XLT: "Sviyaga" Transport Dock Launched For GUGI

Project 22570 transport dock "Sviyaga" - November 6, 2014
(Image credit: Russian Public Television)

          [Translation of news clips by Kazan Radio & TV Company and Russian Public Television]

THE LONG VOYAGE: UNIVERSAL VESSEL BUILT IN TATARSTAN
Kazan Radio & TV Company
November 6, 2014
http://kzn.tv/kzntube/v-bolshoe-plavanie-sudno-mirovogo-masshtaba-postroili-v-rt/ 

A new floating transport dock was launched today. It was built in Zelenodolsk, at the Gorkiy Shipyard. The new vessel was named "Sviyaga" in accordance with a long-standing tradition of bestowing ships with names of the locations where they were built. The shipyard is perfectly located on the Volga River, the right-bank tributary of which is the Sviyaga. The dock has strategic importance to the Navy. Diana Makhmutova learns what makes this vessel so remarkable.

It is the first vessel of its type to be built in Russia in the 21st century. And it was built in Tatarstan. "Sviyaga" will be used to repair and service Russian Navy Northern Fleet vessels. And today at midnight the dock will enter the water. The view of it and its size are amazing, aren't they?

It is 14 meters wide and 134 meters long. By comparison, the Kazan-Arena stadium soccer field is 30 meters shorter. This dock will transport ships and vessels along the internal waterway system from the north to the south.

[Aleksey Burilichev - Vice Admiral, Commander of Military Unit № 40056, Hero of Russia] "It was designed to transport Varshavyanka- and Lada-class [7FBTK: KILO SS and Petersburg SS] submarines. It will allow us to freely fulfill tasking and transport ships wherever they are needed."

Freely – that is, in spite of sanctions. Now submarines, without heading into the open ocean, can travel within the country from the White Sea to the Baltic Sea, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, and from there on to the Caspian Sea. This naturally increases the Russian Navy's mobility.

[Ildar Khalikov - Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan] "The Gorkiy Shipyard here in Zelenodolsk in the Republic of Tatarstan is ready for any task. This year you have produced 50% more than was recorded last year. And over a short period, over the past five years, we're talking about a greater than four-fold increase."

When in use, the vessel will submerge up to 10 meters. The entire process is simple: the dock takes on ballast, the submarine enters the dock, then the repair vessel surfaces, and the submarine remains inside. The dock was designed so that it can sail under every bridge in the European portion of Russia. Those who distinguished themselves during the vessel's construction were presented awards by the leading dignitaries of the Republic.

[Anatoliy Yefimov - First Class design engineer, A.M. Gorkiy Zelenodolsk Shipyard] "During the construction of a single unit, there are 5,000 issues that need to be resolved, generally speaking. And sometimes as many as 12,000. It's a universal design into which you pour all of your soul, energy, effort and knowledge... and in the end, you're proud of what you accomplish."

The last distantly comparable vessel, named "Zeya", was built back in 1991, and it's located in the Pacific. The 21st century dock was built using the latest technology.

[Renat Mistakhov – A.M. Gorkiy Zelenodolsk Shipyard general director] "Today, Factory Serial #571, the unit that we are building, is ahead of schedule. According to the schedule, it's supposed to be ready in April 2015, but it's only November 2014. This is all due to your efforts. Our industry achieves such results when there is a secure tomorrow, when there are orders."

"Sviyaga" will depart on its first long voyage in August 2015.

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MODERN FLOATING DOCK LAUNCHED IN TATARSTAN
Russian Public Television
November 6, 2014
http://www.otr-online.ru/news/v-tatarstane-spustili-36633.html

Today shipbuilders in Tatarstan launched the "Sviyaga" floating transport dock.

This is first such vessel built in Russia in the past 12 years. It is intended for use in the Northern Fleet. "Sviyaga" will transport military ships from the north to the south, and they can be repaired in it, as well. Every piece of modern hardware needed is on board.

