Black Sea Fleet of Russia: composition and list of ships

After the events of 2014, Crimea again attracted the attention not only of Russians, but, perhaps, of the whole world. And it's not just a political scandal between two states - Russia and Ukraine. And not in the rapidity with which Russia carried out the Crimean operation. And the fact that after the return of the Crimea, the Black Sea Fleet of Russia has found a second life.

It's no secret that over the years of Ukraine's possession of the Crimean coasts, the development of the Crimea has been greatly retarded, and very little money has been allocated from the treasury for the maintenance of the peninsula. This also affected the naval bases of the Crimean peninsula. In this article, we will try to describe most fully what prospects Russia has in developing the Black Sea Fleet on the Crimean peninsula.

Balaklava bay. A bit of history

From history it is known that the field of that as Crimea passed under the possession of Russia, it was in the Balaklava bay that the ships of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia were stationed. Since 1776 in this place was located Balaklava Greek infantry battalion. The basis of this battalion was made by emigrants, participants in the anti-Ottoman uprising on the islands of the Aegean Sea. It should be noted that the Queen of Catherine the Great herself was noted for her goodwill of the brave Hellenes.

From 1853 to 1856, during the Crimean War, Balaklava and the bay were captured by British troops. They turned the Balaklava Bay into a military base and, in fact, there were already conducted assaults from there, and there was military support during the siege of Sevastopol.

In the division of the fleet between Ukraine and Russia, as of August 1994, the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea had 153rd and 155th Brigades of the 14th Division.

At the same time, the 475th Division had 14 large and 9 medium submarines and a floating submarine base.

But I must say that the submarine "Zaporozhye" (project 641), transferred to Ukraine during the division of the fleet, was inappropriate for this base.

And after the division of the fleets, she was sent to the docks for repairs, which the Ukrainian Navy is still trying to carry out.

After the Russian naval sailors finally left the waters of Ukraine in 1995, the Balaklava base was abandoned. And its actual "owners" were hunters for non-ferrous and ferrous metals, since the base had huge reserves of equipment and machines.

And after a short period of time, when the Black Sea Fleet of Russia left the territorial waters of Ukraine, the Balaclava Base was a heart-rending spectacle.

Also an object of excursions around the city and the bay was the underground plant for the restoration and repair of submarines of the Black Sea Fleet. The top-secret base was actively used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War and as a nuclear weapons storage facility.

The best use of the secret base, except how to conduct excursions of tourists on the military submarine base, the Ukrainian authorities did not find.

How the Black Sea Fleet was divided

The agreement on the procedure and conditions for the location of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the territorial waters and ports of Ukraine was signed in Kiev on May 28, 1997, following the results of the intergovernmental agreement. Also, the conditions for the separation of the Black Sea Fleet and mutual settlements related to such division were stipulated. These documents were ratified by the State Duma and the Ukrainian Parliament in 1999.

The signed agreement made it possible to divide the Black Sea Fleet of Russia and the Ukrainian Navy. The main base and headquarters was decided to leave in Sevastopol. And property disagreements should have been taken into account by the agreement on the division of property. Russia thus withdrew 87.7%, while Ukraine - 12.3% of all vessels.

All this period of harmonization of the legal status of the Black Sea Fleet and its future fate, of course, had a negative impact on its fighting capacity. Many from 1991 to 1997 years. What was happening was perceived as the fact that the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy is slowly but surely dying.

The Black Sea Fleet in Figures

Comparison of the numerical strength for this period could not strengthen the morale of the personnel.

So, let's compare the numbers.

1. The Black Sea Fleet for 1991:

- Personnel - 100 thousand people.

- Number of ships - 835 of all existing classes:

• Submarines - 28;
• Missile cruisers - 6;
• Anti-submarine cruisers - 2;
• BOD of II rank, destroyers and patrol ships of II rank - 20;
• TFR - 40 units;
• Small missile boats and ships - 30;
• Minesweepers - 70;
• Landing ships - 50;
• Naval aviation - more than four hundred units.

