6th Fleet Focus: Sending the Subs to the Barents Sea

The Russian Navy is apparently very active in the Barents Sea, so much so that Norway has shifted its submarine operations north to monitor the situation.

Russian vessels have the last months on several occasions operated outside the Norwegian coast, and Norwegian authorities have now requested an explanation from Russia.

After a decade of low activities in the Barents Sea, the area is now again becoming the playground for navy interests. In a reportage from Norwegian broadcaster NRK today, Norwegian Navy officials confirm that Russian war ships the last months have stepped up activities along the Norwegian coast, and that sonar has been used against Norwegian submarines.

The Russian offensive now spurs increased Norwegian submarine activities in the region, NRK reports.

The irony of this report, it comes on the heels of Norway's Defense Review 07 report, which in part suggests canceling the Skjold-class because they are considered too expensive.

The backbone of Norway’s national defense is in danger of being decimated through budget cuts by fiscally frugal governments, warns Gen. Sverre Diesen, the chief of the country’s military.

His “alarm call” was issued in Oslo during the Nov. 6 presentation of the military’s long-anticipated Defense Study 07 to government officials, led by Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. The study covers proposed reforms, reorganization and procurements planned for 2009-12.

“Unless the defense budget maintains pace with inflation, I fear that very little will be left of Norway’s national defense capability as we know it today,” Diesen said. “There is a political determination to gradually reduce national defense and defense spending.”

Reduced funding for Defense? Check. Increase in Russian military activity in your neighborhood? Check. Does anyone honestly believe these two things aren't in part related? I have a feeling if Norway had a stronger military, if they had submarines that weren't as old as most Russian submarines, or if Norway actually had a fleet of Skjold-class boats Russia would not be playing naval games so close to Norway.

The Russian papers have briefly covered some of the naval maneuvers in the North, specifically citing carrier aircraft training. Russia is finally able to afford actual carrier aircraft takeoffs and landings, and the Адмирал флота Советского Союза Кузнецов could be conducting flight deck operations.

This is good timing for the Russian Navy. For the most part, the US is focused on the Pacific and Indian Oceans, while NATO is focused on Africa. Both SNMG1 and SNMG2 have crossed the Suez canal over the last month, while the Dutch, Danes, and Germans are all preparing for forward operations east of the Suez in 2008.

Which raises the questions, who is guarding the back door? Looking around NATO, you find the Germans focused on the Baltic Sea, The British are engaged in 2 wars and already stretched thin, the French are focused on the Med, the Dutch are basically the reserve force, and the Danes are looking to be expeditionary. That basically leaves the Atlantic Fleet, which is already operating all over the South Atlantic, the Med, and forward deployed to the Middle East.

It raises a few points. It sure would be nice if Canada had an operating submarine force, and with the shift of forces to the Pacific, the US Navy Atlantic fleet has yet another, at least traditional, role to play in its theater. When you think about it though, it will not be easy for the US Navy to maintain a presence in the North Atlantic with a submarine if the numbers reduce too much though. Demand for US submarines is up, not only for Strike Group escort, but also for operations off Africa and the Middle East, and soon to be in the Caribbean sea when Venezuela starts operating new submarines from Russia.

The Russian budget does not appear to provide funding for major overseas deployments, so expect a lot more Russian Naval activity off Norway as this represents the most likely area of operation for the Russian fleet when training the Northern Fleet.