JANE’S NAVY INTERNATIONAL – NOVEMBER 01, 2004
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Russian cruiser stalls flotilla off Iceland
Nick Brown
A flotilla of ships from the Russian Federation Navy’s Northern Fleet has unexpectedly come to a halt off the northeast coast of Iceland amid suggestions that the nuclear-powered Project 1144.1 cruiser Pyotr Velikiy may have suffered a major machinery breakdown.
The group arrived in the waters about 20nm off Iceland on 5 October. Pictures from the Landhelgisgaeslan (Icelandic Coast Guard) appear to show both Pyotr Velikiy and the Project 1143.5 aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov riding at anchor. The former is pictured in company with a Project 712 Sliva-class salvage tug.
Russia has stated that the manoeuvres are part of a programmed exercise series. However, the Landhelgisgaeslan has noted that Pyotr Velikiy has remained stationary at anchor throughout, raising suggestions that it may have suffered a major problem with its propulsion plant.
Question marks have hung over the capability of the cruiser since March 2004, when Commander-in-Chief Adm Vladimir Kuroyedov was quoted by Russian news agencies Itar-Tass and Interfax, stating that Pyotr Velikiy had been ordered to return to port during exercises in the Barents Sea. Initial reports stated that the ship was in danger of exploding, although Adm Kuroyedov later clarified that the nuclear plant was secure and all radiation levels were normal, adding that the vessel was returning to port for routine maintenance and repairs relating to the living conditions.
Icelandic sources told JNI that the vessels contacted the Landhelgisgaeslan on 13 October, announcing their intention to remain in the area “for at least another four days” but declining to elaborate on the reason for their extended presence.
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th October 2004 at 23:15
Eastern Mediterranian? Well Moskva and Smetliviy were there (in Malta) few weeks ago.
If the deployment is going to be to the eastern Mediterranean then the vessels will probably be from the Black Sea Fleet. Moskva and Smetlivy are good guesses unless they plan to send the much smaller Krivak-I/II class frigates Ladny and Pytlivy.
By: Severodvinsk - 16th October 2004 at 17:07
Eastern Mediterranian? Well Moskva and Smetliviy were there (in Malta) few weeks ago. In Western Med, Neustrashimiy and Bespokoiny (or Nastochiviy) were there. (I do not know who else, was it only these two ships?) Who were they, Neustrashimiy I’m sure, but the other I don’t know.
By: TJ - 16th October 2004 at 11:49
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/10/14/natoships.shtml
“Two Russian naval ships are due to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean within weeks, as part of an offer of naval support to NATO warships patrolling the sea to intercept boats suspected of links to terrorism, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced Thursday.”
TJ
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th October 2004 at 00:51
Pictures from the Landhelgisgaeslan (Icelandic Coast Guard) appear to show both Pyotr Velikiy and the Project 1143.5 aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov riding at anchor.
I have found these pictures at the Landhelgisgæslan website.
http://www.lhg.is/displayer.asp?cat_id=4&module_id=220&element_id=1617
http://www.lhg.is/displayer.asp?cat_id=4&module_id=220&element_id=1606
Both the cruiser and the aircraft carrier is accompanied by a salvage tug.
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th October 2004 at 00:32
Lucky they brought the salvage tug.
Perhaps…
They brought two salvage tugs, by the way. They are large ocean going vessels of 2,980t full load and 4,040t full load.
Do other navies go out on manoeuvres with salvage tugs??
Not that I know of. The Russians have had problems with accidents during naval exercises, so it might not be so strange that they are carefull on their only aircraft carrier’s first deployment in 8 years.
It also lends credence to the Russians’ claim that this part of the deployment was a pre-planned rescue exercise.
Jane’s could be correct, but I think we have too little information at this point.
By: J33Nelson - 16th October 2004 at 00:19
Lucky they brought the salvage tug.
Do other navies go out on manoeuvres with salvage tugs??
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th October 2004 at 23:58
The group arrived in the waters about 20nm off Iceland on 5 October. Pictures from the Landhelgisgaeslan (Icelandic Coast Guard) appear to show both Pyotr Velikiy and the Project 1143.5 aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov riding at anchor. The former is pictured in company with a Project 712 Sliva-class salvage tug.
They are implying a non-existant relevance conserning the salvage tug. This vessel, SB-406, has been a part of the CVBG from the start of the deployment.
At this point the Jane’s article is just specualtion.
By: google - 15th October 2004 at 22:20
Hey, I was just about to post this. 🙂 🙂
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October 15, 2004 at 8:51 pm