2. The Black Sea Fleet of Russia for 1997:

• The number of personnel is 25 thousand people. (Including 2 thousand people in shock aviation and marine infantry).
• The number of ships and vessels is 33.
• The aircraft in the fleet are 106 (of which 22 are combat ones).
• Armored cars - 132.
• Command posts - 16 (there were 80).
• Communication objects - 11 (out of 39).
• The objects of the radio technical service - 11 (there were 40).
• The objects of the rear are 9 (out of 50).
• Ship repair facilities - 3 (out of 7).

Under the 1997 section of the Ukrainian Navy was:

• Combat ships - 30.
• Submarines - 1.
• Combat aircraft - 90.
• Special purpose ships - 6.
• Support vessels - 28 units.

Current state of the Black Sea Fleet

The Black Sea military fleet of Russia has always been and remains one of the main factors of stability and security on the southern maritime routes. The fighting ships of the Black Sea Fleet are doing everything possible to ensure these tasks at the borders of the Black and Mediterranean seas.

But the Black Sea Fleet is able to carry out combat missions also in different regions of the World Ocean.

Ships of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia successfully perform tasks in the Sea of Japan, interacting with the Baltic Fleet. Vessels from the team of this fleet participated in the operation of escorting transport for the transportation of Syrian chemical weapons in the Mediterranean.

On a permanent basis, the Black Sea Fleet supply ships successfully carry out anti-piracy missions.

Increase of combat level

The return of the Crimea to the structure of Russia undoubtedly improved the combat effectiveness of the Black Sea Fleet. On a planned basis, the Russian Federation was able to properly develop the Navy on the Crimean peninsula.

The naval forces will have an integrated system in the Crimea, including ground bases. The Black Sea Fleet of Russia acquired the main base for accommodation of ships - Sevastopol.

The basic principles of locating the basing systems and the fleet infrastructure are self-sufficiency and functionality. It will be necessary to re-equip the bases of surface and submarine ships and coastal forces with everything necessary to ensure full-fledged service and vital activity.

List of vessels of the Black Sea Fleet

The handbooks contain detailed data on which it is possible to assess what the Black Sea Fleet of Russia is today.

The list composition of the surface ships of the thirtieth division:

• Guards missile cruiser "Moscow".
• "Kerch" is a large anti-submarine ship.
• Sentry ship.
• The patrol ship "Ladny".
• The patrol ship "Pytlivy".

The composition of the landing ships of the 197th Brigade:

Large amphibious ships:

• "Nikolay Filchenkov."
• "Orsk".
• "The Saratov".
• "Azov".
• "Novocherkassk".
• "Caesar Kunikov."
• "Yamal".

Composition of the 68th brigade of security ships:

Small anti-submarine ships:

• "Alexandrovets".
• "Muromets".
• "Suzdalets".

Sea-minesweepers:

• "Kovrovets".
• "Ivan Golubets".
• "The turbine driver."
• "Vice Admiral Zhukov."

Submarines:

• "Rostov-on-Don" - Б237.
• "Novorossiysk" - B261.
• (The ex-Zaporozhye) - B435.
• "Alrosa" - B871.

Missile boats of the 41st Brigade:

• "Bora".
• "Simoom".
• "Calm".
• "Mirage".

Composition of the 295th Sulin Division:

Missile boats:

• "Р-60".
• "R-71".
• "R-109".
• "P-239".
• "Ivanovets".

Composition of the 184th Brigade (Novorossiysk):

Anti-submarine ships:

• "Povorino".
• "Yeisk".
• "Kasimov".

The minesweepers:

• "Zheleznyakov."
• "Valentin Pikul".
• "Vice Admiral Zakharin."
• "Mineral water".
• "Lieutenant Ilyin."
• "RT-46".
• "RT-278".
• "D-144".
• "D-199".
• "D-106".

It did not take long to find a site where the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia will be deployed. Sevastopol was the most suitable for this (in the same place where until March 19, 2014, the headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy was deployed).

Prospects for the development of the submarine fleet

After the division of the vessels, the Black Sea men are armed with one submarine - the diesel "Alrosa".

To date, Russia has a program for the phased development of the Black Sea submarine forces. The submarine Black Sea Fleet of Russia will see the return of these efforts in 2016.

