involve about 20 surface warships, submarines and support vessels.
Among them — the missile cruiser "Varyag", the large anti-submarine ship" Admiral Panteleev", equipped with guided missile weapons; the frigate" Marshal Shaposhnikov", the corvettes" Gromky"," Perfect "and" Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov", the ship of the measuring complex" Marshal Krylov " and others.
The exercise also involves about 20 aircraft, including Tu-142MZ long-range anti-submarine aircraft, MiG-31BM high-altitude fighter-interceptors and other VKS vehicles.

https://ria.ru/20210610/ucheniya-1736413693.html

So there we have the VMF deploying their main vessels in the middle of the Pacific to train operating them far from their bases and defending sea routes. While Iran deploys their navy to the Southern Atlantic amidst increased attacks by Israel and acts of piracy by US and UK.

Further comments by Viktor Kravchenko:

Admiral of the Russian Federation called the exercises in the Pacific Ocean unprecedented in scale

Former Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, said on Thursday, June 10, that the exercises of the Russian Navy in the Central Pacific are unprecedented in scale.

"In the post-Soviet period, there were no such exercises involving such a large number of forces, "he said"To Interfax".

Kravchenko noted that these exercises, in addition to military tasks, also have geopolitical goals. So, according to him, Russia shows the capabilities of the forces and means of the Pacific Fleet at a significant distance from the coastal infrastructure. He specified that this is the middle part of the Pacific Ocean — the transition routes of aircraft carrier groups.

"We show the capabilities of the Pacific Fleet to both the United States and Japan, to everyone, including NATO, which has become interested in the Asian theater of military operations," Kravchenko said.

The Admiral also stressed that the ships at the disposal of the Pacific Fleet allow us to solve the tasks of preventing military threats from the sea.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that an operational exercise of diverse fleet forces in the far sea zone is being conducted in the central Pacific.

So, about 20 aircraft are involved in the event, in particular, Tu-142mz long-range anti-submarine aircraft, MiG-31BM high-altitude fighter-interceptors and other aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

https://iz.ru/1176909/2021-06-10/admiral-rf-nazval-ucheniia-v-tikhom-okeane-bespretcedentnymi-po-masshtabu

View of the combat information post of the frigate (formerly the Large Anti-Submarine Ship of Project 1155) "Marshal Shaposhnikov" after modernization.

During the modernization, the ship was dismantled the URK-5 "Rastrub-B" launchers and both 100-mm AK-100 artillery guns, and instead was installed two 8-charge vertical launchers 3S14 with the possibility of using the Kalibr-NK missiles, two four-container launchers of the Uran anti-ship missiles, as well as one new 100-mm A-190-01 artillery gun. 
In the future, the frigate will be able to use hypersonic Zircon anti-ship missiles

For comparison, the combat information post of a similar  "Admiral Tributz" ship of the Project 1155

During the modernization, the ship was dismantled the URK-5 "Rastrub-B" launchers and both 100-mm AK-100 artillery guns, and instead was installed two 8-charge vertical launchers 3S14 with the possibility of using the Kalibr-NK missiles, two four-container launchers of the Uran anti-ship missiles, as well as one new 100-mm A-190-01 artillery gun.
In the future, the frigate will be able to use hypersonic Zircon anti-ship missiles

So effectively the load of 8 x SS-N-14 anti sub weapons that have a backup anti ship capability have been replaced with 16 launch tubes of the UKSK launch system that can fire subsonic and supersonic anti ship missiles, supersonic ballistic rockets that can deliver torpedoes to sink submarines, or land attack cruise missiles, together with 8 Uran anti ship missiles in two quad launchers.

With regard to the guns it is more about weight reduction, the old AK-100 guns were about 50 tons each and fired between 30 and 50 rounds per minute per gun, so the two old AK-100 guns weighed about 98 tons without any ammo loaded and could fire between 60 and 100 rounds per minute together.

Note the old guns and the new gun are single barrelled weapons.

The replacement 100mm gun fires at over 80 rounds per minute and it weighs about 19 tons without ammo, so a similar rate of fire but 80 tons of gun and turret weight reduced, which means it can carry rather more ammo and still be lighter.

This is a real step up in terms of gun armament and missile options.

And as shown by the internal photos the displays and equipment are modern too.

Wouldn't be so optimistic about the increase of ammo magazine. It is located beneath the gun, and the shell itself has the same dimensions as it was. As one was replaced with USKS, there is no space below the deck. What is left, is the first gun, and storage below - as Klinok is still there, I don't think that magazine could be pumped up.
What wonders me more, is the 2x4 Ch-35 rack. There is obviously a lot of space left with Rastub removal.
Just take a look here :



If I could bet on that, I suppose there is an option for 4x4 Ch-35.

