Vietnam Gets Fifth Submarine from Russia
The fifth of the six Kilo-class submarines that Vietnam purchased from Russia has arrived at Cam Ranh Bay, Thanh Nien news reported. The submarine, which was delivered by a Dutch-registered cargo ship, laid anchor near the Cam Ranh Port. Vietnam purchased the six submarines for $2 billion in 2009. The sixth submarine is undergoing sea trials in Russia and is expected to arrive in the middle of 2016. The fourth submarine, codenamed HQ-185 Da Nang, arrived at Cam Ranh Port back in July. The latest delivery comes amidst simmering disputes in the South China Sea, where both Vietnam and China are claimants alongside the Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Last year, Vietnamese officials said that the first Kilo-class submarine had begun patrolling the South China Sea.
Vietnam's First Kilo-class Submarine Arrives Cam Ranh Port
Vietnam’s first Kilo-class submarine named 'Hanoi' has arrived at the Cam Ranh Port in Khanh Hoa Province after a six week voyage from a Russian shipyard aboard the semi-submersible carrier 'Rolldock Sea', reports VietNamNet Bridge. The Kilo-636 submarine, is the first of the six 636 Varshavyanka (kilo)-class submarines run by diesel power that Vietnam is buying from Russia to modernise its navy, to enhance its capacity to defend the country’s territorial waters. The submarines are being built at Admiralty Verfi Shipyards in St. Petersburg.
Vietnam Maintenance Base Granted to Russian Navy
Sang, speaking to the Voice of Russia radio station ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, stressed that the port would not be a Russian military base. But he also said that Cam Ranh would be used to help develop “military co-operation” between the two former Cold War allies. Sang also said Hanoi was planning to develop the capacity to provide maintenance services to any foreign ship docking at Cam Ranh, a former Soviet naval base. Russia currently has only one foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union – in Tartus, Syria. But officials say the base is little more than a re-fuelling stop for Russian warships. Russia’s naval chief, Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov, confirmed that Russia was in talks on obtaining naval bases in Cuba, Vietnam and in the Seychelles.
