Russia Sending Naval Infantry to Somalia

The Russian Navy has dispatched the Ropucha II class Tank Landing Ship RFS Yamal (BDK 156) and Ropucha III class Tank Landing Ship RFS Azov (BDK 151). While the primary purpose of the deployment is said to be fighting pirates off the Horn of Africa, RAI Novosti suggests the ships will also be participating in INDRA 2009.

"The vessels will soon pass the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits on route to the Somali coast through the Suez Canal," the source said.

The Yamal and the Azov large landing ships are carrying naval infantry units, the source added.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the Russian Navy Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo, said that the Yamal and the Azov will also join up with Russian warships in the Indian Ocean, including the Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser, for the INDRA-2009 exercise with the Indian Navy in late January.

These two Ropucha LSTs can carry about 450 troops together, meaning the Russians are essentially adding a reinforced company of Marines to the fight. The Ropucha class has no aviation facilities and is primarily used to carry ground vehicles, indeed the ship is designed to beach itself and only has a speed of 18 knots.

The naval infantry will probably be used to add force protection to ships being escorted, which is what China, India, and the EU are doing in the convoys they are escorting. Hopefully we can get some pictures of the LSTs, and see how high/low the ships are riding the water. That way we can see if the ship is carrying heavy vehicles.