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Soviet Navy News

10 Mar 2014

Russian fleet at heart of Ukraine crisis

Many of fleet's ships are old, destined for scrap; Fleet is due to get new submarines, ships, aircraft. Ships used in Ukraine crisis, against Georgia, off Syria. Gently bobbing up and down in the sheltered waters of the Bay of Sevastopol in Crimea, Russia's storied Black Sea Fleet has an air of decay about it. Paint peels from low-slung dockside buildings, a solitary submarine sits dolefully alongside a pontoon, and the fleet's boxy grey ships date back to the Soviet-era with many soon destined for the scrap heap. But appearances can be deceptive. The fleet, its base, and the sprawling military infrastructure that go with it, are vital to Russian President Vladimir Putin's military and geopolitical ambitions and one of the main reasons the Kremlin is now eyeing complete control of Crimea.

07 Mar 2014

Russian Fleet at Heart of Ukraine Crisis is Central to Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about Ukraine at a news conference on Tuesday. Credit Alexey Nikolsky/Presidential Press Service, (Reuters )

Gently bobbing up and down in the sheltered waters of the Bay of Sevastopol in Crimea, Russia's storied Black Sea Fleet has an air of decay about it. Paint peels from low-slung dockside buildings, a solitary submarine sits dolefully alongside a pontoon, and the fleet's boxy grey ships date back to the Soviet-era with many soon destined for the scrap heap. But appearances can be deceptive. The fleet, its base, and the sprawling military infrastructure that go with it, are vital…

11 Apr 2013

Russian Navy Submarines to be More Anonymous

Russian navy will reintroduce Soviet practice and remove control tower emblems and markings to make identification more difficult. The huge and highly visible emblems in the front on the submarines’ towers make it too easy to figure out which of them sailing or not, believes the main command of the Russian Navy. Now, the order has been given to paint over the emblems and numbers on the submarine superstructure, reports the Barents Observer. All Russian submarines have different naval numbers and names. The coat of arms with the name on the signs in front of the tower easily identifies the vessel. These signs will now be painted over, especially for submarines on duty testing weapons. This is the same practice that the Soviet navy used for their submarines in the Cold War area in the 80ies.

11 Oct 2012

Russia to Deliver Indian Aircraft Carrier in Fall 2013

INS Vikramaditya: Photo credit CCL Sevmash Shipyard

The 'Vikramaditya', formerly the Russian Navy's Admiral Gorshkov, already years past its set delivery had been due for delivery in December 2012. Pre-handover sea trials in September revealed the ship's boilers were not fully functional, but these defects are expected to be remedied at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk by summer 2013, reports RiaNovosti. Indian media have speculated New Delhi may seek more than $100 million in penalty payments from Russia for the latest delays in handing over the refitted aircraft carrier.

13 Mar 2012

Aircraft Carrier – China's First – to Commission Soon

Aircraft Carrier ex-Varag: Photo Credit US Federal Govt.

Xu Hongmeng, deputy commander of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said the PLA plans to put the carrier, which has undergone four sea trials into service this year. The former Varyag, which is docked in Dalian Port, in Northeast China's Liaoning province, is currently equipped with life-size model planes. China's first aircraft carrier, a retrofitted former Soviet vessel, set out on its maiden voyage on Aug 10 and returned to port five days later. It underwent three more sea trials in the Pacific.

17 Feb 2010

CIA Project Azorian Report Released

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released a redacted copy of its report on Project Azorian. This was the secret 1973-4 operation that involved raising a sunken Soviet submarine from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. In March 1968, the submarine, and armed with three long-range nuclear missiles, various nuclear torpedoes, and secret code material, sank in 16,000 feet deep waters northwest of Hawaii. The U.S. Navy had monitored the sinking and was surprised when it became apparent that the Soviet Navy was unable to locate the wreck. A plan was then developed by the CIA for attempted recovery of the submarine. Arrangements were made with the reclusive Howard Hughes to use a bogus deep seabed mining venture as a cover story.

22 Jul 2005

Book Review: Detailed Data for World's Warships

The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World is an authoritative and thorough compendium about warships, aircraft and auxiliaries that serve in navies and coast guards worldwide. Combat Fleets is massive, with 1,104 pages and more than 4,000 photos and illustrations. It's even bigger than Jane's Fighting Ships (but costs less). If the seven-pound book is too heavy to handle, save both money and weight and get the CD version instead. Combat Fleets covers the waterfront. From large aircraft carriers and complex cruisers to speedy patrol craft and diminutive utility boats, they are covered in detail. If you are interested in aircraft carriers, you can study the entries from the U.S., Brazil, the U.K., India, France, Italy, and others.