Russia celebrates the day of the Pacific Fleet
MOSCOW, May 21 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Igorev. Today, the Russian Pacific Fleet celebrates its professional holiday. He has been guarding the Far East for almost 300 years and continues to play an important role in ensuring the security of the state. Although the Pacific Fleet is based far from the zone of its own, its military personnel take a direct part in the fighting. About naval everyday life — in the material of RIA Novosti.
Two birthdays
Formally, TOPH has two birthdays. In 1932, on April 21, the Naval Forces of the Far East were formed. In 1931, the Japanese Empire invaded Manchuria. The Soviet government, fearing invasion, strengthened the Special Red Banner Far Eastern Army, which was also subordinated to the few ships of the Amur Flotilla at that time.
And on May 21, 1731, Empress Anna Ioannovna ordered the creation of the Okhotsk flotilla. The first regular Russian naval formation in this region carried out patrol duty and guarded the fisheries, coast and islands discovered by Russian navigators and explorers. The navy became a serious force already in the XVIII century.
The sailors of the Pacific Fleet opposed the Anglo-French squadron in the defense of Petropavlovsk during the Crimean War, defended Port Arthur in the Russian-Japanese war, beat the Kwantung army in World War II. Today, soldiers of the 155th Separate Guards Brigade of the Marines of the Pacific Fleet are taking part in a special military operation — they are operating in the South Donets direction. However, the fleet still solves the main tasks at sea.
The ritual of the solemn raising of the St. Andrew's flag and the flags of the colors on board the corvette "Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov" of the Pacific Fleet (TOF) stationed in Primorsky Krai
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Vitaly Ankov
Strategic role
The United States has been increasing its military presence in the western Pacific Ocean for several years amid tensions with China over Taiwan. In particular, in April, the Pentagon organized exercises in the Philippines with the deployment of the latest Typhon medium-range missile system. Carrier strike groups regularly visit the region, and the Americans are constantly training here with their allies.
And they are secretly conducting reconnaissance of the capabilities of the Russian Pacific Fleet. During the Cold War, their ship groups often came close to the islands of the Kuril Ridge, a natural barrier separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean, and watched our submarines.
The main striking force of the fleet is nuclear strategic missile carriers, part of the nuclear triad. There are five submarines of the Borey and Borey-A projects in the Pacific Fleet, which were commissioned from 2013 to 2023. Each is armed with 16 R-30 Bulava ballistic missiles. The total salvo of the nuclear forces of the Pacific Fleet is 80 missiles carrying from 480 to 800 individual guidance combat units with a capacity of 100 to 150 kilotons each.
The nuclear-powered ships are part of the 25th Division. The main task of all forces of the Pacific Fleet is to ensure the access of submarines to combat deployment areas. And for this, it is necessary to unconditionally dominate the area of the Sea of Okhotsk. So far it has succeeded. But the Americans are well aware of the threat posed by five nuclear-powered ships loaded with nuclear missiles. And they are preparing to resist it.
SUBMARINE "Vladimir Monomakh"
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Ildus Gilyazutdinov
New ships
A long—standing problem of the fleet is the age of surface ships. After 1991, the Pacific Fleet, as the most remote from the operational command centers of the Navy, found itself in the worst position. The most combat-ready pennants were withdrawn from the TOP. The ones that are in service now are mostly built back in the 1980s.
Today, only the Varyag missile cruiser and three large anti-submarine ships can go on long-range hikes: Marshal Shaposhnikov, Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleev. The complete renewal of the ship's personnel is a task for decades. But there is already progress. From 2017 to 2023, the Pacific Fleet received four corvettes of the 20380 project, another one will be transferred by the end of this year.
The large anti-submarine ship of the Russian Navy "Admiral Tributs" at the joint exercises of Russia and China in the Sea of Japan "North. Interaction — 2023"
Image source: © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The frigates of the far sea zone of Project 22350 are next in line: Admiral Amelko, Admiral Chichagov and Admiral Yumashev. They are expected by 2026. In addition, from 2019 to 2023, two nuclear submarines with cruise missiles of the Yasen-M project, as well as five diesel-electric Varshavyanki were delivered. In the shortest possible time, it was possible to fill the acute shortage of pennants of the sub-melt. The Pacific Fleet feels much more confident today than it did ten years ago.
Advantages of the TOP
But the main strategic advantage of the Pacific Fleet is not ships and submarines, but geography. The two main naval bases - Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk—Kamchatsky - are located far from each other. Thus, the fleet, together with naval aviation, covers both flanks of the strategically important Sea of Okhotsk. And control over all the Kuril Islands allows ships and submarines to go out into the open ocean, not letting a potential enemy into their home.
Another important trump card is the coastal defense troops deployed in the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka and Chukotka. In the event of a conflict, they will strike enemy ships from well-fortified positions on land. As part of the reinforcement, the Redut missile systems with a firing range of up to 460 kilometers were replaced by modern Bal and Bastion systems with X-35 and Onyx anti-ship missiles, respectively.
Finally, important enterprises of the domestic military-industrial complex operate in the Far East. The TOPH also ensures their safety. In recent years, new airfields for combat aviation have been actively built in the region, modern air defense systems have been deployed, and exercises have been regularly conducted. There is no doubt: TOPH is capable of solving any combat tasks.
Pacific Fleet exercises in Primorye
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Vitaly Ankov