[Aleksandr Shlyakhtenko – Almaz Central Naval Design Bureau general director] "This is a special dock – for the Directorate of Deep-Sea Research. It will transport special-purpose vehicles. But the most important thing is that this dock can operate with robotic hardware."

The dock is nearly 135 meters long. That is longer than a soccer field. It is 14 meters wide. It will be capable of transporting cargo weighing more than 3,000 tons.

Another SLBM Launch Scheduled for Next Week?

Flight bans (red) and flight route restrictions (green) for possible SLBM launch -- November 5-8, 2014
(Map courtesy of Google Earth)

Several flight bans and flight route restrictions have been announced for November 5-7, 2014:

Flight Bans
G2239/14 - TEMPO DANGER AREAS ACT WI COORD:
.....AREA 1: 693300N 0343200E-693300N 0350000E-692900N 0350000E-693100N 0344000E-693300N 0343200E.
.....AREA 2: 713000N 0345000E-711200N 0374700E-710200N 0374500E-702500N 0371100E-704200N 0342000E-705300N 0342000E-713000N 0345000E.
.....SFC - UNL, DAILY 0200-1200, 05 NOV 02:00 2014 UNTIL 07 NOV 12:00 2014

G2240/14 - TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT WI COORDINATES:
.....825300N 1050800E-823500N 1052500E-813600N 1051200E-813400N 1040900E-811900N 0894600E-813600N 0884800E-823300N 0865600E-823900N 0880700E-825300N 1050800E.
.....SFC - UNL, DAILY 0200-1200, 05 NOV 02:00 2014 UNTIL 07 NOV 12:00 2014.

Flight Restrictions
G2237/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
.....B488 NUTLA - BALUD, B815 EVMUV - LIMUS, B816 ATKUP - LIMUS.
.....SFC - UNL, DAILY 0200-1200, 05 NOV 02:00 2014 UNTIL 07 NOV 12:00 2014.

G2238/14 - FLW ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
.....B480 BADRO - BESON, B934 MOTEM - RAVUL, G490 DEVID - KUTET.
.....SFC - UNL, DAILY 0200-1200, 05 NOV 02:00 2014 UNTIL 07 NOV 12:00 2014.

P7768/14 -
.....ATS RTE B240 SEGMENT TILICHIKI NDB (TK) - OKLED CLSD.
.....SFC - UNL, DAILY 0200-1200, 05 NOV 02:00 2014 UNTIL 07 NOV 12:00 2014.

The above depicts the exact same flight restrictions and nearly the same flight ban coordinates used when Delta IV SSBN "Bryansk" launched a single SS-N-23 Skiff SLBM from the Barents Sea on October 30, 2014, which suggests this, too, will be used for an SS-N-23 launch.

The last SS-N-23 launch event occurred on May 8, 2014, when Delta IV SSBN "Tula" launched a single missile from the Barents Sea.

“Yuriy Dolgorukiy” to Launch Bulava SLBM This Week

Area closures (red), flight bans (yellow), and flight restrictions (green) for missile activity - October 29-31, 2014
(Map courtesy of Google Earth)

Two area closures and several flight bans and flight restrictions have been announced for Barents Sea missile activity scheduled for October 29-31, 2014:

Area closure
HYDROARC 319/14

ARCTIC.
BARENTS SEA.
ROCKETS.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0600Z TO 2100Z DAILY 29 THRU 31 OCT IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 70-22.0N 035-00.0E, 70-03.0N 036-25.5E, 69-27.0N 035-35.0E, 69-27.0N 034-10.0E,
69-47.0N 034-06.0E.
B. 77-03.0N 053-02.0E, 75-58.0N 056-33.0E, 75-05.0N 052-13.0E, 76-04.0N 048-53.0E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 312200Z OCT 14.

