"Staryy Oskol" Heading to the Black Sea

"Professor Nikolay Muru" heading south through the Turkish Straits - March 4, 2016

[credit: Yörük Işık]

On June 23, "Professor Nikolay Muru" possibly began escorting new Kilo-class submarine "Staryy Oskol" as it continues its transfer to the Black Sea.

According to an anonymous source, "Staryy Oskol" departed Polyarnyy on or before June 1 following state weapons testing in the Barents Sea. The submarine was being escorted near the Netherlands on June 7. Soon after, the submarine, with its escort - rescue tug "Altay" - were spotted in the English Channel.

The trail went silent until Interfax and RIA Novosti, again citing anonymous sources, revealed on June 22 that "Staryy Oskol" was located in the central Mediterranean Sea. According to the RIA Novosti source, the submarine would transit the Turkish Straits in late June and arrive in an unspecified Russian port in early July.

AIS reporting for "Professor Nikolay Muru" - June 22-25, 2016

AIS reporting for Russian Navy rescue tug "Professor Nikolay Muru", which has been supporting Russian Navy ships operating in the eastern Mediterranean Sea since March, departed Tartus, Syria, on June 17. The tug made a direct 10- to 11-knot transit to the vicinity of Malta, where it was photographed on June 23. At approximately 11:00pm GMT on June 23, the tug began transiting east and has since maintained an average speed of 7.5 knots. The slower speed suggests the tug is either escorting a slow-moving vessel or towing something.

Ship spotters should provide the answer in the coming days.

Fire on "Georgiy Kurbatov"

Fire onboard "Georgiy Kurbatov" - June 7, 2016
[credit: St. Petersburg Department of Emergency Affairs]

A fire broke that out on Tuesday at the Sredne-Neskiy Shipyard damaged "Georgiy Kurbatov", a new mine countermeasures ship being built for the Russian Navy.

Fire at Sredne-Nevskiy Shipyard -- June 7, 2016

[credit: http://vk.com/spb_today]

At 7:30pm on June 7, emergency officials received their initial report about a fire at the shipyard in Pontonnyy, located a few miles east of St. Petersburg. Within five minutes, the first fire engine arrived at the scene. By 8:10pm, the severity of the fire had been raised to Category 3. The fire was localized by 10:20pm, and fully extinguished at 2:54am on June 8.

Fire at Sredne-Nevskiy Shipyard -- June 7, 2016

[credit: TASS]

Despite the damage to the minesweeper, shipyard press secretary Aleksandr Malakhov told reporters that the ship will still be delivered to the Russian MOD on time - fall 2017. Malakhov said this was possible as no major equipment or systems had been installed on the ship prior to the fire. According to Maksim Meyksin, chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee on Industry, the minesweeper's launch, scheduled for July 2016, will be postponed.

"Aleksandr Obukhov" launched at Sredne-Nevskiy Shipyard -- September 22, 2011

[credit: TASS]

"Georgiy Kurbatov" is the first of three Project 12700/Aleksandrit mine countermeasures ships being built under a contract (1418187404941020105004105/Z/1/1/0231/GK-14-DGOZ) signed with the Russian MOD in 2014. However, the lead ship of the class, "Aleksandr Obukhov" (built under contract 253/05/8/K/0011-07, later replaced by 1415187407072010105000101/N/1/1/0210/GK-14-DGOZ) has already been launched and began sea trials in the Baltic Sea in April 2016. The minesweeper conducted at least four rounds of at-sea tests between April 29 and May 27; it departed Kronshtadt on June 7 for another round of sea trials. Once commissioned, "Aleksandr Obukhov" will transfer to the Northern Fleet; "Georgiy Kurbatov" will transfer to the Black Sea Fleet.

Indian Submarine Heading to Russia

"Rolldock Star" semi-submersible ship -- February 2, 2014

(credit: Rolldock)

Last month, an Indian delegation visited Zvezdochka Shipyard in Severodvinsk, Russia. A shipyard spokesman told reporters that the Indian Navy's Kilo-class submarine "INS Sindhukesari" would arrive in Severodvinsk in June 2016. Considering it would take over a month to complete a transfer from India to Severodvinsk, the transfer would have to start in May.

