… and is any tu-95 patrol a/c supporting her ?
Tu-142 Bear Fs flew some missions off Scotland resulting in RAF QRA being scrambled. Missions on the 12th Oct before main deployment and on the 17th Oct.
I saw that on a different news source.
The Sergey Osipov nearby is a Boris Chilikin class fleet tanker. Launched in Baltic Shipyard. I thought it was part of the Northern Fleet…any idea what it was doing around Gibraltar, or was there contingincy planning in place?
Correct, Osipov is part of the Northern Fleet. She sailed from Severomorsk along with the rest of the Kuznetsov Task Force. Osipov went through the English Channel a few hours after the Kuznetsov. The Osipov location off Morocco is a regular rest up point used by the Russian Navy and other shipping. Not sure where the “Gibraltar” reference came from? If you click on the track Osipov took the southerly channel through the Strait of Gibraltar before heading for the rest-up point.
https://www.vesselfinder.com/?mmsi=273546000
It appears that Osipov went ahead of the main task force to the regular rest-up point off Morocco.
Possibly the main group went through with the Tug Nikolay Chiker?
HF Morse weather message from Nikolay Chiker during 18 GMT.
RAL48 26181 99359 70057 22222 at 1833 GMT
35.9N 05.7W Heading East at 6-10 Knots
Map Link
https://goo.gl/maps/gkY3hUh9vGL2
Baltic Fleet Tanker Lena headed down to the Azores about a week before the Kuznetsov sailed. No idea where she is now but possibly was part of the pre-deployed tanker force. Lena has been on past Kuznetsov deployments. Baltic Fleet tanker Kola is on AIS and heading for the English Channel. Possibly in support of another op or re-assigned for the Kuznetsov group?
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/KOLA-IMO-6720004-MMSI-273318510
Northern Fleet tanker Kama was on AIS last week. In the Sea of Azov/Black Sea. Kama has been on previous Kuznetsov deployments so possibly will exit the Bosphorus to support the task force?
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/KAMA-IMO-8860822-MMSI-273431840
Tanker Osipov is now in the Mediterranean and on AIS off the coast of Morocco.
Tug Nikolay Chiker is heading towards the Straits of Gibraltar.
Position from Morse weather message to Moscow during 12 GMT.
12464 Kilohertz RIW DE RAL48 26121 99359 70070 22222 @1248Z
35.9N 07.0W Heading East at 6-10 Knots
Breaking on Sky News UK.
Russia’s Embassy in Spain says that the request for Russian warships to refuel in the Spanish port of Ceuta has been withdrawn.
Task Force tanker Osipov on AIS.
39.78574N 10.3043W on Oct 24, 2016 at 20:25 UTC.
Map Link
https://goo.gl/maps/R6vmkbwggB42
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/OSIPOV-IMO-0-MMSI-273546000
There is usually one of the support vessels assigned with weather observations. They use Morse Code to send the weather messages back to various fleet HQs.
Tug Nikolay Chiker has been sending Morse weather messages. Call sign RAL48
See call sign RAL48 on info website.
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/NIKOLAY-CHIKER-IMO-8613334-MMSI-273531629
The following Morse weather message during 12Z (Message stripped out to leave the lat and long and course speed group – It is just international standard weather)
12464 Kilohertz RIT DE RAL48 24121 99421 70104 22242 @1213Z
Breaks to
42.1N 10.4W Heading South at 6-10 Knots
https://goo.gl/maps/GTqHgd31QsN2
Not often that you get Morse from a carrier. Kuznetsov still has a Morse fit.
The following I recorded on 22nd October 2016 at 2240 GMT.
8345 Kilohertz RIT DE RHY73 QSA 3 K
RIT is HQ Severomorsk Northern Fleet
RHY73 is Admiral Kuznetsov
Just a comms check. The radio operator on the aircraft carrier can hear the Morse Code signal from HQ Severomorsk fairly good (QSA 3)
Speaking of reality checks, here is Navy Ship USS Freedom in the San Diego Bay.
What “reality check”?
Early this morning littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) was making preparations to get underway after a prolonged maintenance period pier side. After the ship’s diesel engines were started, black smoke could be seen emitting from the ship. The black smoke was a result of carbon build-up being burned off after sitting idle for nearly 9 months.
Source:
LT Julianne Holland
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Commander, U.S. Third Fleet
https://coronadotimes.com/news/2016/02/19/fire-on-navy-ship-in-bay/
…. how you know how many fighters/choppers/cargo it is bringing?.
The Su-33s noted by serial.
Info from Scramble on the Web forum
62 red 06001
66 red 06204
67 red 06305
71 red 04205
76 red 04204
77 red 05101
78 red 04001
84 red 08201
85 red 08302
88 red 09301
Obviously at least 4 MiG-29 as noted on Kuznetsov in images at Severomorsk.
Su-33 info from following.
Run down of some of the western recce flights tracking the Kuznetsov Task Group.
RAF Tornado GR4 out of RAF Marham likely with RAPTOR recce pod.

