Sunday, May 17, 2015

Russia, China Kick Off Active Phase of Mediterranean Naval Drills


© Sputnik/ Yulia Kaminskaya
World
Russian and Chinese warships have arrived in the sea area allocated for the “Naval Cooperation 2015” military drills, they have replenished their stocks and currently hove to at their set locations.
Russia and China has kicked off the active phase of their naval drill in the Mediterranean Sea.
“Russian and Chinese warships have arrived in the sea area allocated for the “Naval Cooperation 2015” military drills,” Deputy Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Vice Admiral Alexandr Fedotenkov said on Sunday.
The RFS Moskva guided-missile cruiser
The RFS Moskva guided-missile cruiser
The vessels have replenished their stocks and are currently hove to at their set locations.
The staff of the joint Russian-Chinese grouping in the sea will be located at the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the “Moskva” (the Russian name for Moscow) guided missile cruiser.
The Russian Navy guided missile corvette Samum sets sail in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey May 14, 2015
The Russian Navy guided missile corvette Samum sets sail in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey May 14, 2015
Russia has sent its “Moskva” cruiser along with the Bora-class hoverborne guided missile corvette “Samum”,  the Krivak-class missile frigate “Ladny”,  Project 775 Large Landing Ships (LLS) “Alexander Otrakovsky” and Alexander Shabalin, and Navy Tug MB-31.
Russian Navy frigate Ladny in Sevastopol
Russian Navy frigate Ladny in Sevastopol
As for China, it will be represented by a pair of 4,000-ton Type 54A Jiangkai II frigates – Linyi (574) and Weifang (547) and Wei Shanhu, a Chinese Naval replenishment ship.
LST Alexander Shabalin during a Baltic Fleet marine and paratroopers landing drill
LST Alexander Shabalin during a Baltic Fleet marine and paratroopers landing drill
Fedotenkov stressed that the exercise is not directed against a third party.
Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy frigate Linyi sets sail in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey May 14, 2015
Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy frigate Linyi sets sail in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey May 14, 2015
“Russia-China exercise ‘Naval Cooperation 2015’ in the Mediterranean Sea is not directed against a third party and is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding between the fleets of two major naval states,” he said.
The active phase of the drill will last until May 21.
Crew members work on the Chinese Navy ship Wei Fang as it docks at the Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa (MITT) port on the outskirts of Yangon on May 23, 2014
Crew members work on the Chinese Navy ship Wei Fang as it docks at the Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa (MITT) port on the outskirts of Yangon on May 23, 2014

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