Flight bans
G2124/14 - TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT WI COORD:
 1. 6938N 03410E-6947N 03410E-7022N 03500E-7004N 03626E-6927N 03535E-
6927N 03518E.
 2. 7703N 05302E-7558N 05633E-7505N 05213E-7604N 04853E-7703N 05302E.
SFC - UNL, DAILY 0600-2100, 29 OCT 06:00 2014 UNTIL 31 OCT 21:00 2014.

G2136/14 - FLT PROHIBITED WI AREA BOUNDED BY COORD:
693800N 0341000E-692700N 0351800E-692700N 0341000E-693800N 0341000E.
SFC - 1500M AMSL, DAILY 0600-2100, 29 OCT 06:00 2014 UNTIL 31 OCT 21:00 2014.

Flight restrictions
G2123/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
B483 TIMUN-ANODI,
B488 TUMOM-ANODI. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0600-2100, 29 OCT 06:00 2014 UNTIL 31 OCT 21:00 2014.

Additionally, a flight restriction over the Kamchatka Peninsula near the Kura Test Range also goes into effect on the same dates:

P7610/14 - ATS RTE B240 SEGMENT TILICHIKI NDB (TK)-OKLED CLSD. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0600-2100, 29 OCT 06:00 2014 UNTIL 31 OCT 21:00 2014.

Flight restriction (green) located just west of the Kura Test Range (red) - October 29-31, 2014
(May courtesy of Google Earth)

Russia's TASS news agency, citing an unnamed General Staff source, reported on October 20 that Russian Navy Northern Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" would launch a single SS-N-32 Bulava SLBM on October 29-30. And on October 22, flot.com reported that "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" had arrived in Severodvinsk to onload one or more SLBMs. Why the submarine had to transit all the way from Gadzhiyevo to Severodvinsk to onload the missile(s) is a mystery.

This launch will be the first SS-N-32 launch outside of the White Sea and the first SS-N-32 launch by a commissioned Dolgorukiy SSBN. The last SS-N-32 was launched by "Vladimir Monomakh" in September as part of its pre-commissioning state acceptance testing.

"Orenburg" Stretches Its Legs Near North Pole

Delta Stretch "Orenburg" near the North Pole - October 16, 2014
(Image courtesy of Yngve Kristoffersen and Audun Tholfsen)

Two Norwegian scientists, Yngve Kristoffersen and Audun Tholfsen, who have been living and working on an ice drift station in the Arctic since August, had an unexpected visitor last week. The October 16 entry from their weekly blog update reads:

Position: 89 19′ N, 174 51′ W, temperature – 8 C, air pressure 1036 hPa, wind 5 knots from E. Ice drift 0.1 knots toward east. Started recovery of the thermistor string as it is only 5 meter away from a crack that has widened 3 meters. The thin ice on refrozen leads are likely sites of future pressure ridge formation. Having recovered half (150 m), we discovered that the hydrophone was about to be consumed by the pressure ridge south of the hovercraft. Started to melt out the hydrophone, but was not successful. The 12 kHz echo sounder is giving us problems with weak or no bottom returns – recovered the transducer. In the evening. we spotted lights at a distance. Turned out to be a submarine at the surface in position: 89 17.5′ N, 172 42.9′ W. We were not able to identify it.

Delta Stretch "Orenburg" near the North Pole - October 16, 2014
(Image courtesy of Yngve Kristoffersen and Audun Tholfsen)

The submarine surfaced about 3 nautical miles from the researchers' camp. The researchers decided to head toward the submarine. When they approached to within 100 meters, the submarine submerged.

Reviewing the photos, it appears the submarine in question was none other than Delta Stretch-class auxiliary nuclear-powered submarine "Orenburg".

Delta Stretch "Orenburg" in Olenya Guba - April 2010
(Image courtesy of topwar.ru)

"Orenburg", which primarily performs highly sensitive missions for the Ministry of Defense's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), last visited the North Pole in late September 2012 while participating in the Arktika-2012 geological survey expedition along the Mendeleyev Ridge.