Swedish Air Force SIGINT/ELINT Gulfstream IV. Prior to the following mission they had conducted a mission further north off Norway.

2 x US Navy P-8A Poseidon. At least one of them operating out of Keflavik,Iceland.

RAF C-130J operating out of RAF Brize Norton.

US Navy P-8A Poseidon operating out of Rota, Spain.

This link to a Norwegian newspaper shows them on the ‘fantail’…
Ken
Thanks Ken. I’ve seen that image before but thought that it was unusual for them not to show a few on deck for the English Channel passage.
Old habits die hard. Kuznetsov still using Morse Code along with other task force vessels. I noted Kuznetsov attempting comms with Severomorsk HQ during 12 GMT on HF.
8345 Kilohertz RIT (Severomorsk) DE RHY73 (Kuznetsov) QSA ? K @1210 GMT.
Geolocation of Turkish airstrikes in Syria. 18/19th October 2016.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2016/10/21/geolocation-turkish-airstrikes-ypg-positions/
Syria threatens shootdowns if the air strikes continue.
Interestingly no MiG-29Ks on display on the Kuznetsov. Later footage from the English Channel on Sky/BBC shows a Ka-52K on show.
Tug Nikolay Chiker Oct 20, 2016 19:40 UTC. From AIS
52.73717N 2.63163E
https://goo.gl/maps/XZa8YWPBvjT2
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/NIKOLAY-CHIKER-IMO-8613334-MMSI-273531629
North Sea location of Tug Nikolay Chiker from AIS, 19th October, 2310 UTC
55 49 24N 3 38 28E
Map link
https://goo.gl/maps/eQExBxMNXRR2
From
NOTAM for Kuznetsov flight ops Wed 19th October until Fri 21st October off the coast of Norway.
RECEIVED FROM MAIN AIR TRAFFIC MANAGMENT CENTER OF RUSSIA: RUSSIAN
NAVY TRAINING FLTS IN HIGH SEA AREA OF THE NORTH SEA PSN 6300N 00000E
– 6300N 00400E – 6150N 00300E – 6150N 00000E – (6300N 00000E)
LOWER: Surface, UPPER: FL180
FROM: 19 Oct 2016 07:00 GMT (09:00 CEST) TO: 21 Oct 2016 16:00 GMT (18:00 CEST)
SCHEDULE: DAILY 0700-1600
Google translate of the following link
The Russian Navy has notified the Civil Aviation Authority that they will train on aircraft operations in international airspace west of Floro from Wednesday morning.
Alerted three days of exercises
But Wednesday morning it is expected that the eight vessels slowing down the pace. The Russians have warned the Norwegian authorities that they will practice in an area of about 20,000 square kilometers, in international waters off the coast of Sogn og Fjordane.The Civil Aviation Administration has been notified of activity up to 17,000 feet from seven o’clock Wednesday morning, and in three days.
From link in Norwegian.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]249079[/ATTACH]
Apparently two 20380 frigates from the Baltic Fleet might be heading to the Med as well- hopefully they link up with the main group.
The two vessels are in Ceuta, Spain and will depart on the 19th October along with the tug SB-36.
https://twitter.com/7FBTK/status/787921541661097984
http://elpueblodeceuta.es/not/11544/casi-200-marineros-rusos-ya-se-encuentran-en-el-puerto-ceuti/