Russian naval ships continue to pass through the Turkish Straits without slowing their tempo. Today the Alligator class landing ship Nikolay Filchenkov passed through the Dardanelles and entered into Marmara Sea. I was not aware that she had returned to the Mediterranean after I have seen in January. The Nikolay Filchenkov was not the only Russian warship seen in... Continue Reading →
After visiting Novorossiysk and Varna, the French destroyer D-615 FS Jean Bart arrived for a 3 day visit. FS jean Bart is very similar in operational capabilities with her 40 SM-1 MR surface to air missiles fired by the Mk-13 launcher and Smart Mk2 3D radar to the Turkish Navy Gabya class frigates. She looks old and... Continue Reading →
The Ropucha class large landing ship 102 Kaliningrad made a south bound passage on 30 April 2013. She was last seen in Bosphorus on 24 April 2013. This was a quick return. I have no information about thew whereabouts of her companion 110 Alexander Shabalin but I bet she has passed through the Bosphorus the... Continue Reading →
The Pomornik (Project 1232.3) class hovercraft built for the PLAN passed through the Turkish Straits; but not on her own power. The craft was on board of M/V HHL New York, a special ship designed for large and difficult cargo. M/V HHL New York left the Ukrainian port Feodosia on 27 April 2013 and passed through Bosphorus... Continue Reading →
The excellent and always well-informed Black Sea News website reports that the two Ropucha class large landing ships of the Baltic Fleet 102 Kaliningrad and 110 Alexander Shbalin have returned to the Russian naval Base Novorossiysk together with the tanker Dubna of the Northern Fleet. The Kaliningrad and Alexander Shbalin have left Russia in mid April and I had the impression that... Continue Reading →
As reported earlier, the French destroyer D-615 Jean Bart is continuing her Black Sea cruise. She was in Novorossiysk, Russia between 23 and 26th April. On 27 April she arrived in Varna Bulgaria, for a 2 or 3 day visit.Bulgarian ship spotter and blogger Mr. Nikolay Zlatev has some excellent photos of Jean Bart in... Continue Reading →
One of my readers, Mrs. Eser Çelebiler kindly shared her photo of PM-138 with me. She has an excellent blog Warships on The Bosphorus, with wonderful photos.
Today the Russian floating workshop PM-138 made s south bound passed through Bosphorus. She has entered Marmara Sea late afternoon. I expect that she will pass through Dardanelles tomorrow. Her destination should be Tartus Syria, where her sister PM-56 is located. Obviously Russians are changing the guards in Syria. I was driving when I saw PM-138, so... Continue Reading →
As reported earlier, the Cassard class French destroyer, D-615 FS Jean Bart has arrived in Novorossiysk on 23 April 2013 for an official visit. The ship will stay till 26 April. I have no information about where she will sail after leaving Russia. Russian shipspotter and blogger Mr. Igor Torgachkin has some excellent photos of FS Jean Bart... Continue Reading →
A few minutes ago, the Russian landing Ship Azov finished her south bound passage through the Bosphorus and entered into the Marmara Sea. Tomorrow she will pass through the Dardanelles and enter into the Aegean Sea. The photo above shows her though a touristic web cam. I am sorry for the poor quality of the... Continue Reading →
