They are increasingly visiting ports in Africa, Asia, South and Central America
The guard ship "Intrepid" of the Baltic Fleet made a scheduled business call at the Namibian port of Walvis Bay. Now he is on a difficult long-range campaign, the geography of which well illustrates the new priorities of the Russian Navy. If earlier our ships, as a rule, visited Europe, now more and more often they drop their anchors in the ports of the countries of the Global South. Why our frigates, corvettes, guardships, large anti—submarine and training ships are now visiting countries in Africa, Asia, South and Central America - in the material of Izvestia.
Which ports did the Intrepid enter
The patrol ship "Intrepid", having left Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region on July 4 this year, together with the tanker "Yelnya", sailed into the North Sea, and then into the Atlantic Ocean. Then they were joined by the training ship Smolny, with which they arrived in Cuba on July 27 at the port of Havana. This place is well known to modern Russian sailors. The frigate Admiral Gorshkov was previously a guest there.
After that, the "Intrepid" and "Yelnya" went to the Mediterranean Sea and for a while became part of the permanent formation of the Russian Navy in this region. However, they did not stay there for long. Already on September 7, the Intrepid was in the Red Sea.
The ship "Intrepid" of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy in the port of Havana
Image source: Photo: TASS/Irina Shatalova
Later, the ship, together with the tanker Akademik Pashin, made a call at the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, after which, from October 3-6, she visited the Simonstown Naval Base in the Republic of South Africa. In South Africa, the ship took part in exercises with the Navies of that country and China, having worked out joint maneuvering and communication organization. Undaunted also participated in the South African Navy Festival. The ships then visited the Namibian port of Walvis Bay. The patrol car's trek around Africa continues.
It should be noted that, in general, our warships rarely visit the ports of South Africa. So, in the twentieth century, the first and only visit of the destroyer Persevering took place in 1997. But in recent years, visits of our ships to the ports of the Republic of South Africa and naval exercises with the fleet of this country have been held quite often.
As a rule, Chinese Navy ships also take part in them. The first such maneuvers took place at the end of 2019, and the Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser was involved in them from the Russian side. The next exercises were in February 2023, at which our country was represented by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov.
Izvestia's help
The Intrepid patrol ship belongs to Project 11540. The ship was laid down on March 25, 1987 at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad and joined the Baltic Fleet on January 24, 1993. The second ship of the same type, Yaroslav the Wise, was completed only in 2009. They are designed for anti-submarine warfare and escort operations. The ship has a total displacement of 4,450 tons, reaches speeds of up to 30 knots and can travel about 5,000 nautical miles. It is armed with a 100 mm cannon, carries 32 launchers of the Dagger air defense missile system on board, and two Kortik anti-aircraft missile and artillery complexes also provide air defense. The main anti—submarine armament is six missiles of the Waterfall-NK complex. The ship can also carry a helicopter on board. Yaroslav the Wise has eight launchers for X-35 missiles. In 2014-2023, the Intrepid underwent repairs and modernization. In particular, the ship's analog radio electronic systems were replaced with digital ones. The crew is 210 people. This is the only ship in the Russian Navy that has changed its tactical number three times — in different years, the numbers "712", "777" and "772" were on board.
Interestingly, the Smolny training ship followed approximately the same route a little earlier. He also passed through the Great Belt Strait and left the Baltic Sea. In July, he made a visit to the port of Havana. After that, from August 6 to 9, he visited the port of La Guaira in Venezuela.
The Smolny ship of the Baltic Fleet
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Ankov
He then crossed the Atlantic Ocean and arrived at the port of Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa. After that, the ship ran through the ports and countries of West Africa, visiting Namibia, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon. And on September 27, he visited Benin. His Smolny left on October 2 and went home to Kronstadt. On October 9, the ship was spotted off the coast of Portugal.
Izvestia's help
In 1975-1978, three training ships of Project 887 were built in Poland for the Soviet Navy. Currently, Smolny and Perekop remain in service. They are part of the Baltic Fleet. On such ships, cadets of naval educational institutions undergo naval practice. The ship has a total displacement of 7270 tons. It can reach speeds of up to 20 knots and travel up to 9 thousand nautical miles. In addition to the 132-person crew, 30 teachers and 300 cadets can also be accommodated on board.
It should be noted the clearly increased activity of our Navy. The Pacific Fleet corvettes "Loud", "Sharp" and "Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov" sailed to perform tasks in the Asia-Pacific region. In the waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, the Admiral Panteleev and Admiral Tributs BOD carry out joint patrols with ships of the Chinese Navy.
Large anti-submarine ships Admiral Panteleev and Admiral Tributs
Image source: Photo: TASS/Maria Smityuk
There are ships of our permanent connection in the Mediterranean Sea, including the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the patrol ship Admiral Grigorovich and the corvette Mercury. The large anti-submarine ship Vice Admiral Kulakov and its accompanying vessels are solving Arctic tasks. The frigate of the Northern Fleet Admiral Golovko is also preparing for its first long-range campaign.
Why do Navy ships need long-distance trips?
The ship is created for combat and hiking, not for mooring. During them, professionalism is being developed, and the experience of sailors is growing. They are exploring new marine areas for themselves. In particular, the same "Intrepid" passed through the Madagascar Strait, where our ships are very rare.
During such visits, the sailors rest, replenish their water, food and fuel supplies. They hold various events with the host party. In countries normally related to Russia, the visit of a warship, the bearing and behavior of its crew often delight the local population, which can be seen in numerous photos and videos of local media.
In addition, the visits contribute to strengthening cultural ties between the countries. In the future, economic contacts can be built through such an exchange. First of all, this concerns a continent as rich in minerals as Africa.
The tanker Akademik Pashin and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov in the port of Venezuela
Image source: Photo: TASS/EPA/RONALD PENA R
During such visits and joint exercises, seafarers from different countries get to know each other, study the equipment of the host country, but also exchange experience. After the events of 2014, various kinds of military exercises with NATO countries and those who joined them were stopped. And since 2022, the ports of these states have been closed to us.
But the Navies of the Global South have a lot to learn. For example, Pakistan is a seemingly completely unknown maritime power. But it became the first country after the Second World War whose submarine sank an enemy warship. On December 9, 1971, the Pakistani submarine Hangor successfully torpedoed the Indian frigate Kukri in the Arabian Sea.
And besides, by demonstrating our warships, we can count on export orders of Russian naval equipment. Now she is involved in solving combat tasks of a special military operation. The world sees and analyzes this, then one or another country can buy naval weapons from us.
Russian Navy servicemen on the navigation bridge of the Gromky corvette
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Ankov
Finally, the visits of warships are a very important element in strengthening bilateral ties between Russia and the countries where they have visited. By demonstrating its naval strength, our country shows its readiness to participate in international operations and maintain stability in remote regions of the planet. Do not forget about the problem of maritime piracy, which often rears its head in different African coastal regions. We can also help here, which, by the way, has happened more than once.
Finally, the visits of our ships once again clearly demonstrate that the policy of the United States and other NATO countries to isolate Russia has failed.
Dmitry Boltenkov