By this time it is expected to replenish with six new diesel submarines. Such a replenishment of the submarine fleet will fundamentally change the alignment of forces in the Black Sea.

The Black Sea Fleet will now be able to solve a variety of tasks at submarine depths and create groups to achieve combat targets.

Presumptive periods for entering submarines are different. So, for example, on August 22, 2015 in St. Petersburg was raised Andreevsky flag on a diesel-electric submarine Novorossiysk. After full-scale tests at the Northern Fleet's sea testing range, it will undoubtedly be directed to the place of long-term basing.

The third submarine from the series of vessels for the Black Sea Fleet program 636 - "Stary Oskol" - was launched on August 28, 2015. After a set of running and government tests, "Stary Oskol" will take its place in the Black Sea Fleet.

But that's not all. The completion of the building of the submarine "Krasnodar" is continuing and the Rostov-on-Don submarine is being completed.

Two more submarines will be laid from the project to strengthen the Black Sea submarine fleet - Kolpino and Veliky Novgorod.

All 6 submarines of the program "636 diesel" - electric, and until 2016 they will be transferred to the Black Sea Fleet of Russia. The crews for these submarines are formed and trained in Navy training centers.

Deck aviation

Of course, the Black Sea Fleet is obliged to possess a full-fledged deck aviation. Now there is an opportunity to increase the pace of renewal of the fleet of naval aviation. It is planned to change the Su-24 aircraft to the new Su-30 MC.

It is also important not to forget that it is in the Crimea that a unique complex of NITKA is located. For many years, the aircraft of the Northern Fleet's deck aviation in the Crimea hone their skills on this unique complex.

Also, the pace of repair of the fleet already existing at the Black Sea Fleet is increasing. All this will allow us to reach a given level and will provide aviation with the Black Sea Fleet of Russia. The composition of aircraft, ready for combat missions, will be within 80% of the required number.

Re-creation of the basing system

It is supposed to recreate on the Crimean peninsula such a basing system, which will meet all the requirements for performing combat missions in the region.

The main base is located in the city of Sevastopol, there will also be places for the deployment of the Black Sea Fleet.

The main requirement for the deployment of home systems is their full independence on the principle of providing functionality and self-sufficiency. This port, where the Black Sea Fleet of Russia will be stationed, the composition of ships, both surface and submarine, will be provided with everything necessary for full service and vital activity.

Thus, in factories in the Crimea in the shortest time such production sites will be created that would meet modern requirements and technologies. In order to serve the newest ships that enter the Black Sea Fleet of Russia, the stage-by-stage replacement of the machine equipment with a new one begins.

Now the federal unitary enterprise in Sevastopol literally came to life. Two large anti-submarine ships of the Northern Fleet have already been repaired (they are part of the operational naval unit in the Mediterranean Sea).

Also, the plant is in charge of repairing the diesel submarine "Alrosa". In addition, it should be noted that the wages of workers were brought to the all-Russian level.

Now the Black Sea Fleet of Russia in Sevastopol has received a modern repair base.

The same work is being carried out in Novorossiysk under the federal target program, which is planned until 2020. Within the framework of this program it is planned to build a place of deployment of forces of the Black Sea Fleet in Novorossiysk. In the same way as Sevastopol, this port, with its rare protective pier, will undoubtedly be another military location for Russian ships and submarines.

Ships of equipment for the Black Sea Fleet

To ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea region, the hydrographers of the Black Sea Fleet will have a large work package. It will be necessary to conduct a comprehensive study of the coastal waters, which will lead to the correction of navigational charts. Hydrographic ships of the Black Sea Fleet check the operation of radio navigation systems with subsequent repairs and upgrades.

All this complex of works will have a significant impact on the safety of shipping in this region, which in turn will protect the Black Sea Fleet of Russia, the composition of which is constantly replenished.

So, for the purpose of complex equipment of submarine submarines and surface ships, the Black Sea Fleet will be replenished with six more vessels, which undoubtedly will have a positive effect on the defense capability and will allow carrying out tasks not only in the area of responsibility that the Black Sea Fleet provides, but also beyond.