North Fleet ships engage in inter-fleet exercises in Mediterranean
MOSCOW. Dec 4 (Interfax-AVN) - Two North Fleet ships, the Pyotr Veliky heavy nuclear missile cruiser and the Georgy Pobedonosets large landing ship, and the Yamal large landing ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet completed inter-fleet exercises in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday, North Fleet spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga told Interfax-AVN.
"The inter-fleet unit led by the Pyotr Veliky heavy nuclear missile cruiser has spent several days in the Mediterranean waters to the west and to the north of the Island of Cyprus practicing joint maneuvers with the two landing ships, movement order, protection and defense of a combat maritime unit. The Pyotr Veliky crew also trained air defense and anti-sub defense using the seaborne armaments and Kamov Ka-27 helicopters," Serga said.
"According to the preliminary assessment of the exercises, the crews of the ships of the North and Black Sea fleets demonstrated their readiness to successfully accomplish a variety of missions under a single command," Serga said.
The Pyotr Veliky cruiser of the North Fleet took charge of the task force of the Russian Navy deployed in the Mediterranean on November 10. It is the seat of the staff of the task force of the North, Black Sea, Baltic and Pacific fleets operating under the single plan.
The Russian naval task force in the Mediterranean unites over ten ships of various classes - missile cruisers, patrol and landing ships and support vessels.
The Pyotr Veliky departed from the North Fleet's main base, Severomorsk, on October 22. It has covered the distance of over 5,500 nautical miles by now.