Track of "Rolldock Star" is at traveled between Singapore and India -- April 19-28, 2016

There are only a few companies that both possess heavy-lift vessels and have a history of supporting submarine transfers to/from Russia. The Dutch firm Rolldock, a subsidiary of Roll Group, is one of them. By regularly tracking the company's fleet of semi-submersible ships, it was easy to spot possible candidates.

"Rolldock Star" moves to deep-water area -- May 4, 2016

"Rolldock Star" departed Singapore on April 19 and arrived in Mumbai (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) on April 28. On May 4, the ship departed port and proceeded to an area about one-half nautical mile to the north. Over the next two days, the vessel remained in the deep-water area, where it likely onloaded its cargo. "Rolldock Star" departed the area during the evening hours of May 6 with a reported destination of Severodvinsk (estimated arrival date: June 12).

Track of "Rolldock Star" as it departs Mumbai -- May 6, 2016

Given the earlier statement of the submarine's arrival in Severodvinsk in June and the reported destination of "Rolldock Star", it's pretty clear that the Dutch semi-submersible ship is currently ferrying "INS Sindhukesari" to Russia.

Destination: Severodvinsk!

"Severodvinsk" Launches First Missile as Operational Submarine

"Severodvinsk" launching land-attack cruise missile from Barents Sea -- April 29, 2016
(credit: RF Ministry of Defense)

The Russian Navy's newest nuclear-powered fast attack submarine has launched its first long-range land-attack cruise missile since becoming a fully operational unit in the Northern Fleet earlier this year.

The first report of the missile launch was published by the RF Ministry of Defense at 3:00am (Moscow time) on April 30, indicating the missile launch actually occurred earlier this week. The MOD later released a video purportedly of the missile launch, which occurred from an announced area closure in the Barents Sea. As the area closure did not go into effect until April 29, a day before the missile launch announcement, the missile launch likely occurred on April 29.

ПРИП МУРМАНСК 153/16 КАРТА 10100 БАРЕНЦЕВО МОРЕ И ЧЁШСКАЯ ГУБА
1. СТРЕЛЬБЫ РАКЕТНЫЕ 29 ПО 30 АПР И 04 ПО 06 МАЙ 0700 ДО 1500 ПЛАВАНИЕ ЗАПРЕЩЕНО ТЕРВОДАХ ОПАСНО ИХ ПРЕДЕЛАМИ РАЙОНАХ
А. 69-51.1С 033-54.0В, 69-43.7С 037-53.9В, 69-17.9С 042-59.4В, 68-50.8С 045-00.0В, 68-30.0С 045-40.5В, ДАЛЕЕ ПО БЕРЕГОВОЙ ЛИНИИ ДО 68-39.8С 043-22.0В, 68-53.6С 042-31.3В, 69-17.9С 037-53.9В, 69-30.0С 033-51.6В
Б. 67-45.5С 045-40.0В, 67-18.1С 045-00.5В, ДАЛЕЕ ПО БЕРЕГОВОЙ ЛИНИИ ДО 67-45.5С 045-40.0В
2. ОТМ ЭТОТ НР 061600 МАЙ=
251200 МСК ГС-

Missile launch area closure in Barents Sea -- April 29-30 & May 4-6, 2016

Earlier this month, "Severodvinsk" launched four torpedoes against a group of surface ships that were simulating an enemy amphibious landing group.

The submarine's recent activities are in line with statements made earlier this year that "Severodvinsk" is a fully operational submarine. In January, a naval official stated that the submarine was no longer undergoing operational evaluation. This was reiterated by Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Aleksandr Fedotenkov and Northern Fleet press service chief Captain 1st Rank Vadim Serga in mid-March. In his statement, Serga added that "Severodvinsk" was preparing to begin at-sea training to become a fully combat-certified fleet unit.

This month's torpedo firings and missile launch strongly suggest that is exactly what "Severodvinsk" is doing.

