WAR Russian Pacific Fleet Warships Enter Mediterranean First Time In Decades, Park in Cyprus

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http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-...rships-enter-mediterranean-first-time-decades

Russian Pacific Fleet Warships Enter Mediterranean For First Time In Decades, To Park In Cyprus
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/16/2013 11:12 -0400

Earlier we reported that the US has now officially landed a Marine force in Israel as well as an assault ship, in a visit that the US Navy promptly assured "is not associated with, nor a reaction to, any world events." It seems we were not the only ones who read this justification somewhat skeptically: so did Russia. And in a historic event, the Russian Pacific fleet, for the first time in decades, crossed the Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean, direction Cyprus' port of Limasol (hi Cyprus - Russia will be arriving shortly) in what is now the loudest implied warning to the US and Israel amassing military units across Syria's border that Russia will not stand idly by as Syria is used by the Israeli "Defense" Forces for target practice. “The task force has successfully passed through the Suez Channel and entered the Mediterranean. It is the first time in decades that Pacific Fleet warships enter this region,” Capt. First Rank Roman Martov said. This is what is also known as dropping hints, loud and clear.

The group, including the destroyer Admiral Panteleyev, the amphibious warfare ships Peresvet and Admiral Nevelskoi, the tanker Pechenga and the salvage/rescue tug Fotiy Krylov left the port of Vladivostok on March 19 to join Russia’s Mediterranean task force.

The task force currently includes the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk, the frigate Yaroslav Mudry, the salvage/rescue tugs Altai and SB-921 and the tanker Lena from the Northern and Baltic Fleets, as well as the Ropucha-II Class landing ship Azov from the Black Sea Fleet. The task force may be enlarged to include nuclear submarines, Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov said last Sunday.

Shore leave for a whole lot of submarines just a few hundred kilometers from Syria? Surely. From Rian.




It appears that the squadron is being reincarnated and quite rapidly at that.

It also appears that the two key naval forces in the Mediterranean are finally starting to position themselves for what may soon be a face off.

Hopefully Europe's "anti-manipulation" task force can spook enough majors to push the price of Brent much lower before the moment such an escalation becomes reality.

P.S. Got oil?

Looks like the Oligarchs just got some SERIOUS backup....

Yeah, don't use Syria for target practice, Israel. Assad had dibs first!

Have we got all our carriers moored on the east coast somewhere or do we still have a couple of them playing around in the Med and around Iran? If we do, then it's gettin' awfully crowded out there. Accidents happen!

Kajun

Yeah, the shit may get real over there. Those are nuclear subs and the rhetoric and tension has been building pretty rapidly

Russia’s Mediterranean Task Force to Include Nuclear Subs – Navy Chief

MOSCOW, May 12 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Mediterranean task force will comprise 5-6 warships and may be enlarged to include nuclear submarines, Navy Commander Adm. Viktor Chirkov said on Sunday.

“Overall, already from this year, we plan to have 5-6 warships and support vessels [in the Mediterranean Sea], which will be replaced on a rotating basis from each of the fleets – the Black Sea, Baltic, Northern and, in some cases, even the Pacific Fleet. Depending on the scope of assignments and their complexity, the number of warships in the task force may be increased,” Chirkov told RIA Novosti.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu earlier said a decision to deploy a permanent task force in the Mediterranean to defend Russia’s interests in the area had been made.

The Russian navy commander also said nuclear submarines could be deployed in the Mediterranean, if necessary.

“Possibly. In a perspective. They [submarines] were present there during the existence of the 5th squadron. There were both nuclear and diesel submarines there. Everything will depend on the situation,” he said.

The Soviet Union maintained its 5th Mediterranean Squadron in that sea from 1967 until 1992. It was formed to counter the US Navy 6th Fleet during the Cold War, and consisted of 30-50 warships and auxiliary vessels at different times.

Russia also plans to use its Mediterranean task force for missions in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the country’s Navy chief said.

“No doubt, if necessary, when some tasks arise in other nearby regions, in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the task force may be used,” Chirkov said.

Now the Russian Navy is training officers who will perform their duties at sea on a permanent basis, he said.

“These persons must be comprehensively trained to solve tasks not only in the Mediterranean but also in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans,” he said.

The headquarters of Russia’s Mediterranean taskforce will be set up already in the summer of 2013, he said.

“The headquarters will be established in the summer of this year and its officers will stay aboard one of the flagships in the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/show...ld-Officials&p=4835148&highlight=#post4835148

Cyprus again. The Russians will NEVER forget the Nazis targeted them again and became international bank robbers to wipe out Russian money. The Russians warned those who went after their money like that were dead meat. Cyprus.

night driver said:

Looks like the Oligarchs just got some SERIOUS backup....

Click to expand...

Possibly not an operational siren call, but certainly a wakeup call to the West.

The previous ramblings of the Black Sea Fleet were worth watching but never overtly ominous. The Black Sea Fleet was few in numbers and for the most part, decrepid from age and lack of maintenance. The cruiser 'Peter the Great' is over 30 years old and pretty sad sack. The carrier attached to that group is a light carrier. It can inflict pain but is no strategic match for anything in the West.

As always, then and now, my concerns revolve around the Soviet nuke submarine units that come with the rest of the package in Cyprus. To call that possibility alarming is likely a groteseque understatement, imo.

I don't thinnk we have over one or possibly 2 over there.