I don't think they expect to ever need any more than 8 Kh-35, only reason they installed them is probably because they had so much space freed up so they just installed whatever they had on the shelf

As for gun ammo it's more than enough

It was about standardizing this ship with the weapons that are in production and use now, old missiles are being decommissioned but ships are still around

UKSK is the main event here, everything else is a sideshow

What wonders me more, is the 2x4 Ch-35 rack. There is obviously a lot of space left with Rastub removal.

I think that was just an added extra to fill a gaping space as PD mentions.

This ship wont be operating on its own, so for many small ships the Kh-35 is plenty of weapon to get a mobility kill or an operations kill if not powerful enough to sink most medium and larger ships.

In the space for one gun there will be plenty of space for ammo, part of the weight reduction is a massive reduction in the size and weight of all the drives and servos that operate the gun and the automatic ammo handling system.

It uses one piece ammo so its rate of fire of slightly better than one round a second is pretty good and would be sustainable for quite a period of time with the water cooled barrel and automated ammo handling system.

They don't need enormous volumes of ammo for this class of ship.

I seem to remember part of the description of the Sovremmeny class destroyers was that each of the two Ak-130 130mm gun mounts had 1,000 round ready to fire, so with the two guns that was 2,000 rounds ready to fire... which would be quite an awesome naval gun support (NGS) platform choice.

The new 130mm guns have a reduced rate of fire and would be less useful for NGS, but then they have developed the 152mm Coalition gun system together with the Russian Army with a shell range of 70km with standard shells, so I would think they will be mounted on new destroyers they design.

Adding the UKSK launchers means it is now able to be loaded and supported in any Russian naval port as this is now the standard launcher for all new and upgraded ships and subs.

Very small ships will continue to use the Urans so they can be added too, and they also have a land attack capacity too if needed.

956 has been created as a landing operation direct support.
That is why it implements an unusual combo of weaponry and potential.
So I would not take it as an example of artillery layout
Ch-35 is a potent weapon system. Calibers and Zirkons are overkill for most of the cases.
As you have lots of older missiles that are still good enough in stock, and place to put them ... well

Big move into the Med by BSF. Will we see Tu-142 detachment in Hmeimen to work with them?

Yörük Işık
@YorukIsik
·
3h
Russia brings firepower to Mediterranean: #ВМФ Project 1164 Slava (NATO: Atlant)class guided missile cruiser & #ЧФ BSF flagship Moskva accompanied by Project 11356M Adm Grigorovich class guided missile frigate ЧФ BSF 30th Surface Ship Division’s Admiral Essen transited Bosphorus

No links.

ASB News / MILITARYPart alternation mark
@ASBMilitary
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17 Jun
Russian state TV reveals a glimpse of a state secret: in 2008 (& 2019), multiple Russian subs of The Beast division went to unnamed American naval bases (US waters) undetected. - The submariners received the notoriously-hard-to-get “Gold Star”:

+50% of gold stars are posthumous

This week Navy in the Med Sea



Source: https://russianfleetanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/06/russian-forces-in-mediterranean-wk242021.html

Russian naval squadron stopped 65 km from American Pearl Harbor

For the first time in modern history, the Russian Pacific Fleet is conducting combat maneuvers in the central part of the Pacific Ocean - 4.6 thousand kilometers southeast of the Kuril Islands and 65 kilometers from the American base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Six ships of the Pacific Fleet are taking part in the exercises: the anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleev, the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, the corvettes Aldar Tsydenzhapov, Loud and Perfect, the command ship Marshal Krylov, as well as a nuclear missile submarine and support ships ... From the air, the ships are covered by anti-submarine Tu-142 MZ and Il-38, an Il-75 tanker, MiG-31BM fighters and Ka-27 helicopters. In total, two dozen aircraft were involved in the exercises.

The actions of the Russian squadron are watched by a US Coast Guard patrol ship and three American destroyers.

During the maneuvers, the forces of the Pacific Fleet worked out the training destruction of the aircraft carrier group and made training launches of cruise missiles at the coastal targets of the mock enemy. The general management of the exercises is carried out by the commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Sergei Avakyants.

Earlier, during the Biden-Putin summit in Geneva, the Russian president noted that the United States should not worry about Russian exercises in the territories bordering with Ukraine, since the Russian do it right now. It seems that now is Washington's turn to be concerned. We are waiting for statements about the "Russian threat" near the American borders.

https://topcor-ru.translate.goog/20413-rossijskaja-korabelnaja-jeskadra-vstala-v-65-km-ot-amerikanskogo-perl-harbora.html?utm_source=warfiles.ru&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=ajax,se

I was surprised they could get to Hawaii with the corvettes to be honest. I think this proves they are way better than the Russian Navy originally claimed them to be.

Maybe the Russians are planning a surprise annexation and reinstate the Hawaiian Kingdom?