Follow-Up 2: Drafting Commercial Ships into the Russian Navy

"Kazan-60" heading southbound through Turkish Straits - March 9, 2016

(credit: Yörük Işık)

The current status of known transport vessels ferrying between Russia and Syria:

• "Dvinitsa-50" -- operational
• "Kazan-60" -- non-operational; to undergo repairs - possibly until this fall - following a machinery room fire in late March
• "Kyzyl-60" -- non-operational
• "Vologda-50" -- operational
• "Aleksandr Tkachenko" -- non-operational; after conducting roundtrip missions in February and March, vessel pulled into Feodosiya in mid-March where it probably remains today
• "Yauza" -- returning to Murmansk

Track of "Yauza" as it heads back to Murmansk (March 30-April 23, 2016)

Previous reporting:

http://7fbtk.blogspot.com/2015/10/drafting-commercial-ships-into-russian.html
http://7fbtk.blogspot.com/2016/01/follow-up-drafting-commercial-ships.html

"Yauza" Probably Completes Syrian Express Support

AIS tracking of "Yauza" heading west from Tartus (March 31-April 3, 2016)

After six months of ferrying materiel and personnel between Russia and Syria,  the Northern Fleet's transport vessel "Yauza" appears to be heading home. "Yauza" departed Tartus, Syria, on March 30 and has continued a westerly transit through today. According to AIS data, the vessel may call in Valletta, Malta, before continuing to its homeport of Murmansk.

"Yauza" departed Severomorsk on September 10, 2015, and arrived in Novorossiysk on October 1. During its half-year deployment to the Black Sea, the naval transport vessel completed six trips between Novorossiysk and Tartus.

Dates	Route
Oct 14-Oct 19	Novorossiysk to Tartus
Oct 25-Nov 2	Tartus to Novorossiysk
Nov 17-Nov 22	Novorossiysk to Tartus
Nov 26-Dec 2	Tartus to Novorossiysk
Jan 15-Jan 21	Novorossiysk to Tartus
Jan 26-Jan 31	Tartus to Sevastopol
Feb 1-Feb 2	Sevastopol to Novorossiysk
Feb 17-Feb 24	Novorossiysk to Tartus
Feb 28-Mar 3	Tartus to Sevastopol
Mar 4-Mar 5	Sevastopol to Novorossiysk
Mar 18-Mar 23	Novorossiysk to Tartus
Mar 30-present	Tartus to Malta

"Yauza" in Novorossiysk (March 14, 2016)

With the departure of "Yauza" and the disappearance of the commercial transport "Aleksandr Tkachenko" (last noted near Feodosiya on March 13), it appears the "Syrian Express" currently is relying exclusively on Russian Navy landing ships and a few formerly commercial ships to ferry cargo between Russia and Syria.

Russian Navy Activity Summary, February 2016

Landing ship "Ivan Gren" undergoing initial deperm - February 2016

Date	Event
Feb 2	Submarine “Vladikavkaz” returned to Polyarnyy after "long-distance" mission
Feb 2	New deep-submergence submarine rescue vehicle "AS-40" temporarily embarked on submarine rescue ship "Alagez"; will transfer to "Igor Belousov" after it transfers to Pacific Fleet
Feb 4	New-construction landing ship “Ivan Gren” commenced initial deperming near Yantar Baltic Shipyard
Feb 6	Frigate "Admiral Essen" began first phase of state acceptance testing
Feb 8	Surprise combat readiness inspection began in Southern Military District (augmented by elements of the Central Military District); inspection ended on Feb 12
Feb 10	Frigate "Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Gorshkov" completed 15-day dock repair period at Shipyard 35 in Murmansk
Feb 11	Frigate "Admiral Grigorovich" returned to Yantar Baltic Shipyard for spruce work before scheduled commissioning ceremony on March 11
Feb 13	Kalibr-armed patrol combatant "Zelenyy Dol" and minesweeper "Kovrovets" departed Sevastopol en route to the   Mediterranean Sea; "Zelenyy Dol" arrived in Tartus, Syria, on Feb 17
Feb 18	Third Project 22160 patrol ship "Pavel Derzhavin" laid down at Gorkiy Zelenodolsk Shipyard
Feb 19	Project 19910 hydrographic survey vessel “Admiral Rogotskiy” laid down at October Revolution Shipyard (Blagoveshchensk)
Feb 21	Intelligence collection ship "Priazovye" noted heading southbound through Turkish Straits
Feb 24	Flight ban and route closures went into effect for "Russian Navy exercises" in the eastern Mediterranean Sea; valid through Feb 29
Feb 24	Oceanographic research vessel "Admiral Vladimirskiy" completed Antarctica survey and began transit to Cape Town, South Africa
Feb 29	Floating workshop "PM-138" joined Russian Navy task group in the Mediterranean Sea; to relieve "PM-56"