Overhauled Kilo Subs Remain Kalibr-less

Kilo "Vladikavkaz" - September 19, 2014
(Image courtesy of Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center)

Six new (Project 636.3) Kilo-class diesel submarines are being built for the Russian Navy at Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. All six, which are destined for the Black Sea Fleet, will be armed with the Kalibr-family of missiles: the SS-N-27 Sizzler anti-ship cruise missile, the SS-N-30 land-attack cruise missile, and the 91R ASW missile. But will happen with the older Kilos?

Two 25-year-old Northern Fleet Kilos have undergone overhauls at Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center in Severodvinsk, but the overhauls apparently do not include backfitting them with the Kalibr system.

"Kaluga" arrived at the shipyard in 2002 for repairs, but without a decision on whether to repair or scrap the submarine, it remained idle for about six years. In 2008, Onega Scientific Research Technological Design Bureau drafted documentation for "medium repairs" (i.e., overhaul, which gives the submarine another 10 years of service) of the submarine, but only in 2010 was "Kaluga" finally moved into a repair hall. The submarine was rolled back out in May 2012. In 2013, the shipyard made it clear that "Kaluga" was not backfitted with the Kalibr system.

"Kaluga" was inactive so long that the crew it had in 2002 had been nearly disbanded, reduced to just a few crew members. As such, the crew of another Kilo, "Yaroslavl" (commanded by Captain 2nd Rank Oleg Mikholap), manned "Kaluga" throughout its post-overhaul sea trials (2012-2013) and transfer back to Polyarnyy (July 2013). In 2013, Mikholap was replaced by his executive officer, Captain 3rd Rank Yuriy Gusarov, as the "Yaroslavl" commanding officer; however, as "Yaroslavl" was non-operational, Gusarov's crew remained on "Kaluga". In October-November 2013, just three months after returning from the shipyard, "Kaluga" (under Gusarov's command) conducted a month-long deployment (area unknown). Gusarov and his crew remained on "Kaluga" as late as June 2014 and could still be on board.

The second Kilo to be overhauled at Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center, "Vladikavkaz", was transferred to Severodvinsk in 2008. Due to a similar "indecision-making" process, a contract for the submarine's "medium repairs" was not signed until 2011. The submarine was rolled into the repair hall in late 2011 for a nearly two-year overhaul period. The submarine rolled out of the repair hall on September 19 of this year and will be returned to the Russian Navy in late 2015.

Although neither Kilo was backfitted with the Kalibr missile system, they did receive the MGK-400V.1 sonar system, which provides improved sonar capabilities. Other upgrades were made to navigation and weapons-related components.

Next up: either "Magnitogorsk" or "Yaroslavl". "Magnitogorsk" has been performing duties in the Baltic Fleet since late 2013 (it did a similar Baltic Fleet deployment in 2012). Its return to the Northern Fleet may have been delayed until one of the Baltic Fleet's own Kilos, "Vyborg", returns to service following lengthy repairs. "Yaroslavl" has been inactive for at least two years. As with "Kaluga" and "Vladikavkaz", none of these old Kilos are expected to receive Kalibr upgrades.

"Severodvinsk" Nuke Sub Heads for New Home

"Severodvinsk" departs Severodvinsk, September 11, 2014 (Photo courtesy of radikal.ru)

Following a no-frills send-off ceremony, the Russian Navy Northern Fleet's Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine "Severodvinsk" departed the port of Severodvinsk (White Sea) on September 11 en route to its new permanent base of Guba Zapadnaya Litsa (about 35 miles northwest of Severomorsk). The journey should take only two days. The first (and only) time "Severodvinsk" departed the White Sea was a month and a half ago when it participated in Navy Day celebrations in Severomorsk. Shortly after the celebrations, the submarine returned to Severodvinsk.

