Από τον David Peters, αφιερωμένο στο Δημοσθένη Λιακόπουλο. Φαίνεται ότι σύντομα θα έχουμε και επίσκεψη του ρωσικού αεροπλανοφόρου "Κουζνέτσωφ" στον Πειραιά.
Following extract is from the Russian Ministry of Defence website.
Translated and submitted for interest and information.
Date of article 5th December 2008.
Further deployment by Russian naval units from the Northern Fleet.
In accordance with the schedule for combat training by the Russian Navy, today - 5th December 2008 - marks the commencement of a deployment of an aircraft carrier task group from the Northern Fleet into the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The task group will include the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov", the Large A/S ship "Admiral Levchenko", fixed wing aircraft and
helicopters of ship-borne naval aviation, and the support ships "Sergej Osipov" and "Nikolaj Chiker".
The aim of the deployment is the guarantee of a (Russian) naval presence in operationally important areas of the world's oceans.
During the deployment, experience in nautical matters and combat efficiency of the personnel will be improved and joint activities involving the group's aviation resources, including the carrying out of practice firings will be developed. The warships and the support vessels from the Northern Fleet will carry out visits to a number of countries in Europe and the Mediterranean.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Fleet, Vice-Admiral Nikolaj Maksimov, noted that at the current time, a detachment of warships from the Northern Fleet, at the head of which is the Heavy nuclear-powered Cruiser "Peter the Great", is already at sea engaged upon a distant-water deployment. The preparations for the departure of a second group of warships demanded the maximum effort from the Fleet's Directorate and Support organisation. The personnel of the carrier task group of the Northern Fleet were ready to carry out this distant-water deployment.
The Northern Fleet carrier task group is scheduled to operate jointly with ships from Russia's Baltic and Black Sea Fleets at various times during the deployment.
A similar article in "Red Star" adds that the deployment is likely to last for several months..
Best 73's
Dave Peters