Resurs Ship-Based Multichannel Air Defense Missile Complex 3K96-3E





https://mobile.twitter.com/MuxelAero/status/1407308369678024704?s=19

More interesting information

The Malachite Design Bureau has started the development of two small submarine projects.

In Russia, work has begun on the creation of small submarines. The corresponding developments are conducted by the Malachite design bureau, according to the annual report of the Design Bureau for 2020.

According to the published documents, Malachite is developing two small submarines at once. We are talking about a multi-purpose nuclear submarine of small displacement "Gorgon" and a small non-nuclear submarine " Serval"

The work is being carried out on an initiative basis, to date, technical proposals have been developed for both submarines and the appearance has been determined. There are no other details on the developments.

It is noted that the Malachite has experience in creating small submarines. Specialists of the Design Bureau have developed a submarine of the project 865 "Piranha", capable of carrying up to six combat swimmers, as well as performing combat missions off the coast and in shallow water, including the destruction of lone ships. Later, a modified version of the submarine appeared - "Piranha-T" with an increased supply of weapons. Also, the Design Bureau developed a project of small submarines P-550.

This story roots back in 30 years or so.
Malachit was offering the line of small subs back in the early 90s.
They even made a round-up with Italians for that matter.
It was P-550, 650, and 1000 if I remember correctly the things from the times I used to be 30 kg younger
Good to hear that they can consider a follow-up.

The Russians/Soviets seems to really like these small special operation submarines.

The non-nuclear type is most probably export orientated?

Any news on the Belgarod that was apparently returned to the boathouse? Seems like it is somehow connected with the Losharik accident?

Kobben used to be much smaller, still, it was vastly used till now. With technology progress, today a sub with 550+ displacement can even carry an SLCMs. It is perfectly fine for small, closed basins. Like Caspian, for example. So not really need to be fully oriented for export.

Ok I see now - judging from the picture - that it is possibly just a revival of the then called Project 550 Piranha-T and Project 605E boats

The military expert told what is the uniqueness of the Pacific Fleet exercises in the Pacific Ocean, 21.06.2021

The warships of the Pacific Fleet, together with naval aviation, are conducting exercises in the central part of the Pacific Ocean for the first time in modern history . On the air of radio Sputnik, the course of the exercises was commented on by the captain of the 1st rank of the reserve Mikhail Nenashev.

For the first time in modern history, warships of the Pacific Fleet ( PF ) of Russia, with the support of aviation, are conducting exercises in the central part of the Pacific Ocean, in an area located 2.5 thousand miles (approximately 4.6 thousand kilometers) southeast of the Kuril Islands.

The exercises involved up to 20 warships, submarines and support vessels. Anti-submarine aircraft of Tu-142 M3 naval aviation , Il-38 aircraft, MiG-31BM fighter-interceptors , Il-78 tanker aircraft and Ka-27 deck helicopters were attracted to the maneuvers.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the tasks of destroying an aircraft carrier strike group of a mock enemy have already been worked out, and a mock attack by cruise missiles has been delivered at its ground targets.

On the air of Sputnik radio, the chairman of the All-Russian Fleet Support Movement , Captain of the 1st Rank of the Reserve Mikhail Nenashev called the exercise unique.

“Two dozen ships are involved in the exercises, including our famous missile cruiser Varyag and the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov. These are serious ships, armed with a new type of weapon, and they practiced missions at a great distance. And taking into account the participation of anti-submarine and strategic aviation, submarine forces - the exercises are simply unique. We show that the fleet is capable of solving tasks in ocean areas to maintain the interests of the defense and security of our country. If you look at the map, it is not far from the training grounds, ocean territories, which are always ruled by the USA. , naval anti-submarine aviation is always in this area. The Pacific Fleet is represented in those regions where threats from sea and ocean directions can form, "said Mikhail Nenashev.

Russia begins large-scale military exercises in the Kuriles and Sakhalin region
https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/2021/06/23/875216-rossiya-nachala-masshtabnie-voennie-ucheniya-v-raione-kuril

On the islands of Sakhalin, Iturup and Kunashir (Kuril ridge. - ed.), as well as in the Sea of ​​Japan, a bilateral exercise with formations and military units of the army corps of the Eastern Military District, the forces of the Pacific Fleet (Pacific Fleet).
More than 10 thousand servicemen and up to 500 units of military equipment, 32 aircraft, as well as 12 ships and vessels of the Pacific Fleet for various purposes will take part in the five-day manoeuvers. The exercises will allow practising the use of an inter-service grouping of forces to ensure Russia's security on the eastern borders. The command is carried out by the acting commander of the Air Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sergei Sevryukov.

This is apparently an inter-service exercise so unsure where to post it. Pretty significant exercise though and sure to rankle the Japs.