There were a few hints the submarine was preparing to depart the White Sea:

• On September 3, SevMash shipyard reported that the submarine would be heading to its permanent home port of Guba Zapadnaya Litsa this fall.
• On September 10, the Severodvinsk mayor's office reported that the submarine had received two stationary bike trainers and TV monitor from the city. Since it wasn't a holiday, and it wasn't an anniversary of anything related to the submarine, it had to be farewell gifts as the submarine was preparing to the leave the city for many years.

"Yuriy Arshenevskiy" Ferries Russian Military Cargo to Kotelnyy Island

"Yuriy Arshenevskiy" in-port Severomorsk, August 2014

Amidst all the excitement of yet another Northern Fleet voyage to the New Siberian Islands, people have forgotten that not all the heavy military cargo arriving on Kotelnyy Island needs to be transported by naval landing ships. Why not on board "Yuriy Arshenevskiy"? In mid-August, a military service member commented that loading of cargo on "Yuriy Arshenevskiy" was nearly complete, and that the vessel would soon depart for Kotelnyy Island (his comment was subsequently deleted for unknown reasons). In late August, the above picture was taken of "Yuriy Arshenevskiy" in-port Severomorsk. The fact that this commercial vessel was tied up at a pier adjacent to Northern Fleet combatant ships suggested it would be carrying military cargo, particularly military hardware, in its large holds. "Yuriy Arshenevskiy" departed Severomorsk in late August, arrived at Kotelnyy Island on September 2 and, based on a lack of additional reporting, probably remained there as of yesterday.

Is Mediterranean Sea Dangerous for Russian Navy Destroyers?

The Russian Navy Northern Fleet's Udaloy-class destroyer "Vitse-Admiral Kulakov" is currently undergoing repairs in Sevastopol following a collision with an unknown tanker in the Mediterranean Sea last month, according to internet chatter. This follows two other incidents with Udaloy destroyers having to enter the Black Sea for repairs during their Mediterranean Sea deployments. In May-June 2013, the Northern Fleet's Udaloy-class destroyer "Admiral Levchenko" underwent repairs, to include work on its bow-mounted sonar. And between June and September 2013, the Pacific Fleet's Udaloy-class destroyer "Admiral Panteleyev" underwent some type of repairs in Novorossiysk. It is noteworthy that no other major combatant from the Mediterranean Task Force has had to enter the Black Sea for repairs.

Naval officials' claims that these were "routine" repairs are dishonest. Ships already complete lengthy shipyard periods before departing on lengthy deployments. Therefore, there should be nothing "routine" about theses destroyers having to break from the task group and head for Sevastopol or Novorossiysk.

The impact? The Black Sea Fleet's Slava-class cruiser "Moskva" now has to spend "more than two months" in the Mediterranean Sea, according to an unnamed Navy Main Staff source. According to one internet source, the cruiser will depart on 2 or 3 September for a deployment that will last "2-3 months at a minimum."

UPDATE 1: The Curious Case of Alaed

Not much news has been forthcoming regarding the status of Alaed since it arrived in Murmansk last month. Over the past week, however, internet chatter seemed to indicate that Moscow has found a work-around for shipping the weapons and military hardware to Syria using Russian Navy ships.

Laying out all of the internet chatter, it appears that three Northern Fleet landing ships, accompanied by Udaloy II-class destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and a few auxiliary vessels, will depart Severomorsk soon for the Mediterranean Sea and then the Black Sea for participation in the operational-strategic command-staff exercise Kavkaz-2012, which will be held in September.  The Baltic Fleet's Neustrashimyy-class frigates Neustrashimyy and Yaroslav Mudryy, as well as Uda-class oiler Lena, will rendezvous with the Northern Fleet task group  in the Atlantic Ocean as it heads for the Mediterranean Sea (and possibly to the Black Sea).

But the most interesting part of the story is how this relates to Alaed.  According to one source, one or more of the Northern Fleet landing ships will be carrying at least a portion of Alaed's "contraband" to Syria, presumably along the way to the Black Sea.  Indeed, a crewmember of one of the Northern Fleet's landing ships recently confirmed his ship would be heading to Syria soon.  If this scenario plays out as it appears, then there is very little the EU or NATO will be able to do to stop the shipment from reaching Syria.

