Middle East Crisis and the Black Sea Fleet
Russian intelligence vessels can be compared to petrels. Recall that the reconnaissance ship Liman 2 on April 1999 left Sevastopol, and two days later, NATO launched a missile attack on Yugoslavia. 15 May 2011 of the year from Sevastopol to the shores of Libya came out of the CER-201, and his arrival at the place coincided with the Tomahawks missile attack on Libya.
Well, on August 29, a NATO squadron entered the Sevastopol as part of the German ship base А512 Mosel, the German minesweeper М1061 and the Turkish minesweeper М264. From this it was immediately possible to conclude that Germany would not participate in the attack on Syria, at least in the autumn of the 2013 year.
NATO ships met 100 – 150 protesting residents of Sevastopol on the Grafskaya Wharf. As I immediately noticed, not a single poster in the hands of the demonstrators and not one of the slogans chanted by them was directed against Germany and Turkey. Although the arrival of German warships in Sevastopol can not but evoke associations with the events of 1941 – 1944. Nevertheless, all the anger of the demonstrators was directed primarily against the United States, and secondly against NATO.
September 12 from Sevastopol to the Bosphorus came out patrol ship (former BOD) "Sharp-witted."
The media talked a lot about the delay by the Ukrainian side of the release of the TFR. In fact, it could only be a few hours. On the eve of the “Sharp”, he went to combat training, then went to refueling in Inkerman, and a couple of days went to sea on the Bosphorus.
Unfortunately, the media do not say that the launch tubes of the Uranus complex at Sharpie are empty. The fact is that back in 2000 – 2002, two RBU-1000 were removed on the ship, and two quadruple X-35 rockets, taken from the P-44 rocket boat, were installed instead. Over 10 years passed, and the missiles of the Uranus complex in Sevastopol were never delivered.
GATHERED THAT
With the arrival of “Sharp-witted” in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, a large grouping of Russian ships formed there for the first time since 1991, when the 5-I operational squadron was disbanded there.
The largest ship of the group is the Pacific BOD "Admiral Panteleyev". Its total displacement is 7800 t. The Baltic Fleet is represented by the Fearless guard ship 4350 T displacement. Both ships do not have anti-ship cruise missiles on board, although according to the Fearless project the Uranus anti-ship missile system was to be equipped, but it was not supplied . True, both ships have anti-submarine complexes: the Panteleyev-URK Rastrub with a range of 55 km, and the Fearless - the Waterfall with a range of 40 km. In Soviet times, anti-submarine complexes had, along with conventional warheads, nuclear ones. Accordingly, one anti-submarine complex in the Mediterranean could, with one volley, send a whole carrier-based connection to the bottom. But now the presence of YBCH on Panteleyev and Fearless is unlikely.
By September 12, there were seven large Russian amphibious ships in the eastern part of the Mediterranean: two Pacific - Admiral Nevelskoy and Peresvet, two Baltic ships - Minsk and Alexander Shabalin, and three Black Sea ones - Novocherkassk, Nikolai Filchinkov and "Azov". However, September 14 "Azov" went to the Baltic to participate in the exercises "West-2013".
What is the purpose of concentrating these BDK in the Eastern Mediterranean? It is clear that a large landing operation in Syria is out of the question. Although the landing of the Marine Corps by force to the battalion is not excluded. The purpose of the landing may be to cover the evacuation of Russian citizens and the property of the Material and Technical Base (TAP) in Tartus, to take control of the chemical weapons etc.
I note that the 720-4 PMTO was created in Tartus back in 1984 year. Now there is a floating PM-138. According to the plan, at the end of September it was supposed to change PM-56, but, apparently, this plan was changed, and PM-56 was standing at the Coal wall of Sevastopol without movement.
Unfortunately, the Black Sea Fleet no longer has capable transport vessels, and the USSR State Marine Fleet, as is known, has ordered to live long. Therefore, BDK has been used for many years as transport ships, carrying military cargo both to the ports of Syria and on the Novorossiysk-Sevastopol line. Russia currently cannot transport military cargo and troops in large volumes. Operation Anadyr 1962 of the year was for our fleet unscientific fantasy.
