Reminders From The Cold War

In case you haven't heard, which means you probably haven't been observing the news from Russia, the Russian Fleet is concluding the largest naval demonstrations of firepower in the last 15 years. The naval forces of the exercise are centered on the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, 2 Udoloy destroyers Admiral Levchenko (DDG 605) and Admiral Chabanenko (DDG 650), and the Black Sea flagship Moskva (CG 121), a Slava class guided-missile cruiser, and 7 auxiliary vessels. The aviation elements of the exercise included Tu-160s, Tu-95s, Tu-22 M3s, Il-78s, and A-50s.

Among the various details the Russians told the media, the Moskva (CG 121) launched the P-500 Bazalt (NATO reporting name SS-N-12 Sandbox), a liquid-propellant supersonic cruise missile, last reportedly tested in 2003. The P-500 Bazalt, which entered service in 1973, has a 550 km range and a payload of 1,000 kg, enabling it to carry nuclear or a high explosive conventional warhead.

The Moskva (CG 121) was originally named the Slava, but was renamed in 1995. It is common practice in the Russian Navy to rename ships, often for no apparent rhyme or reason. Laid down in 1976, the Moskva (ex Slava) like many first in class was delayed in delivery until 1979, and was not commissioned until 1983. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the Moskva (CG 121) was in refit in the Nikolayev yard where she was built. The refit was not completed until late 1998 when the ship was sent to replace the Admiral Golovko as the flagship of the Black Sea fleet.

The Admiral Levchenko (DDG 605), a Udaloy I class destroyer, was laid down in 1985 and commissioned in 1988. The Admiral Kuznetsov was laid down in 1983, launched in 1985, but was not commissioned until 1991 although was not considered fully operational until 1995. All 7 auxiliary vessels that accompanied the task force were ordered, built, and launched during the cold war.

Even the Admiral Chabanenko (DDG 650), a Udaloy II destroyer, was laid down in 1989, but she (or he in the Russian Masculine vernacular) was under construction when the Soviet Union collapsed. Finally launched in 1995, the Admiral Chabanenko (DDG 650) was not commissioned until 1999 and was in fact the last surface ship laid down during the cold war to be built and commissioned. If there has been a workhorse of the Russian Navy over the last several years, the Admiral Chabanenko (DDG 650) would qualify, which makes perfect sense as the destroyer is the largest surface warship built by Russian in the last 2 decades.

While a two month deployment through the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea may not seem like much, with the exception of the Moskva (CG 121), this deployment represents the largest and most successful deployment for the the other three combatants involved, including the Admiral Kuznetsov. To deploy the 4 warships and 7 support ships for just two months, the Russian Navy had to pull from the Northern, Black, and Baltic fleets just to provide the maximum power projection capability of the Russian Navy.

While the Task Force will return home to Russia under praise and accolades, the reality is this naval group represents the high end of power projection for the Russian Navy over next several years. With that in mind, we note the absence of news usually associated with US, French, and NATO submarines that usually make regular port visits in Europe during scheduled patrols, particularly during holidays, which implies the Russian task force deployment has likely been a very successful deployment for the US, France, and NATO as well.

As the Admiral Kuznetsov task force turns north to return to Russia, the Russian ships will pass large naval strike gruops on the way home. The Moskva (CG 121) and Black Sea fleet escorts will pass the Kearsarge ESG as it returns home to the US east coast, while the Admiral Kuznetsov and Northern fleet and Baltic fleet escorts will pass another relic of the cold war, the large peacetime international carrier strike group. The Orion 08 deployment began yesterday, and while one international naval force has nothing to do with the Russian naval force, the Orion 08 deployment unlike any other major naval strike group in recent memory is a cold war reminder all its own.

Without any effect to other naval operations of each respective nation, the HMS Illustrious (R06), HMS Edinburgh (D97), HMS Westminster (F237), HMS Trafalgar (S107), HMS Atherstone (M38), HMS Chiddingfold (M37), RFA Wave Knight (A389), USS Cole (DDG 67), FS Jean Bart (D615), FS Surcouf (F 711), and SPS Mendez Nunez (F104) combine to form a naval force rarely seen in the North Atlantic since the days of the Soviet Union. For all the belligerent rattling of sabers the Russian Navy has done during its deployment off Europe, we can't help but observe the last chapter in the Russian deployment involves a not so subtle reminder of naval strength for the Russian Navy by the combined naval forces United Kingdom, France, Spain, and United States.

More naval observations on the recent Russian exercises by SteelJaw Scribe here and here, and Spook86 has some thoughts on the aviation aspect of the recent Russian activities.