Smetlivyy - Russia's "Clever" Destroyer

When the Russian Navy’s last remaining Kashin-class destroyer, Smetlivyy, departs Sevastopol on April 1, how will military officials characterize the purpose of the ship’s 45-day deployment?  Combat training, of course.  But what will the true purpose be?

Timeline
- Early-January:  Russian Northern Fleet combatant ships conduct two-day port call in Tartus, Syria, in early-January.  Ships conduct a typical working port call:  moor, take on supplies, leave.  Nothing more, nothing less.  But neither the Russian nor Syrian press machines could forgo mentioning the tour given to high-level Syrian officials aboard the Russian Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza N.G. Kuznetsov.  Moscow downplayed the visit, while Damascus proclaimed the visit was a sign of deep military cooperation between the two nations and support for the al-Assad regime.

- Early-February:  Internet chatter indicates the Russian Black Sea Fleet is preparing to send Ropucha II-class landing ship Azov to Syria, possibly to evacuate non-combatants from the crisis-plagued nation.  The ship never departed the Black Sea and, instead, has been involved in annual certifications, to include taking part in a command-post exercise this past week.

- Mid-February:  Internet chatter indicates Smetlivyy is preparing to deploy to the Mediterranean.

- Early-March:  Internet chatter indicates some Black Sea Fleet naval infantry personnel will depart in mid-March to participate in two month-long counter-terrorism training in Italy.  The personnel will return to Russia aboard Smetlivyy.  Later, the training in Italy later is postponed or canceled.

- Mid-March:  Internet chatter indicates Smetlivyy begins weapons and stores onloads on/about March 16 in preparation for subsequent at-sea certifications and deployment.  Smetlivyy departs Sevastopol on March 19 en route to Novorossiysk to complete its annual combat certifications.

- Late-March:  Internet chatter indicates Smetlivyy will depart Sevastopol on April 1 for its nearly two-month deployment.

So, What’s Up?
Were Moscow truly concerned about openly supporting the Syrian regime, one would expect much more military cooperation, to include a continuous or near-continuous naval combatant presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.  And perhaps that is exactly what Moscow is doing.  Earlier this month, Moscow defense officials had to negate media reports that Russian naval combatant ships were operating near Syria’s shores.  And the statement appears to have been true on that date.  Officials did add, however, that two Black Sea Fleet auxiliary vessels – Olekma-class oiler Iman and Moma-class intelligence collection vessel Ekvator – were either in-port Tartus or operating near Syria’s coastline.  Two days after the first statement, an unnamed naval official told Interfax that Moma-class Kildin would soon replace Ekvator, which has only been deployed for about three weeks.  And now internet chatter suggests Amur-class repair ship PM-138 may soon get underway, presumably to replace Iman (deployed since February 26) in Tartus.

So, what will Smetlivyy’s mission be?  Continued Russian Navy presence in or near Syria?  Internet chatter indicates the ship will visit Tartus twice during this deployment – at the beginning and end of April. What it will do in between remains a mystery, but it could simply conduct “training” operations in the eastern and central Mediterranean.  Perhaps a nice port call in Malta, Italy, and/or Turkey is on the schedule.  In any case, Smetlivyy’s presence in the Mediterranean Sea coupled with the continued presence of intelligence collection ships near Syria certainly will be an interesting issue for the U.S. 6th Fleet, U.S. European Command, and NATO over the coming weeks.

Just wait until Russian Northern Fleet Udaloy I-class destroyer Vitse-Admiral Kulakov shows up in the Mediterranean Sea in a few weeks on its way to conduct a counter-piracy patrol near Somalia.  And when Black Sea Fleet Slava-class cruiser Moskva deploys to the Mediterranean (and beyond) in June...