September 10 The Strait of Gibraltar passed the Black Sea missile cruiser "Moscow". Apparently, the BOD Admiral Kulakov should be along with it. Both ships went on a friendly visit to Venezuela.
In Sevastopol, the rocket boat P-334 "Ivanovets" and the MRC "Shtil" are preparing to go to the Mediterranean. The ships of these projects are designed to operate in the Black and Baltic Seas. But in the 1970 – 80-ies, they successfully operated as part of the 5-th operational squadron in the Mediterranean.
Thus, the 11 of May 1973 of the rocket boat P-83 in tow at the MB-123 and the rocket boat P-84 in tow at the PRTB-13 floating base left Sevastopol to solve the tasks of military service in the Mediterranean. In the period of the combat service tasks, the tactical exercise “Attacking a missile strike of the RCA on 503 operational connection from the tracking position” was carried out by the designation force actually located at the theater, AVU “Independence” EM URO “Richard E. Burk”, TCR “Vreeland”. 2362 miles passed by boats.
More recently, the P-60 rocket boat, equipped with the Palash complex, escorted the BDK Minsk to Syria with a particularly valuable cargo.
LEAD FLEET IN ORDER
And what else can the Black Sea Fleet send to Syria? One or two small warships? Of the remaining large ships, BOD Kerch is in fact in a state of conservation (in the reserve of the 2 category). His team consists approximately of 20 people. For a trip to the Mediterranean Sea "Kerch" requires months of maintenance.
Of the two submarines listed as part of the Black Sea Fleet, the Alrosa is under repair in the South Bay. All the last 10 years the boat has been chronically repaired, now in Sevastopol, now in the Baltic, now in Novorossiysk. Well, the submarine B-380 "Saint George" for years 20 has been in the PD-16 floating dock with the flying flag of St. Andrew. The float is trophy, Germanic, has long rotted, and it is not possible to bring the boat out. For four years, the admirals have been puzzled how to remove the B-380 from the dock. Someone had the original idea to introduce the PD-16 along with the boat into the larger dock of the PD-30, and then the PD-16 to be disassembled, and the boat, if possible, to withdraw and turn into a training station. So the combat-ready submarines on the Black Sea are “mute”.
According to the “knowledgeable” Sevastopol residents, the hospital ship “Yenisei” could be sent to Syria. Background: On May 17 of the year, the hospital ship Yenisei sailed from the Baltic Fleet with a full displacement of 1981 18, 875 speed, knots, 19 cruise range, thousands of miles (10 hub). It housed a hospital for 16 beds, a dispensary for the rest of crews for 100 seats, a clinic, a sauna and a helipad. The ship had three (!) Operating rooms, resuscitation, X-ray, ultrasound, a concert hall, a swimming pool, etc.
Over the next 20 years of service "Enisey" 16 once performed the tasks of military service in the Mediterranean. Only in the Mediterranean on board 200 abdominal operations were performed.
Since 1992, the Yenisei has been in the South Bay. His medical equipment is well mothballed. After docking (up to seven days during operational work), the vessel may leave Sevastopol. True, the dock PD-30 is now busy - there are standing, allegedly repairing ships: MPK, TSC and US-138. But you can bring them in a few hours.
"Yenisei" off the coast of Syria can perform a variety of tasks. For example, treatment and evacuation of the wounded. Well, besides, on such a large ship, without dismantling medical equipment, you can deliver anywhere hundreds of people and hundreds of tons of various cargoes. By the way, in the 1970 – 80-s in the Mediterranean Sea, “Yenisei” repeatedly participated in various “delicate” operations.
Why is "Yenisei" still in Sevastopol? A number of admirals and civilians two years ago decided to turn this unique hospital ship to a floating hotel. He had long been going to be sent to Bulgaria for re-equipment, and then to the eternal parking in Sochi in time for the Olympics, and then it was supposed to be used as an ordinary hotel.
The events in Syria make us once again recall the phrase of Peter the Great: "Every Potentate who has an army has one hand and who has a fleet has two hands." Regardless of the outcome of the conflict in the Middle East, an urgent need is to put in order the Russian fleet and make Sevastopol a full-fledged main base of the Black Sea Fleet, where the most modern ships and submarines will be located.
HARD CHOICE OF KYIV
In conclusion, a few words should be said about the position of Ukraine in the Syrian conflict. To begin with, the Ukrainian Navy did not send and are not going to send their ships to the Mediterranean Sea. Rumors about the sending there of the flagship of the UVMS frigate "Getman Sagaidachny" (until 2 on April 1993, the border TFR "Kirov") do not correspond to reality. 9 – 10 of September “Sagaidachny” went for two days to combat training, and then he will go to the shores of Somalia to fight pirates.
Official Kiev would most likely unconditionally support the position of the United States and France on the Syrian issue. If ... Ukrainian lads would not fight on the side of the rebels.
On September 10, the Syrian ambassador to Ukraine, Mohammed Said Akil, said that during the fighting, the presence of Ukrainian citizens fighting on the side of the opposition, including the Crimean Tatars, was noted.
I note that Ukrainian legislation prohibits mercenary. For recruiting mercenaries in Ukraine laid from 3 to 8 years in prison. And participants in hostilities abroad are awaiting imprisonment from 5 to 10. But in Ukraine, laws are executed the same way as 400 years ago, when it was part of the Commonwealth. Quite a few Ukrainian Ukrainians in August 2008 fought in Georgia and later boasted of it openly, but none of them were brought to justice.
Alas, Syria is not Georgia, and not Lviv lads are fighting there, but Salafis from Belogorsk, Bakhchisaray and other regions of Crimea.
From only one village Sary-Su, located on the outskirts of Belogorsk, at least three people left for Syria. One of them has already died, another one is seriously wounded.
The dead citizen of Belogorsk turned out to be 20-year-old Abdulla Dzhepparov, who last year left for Turkey bordering on Syria, after which nothing was known about him for a long time. Together with Dzhepparov his cousin named Czhedet left. Later it turned out that both guys were in Syria, where they exploded in a minefield. As a result, Abdullah died and his brother was seriously injured.
According to the Kiev television, on the side of the opposition are fighting over 100 of the Crimean Tatars. Is it a lot or a little? Few, if it were a team of hodgepodge soldiers of fortune from all over Ukraine. Many, when 100 Salafi activists gain such valuable combat experience. Crimea will get 100 experienced potential field commanders.
Among the Crimean Muslims, the idea of supporting the Syrian opposition has been gaining popularity lately. In particular, that the adherents of Islam should support the opponents of the ruling regime in Syria, representatives of the organization Hizb-ut Tahrir openly declare in Crimea. It was they who held 5 on August 2012, in Simferopol, a numerous rally "in support of the Syrian people." According to the organizers, more than 3 thousand people took part in the action.
And 1 March 2013, representatives of the Hizb-ut Tahrir movement staged a campaign called “One Ummah, One Flag, One War” right in the courtyard of the Khan’s Palace in Bakhchisarai.
In the Crimean Tatar Mejlis (the illegal ethnic “parliament”) and in the Crimean muftiate they condemned those who go to war abroad. Representatives of both organizations are concerned that militants are recruited by sectarian structures not controlled by them. “We cannot know whether this war is really a righteous jihad, therefore, from the religious side, participation in such a conflict is condemned,” said the deputy mufti of Crimea, Ayder Ismailov.
In my opinion, Ismailov keeps back. The main reason is the desire of the leadership of the Crimean Tatars to hide the actions of the militants in Syria and the creation of illegal military and political structures in the Crimea itself. The Mejlis is now extremely unprofitable conflict with Kiev, and with the Russian-speaking majority of the population of Crimea. Obviously, there is an economic component. Increased tension in the Crimea will inevitably lead to a sharp decrease in the number of holidaymakers on the peninsula, which will hurt the Tatar business.
Official Kiev was in an extremely difficult situation. Support Russia? Get a beating out of the Washington Regional Committee. And, on the other hand, both the Donetsk and Lviv "chaps" are extremely afraid of the victory of the opposition in Syria and the return of the victory of the Crimean militants.
In the meantime, the 36-I, a separate mechanized coastal defense brigade deployed in the Crimea, is intensively working out ... actions in the mountains. What is coastal defense? The brigade is preparing for counter-guerrilla actions. Against who?
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