Admiral Kuznetsov to France and Spain

[colt99]

According to seawave the Russian navy aircraft carrier, along with 2 other warships, are due in December, but no date or destination yet.
http://seawaves.com/portvisits.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Dave

[RichC]

Last time they did this, they conducted large live sea firing south west of Lands End with the French Navy in a joint fires exercise. It was also when, for the first time since the Cold War, we had Russian Bears run down the west coast of Ireland to overfly the carrier group for the exercise in the Bay of Biscay.

[T_J]

There are rumours in the media that MiG-29Ks will be deployed on the Kuznetsov during this scheduled deployment?

http://rt.com/news/russian-aircraft-carrier-syria-363/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Possibly for continued testing as the Indian Navy is preparing for delivery and training.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/n ... 13693.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MiG-29K testing on Kuznetsov during 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUxJGeLUa3Q" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[T_J]

The Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov, escorts and support vessels are now off the east coast of Scotland.

HMS York with RFS Kuznetsov off Scotland.



http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16129689" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 77196.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[T_J]

Are they making for the Channel or the Pentland Firth?

Time will tell. Sky News is reporting the carrier group off the Fife Coast. Either they are sitting out the weather before heading for the Atlantic or they are taking the English Channel route?

[quid21]

I may have mis heard, but I could've sworn that the sky news reporter said that the Kuznetsov was heading to Syria....on an unrelated visit planned a whilw ago?

[T_J]

Russian warships leave Moray Firth for Atlantic

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-h ... s-16215748" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Russian warships and support vessels which had taken shelter in the Moray Firth are heading for the Atlantic, according to the Royal Navy.

HMS York has been tracking aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, a destroyer and two frigates.

Three oil tankers in the task group left the warships to pass through the Pentland Firth on Thursday.

An ocean-going tug, the Nikolay Chiker, was about 27 miles off Stronsay in Orkney on Friday morning.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the vessels - elements of Russia's Baltic Fleet - were moving over the top of Scotland.

Shetland Coastguard said the tankers had moved through the Pentland Firth - the stretch of water between Scotland's north mainland coast and Orkney.

The Nikolay Chiker had been headed north off Orkney before turning north east.

[RichC]

They always leave with a heavy tug in the fleet when they do these runs, have they not got that much faith in the reliability of their warships for such a run down there?
It was this, or another similar SAR Tug that accompanied the same ships last time. Even the Destroyer is the same one.

Interestingly, the RFA Wave Ruler is off the NW coast of Scotland doodling around, i wonder if its supporting HMS York?

[22A]

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the vessels - elements of Russia's Baltic Fleet - were moving over the top of Scotland.

Over the top of Scotland? Hmmm; I thought it was easier to sail round the North of Scotland.
If only 30 miles of Moray though, redundant Nimrod crew could always use binoculars from a headland to maintain observation.

[seven]

Wont be possible, from 7metres elevation its only possible too see 6 miles out!

7

[T_J]

HMS York completes a week shadowing Russia’s biggest warship around the British Isles

http://www.navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/3121" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Northern Fleet Pilots Fly Over Atlantic

http://rusnavy.com/news/newsofday/index ... T_ID=13898" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[T_J]

I had a spin on the receiver today and copied the following weather and sea state report from an unidentified Russian Navy vessel.

I noted callsign RAL46 sending the following on 12464 Khz at 1234 GMT

RAL46 BT 715 19 21 1614 715 BT FM RAL46

21121 99367 70096 41498 80207 10160 40310 53010 70211 884// 22233 20801 302// 41002 21014 BT AR

Probably an indication that the Kuznetsov Task Group, or elements of, are shortly to enter the Mediterranean and meet up with the Frigate Ladny?

From the message above the second and third groups contain the lat long. That puts the ship off the southwest of Portugal.

36.7N 09.6W

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=3 ... a=N&tab=wl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

10160 will be the temperature = Plus 16

I believe that group 11 indicates heading and speed? 22233 222 degrees at 3.3 knots?

It is reported in the media that the Black Sea Fleet Frigate Ladny is due to meet up with the Kuznetsov Task Group. The Ladny has just finished a visit to Toulon naval base, France.

Black Sea Fleet (BSF) frigate Ladny heading for the Mediterranean Sea has called at French Navy's main naval base Toulon before joining Russian Navy carrier group comprising ships of Northern and Baltic fleets. ....

The Russian warship will replenish water and fuel supplies in Toulon and on Dec 17 lay a course for the rendezvous point of Russian Navy carrier group in the western part of the Mediterranean.

From

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=13886" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Ladny has already visited Malta earlier in the month.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/pho ... id=1453625" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The following links contain the frequencies and info for those with a receiver.

http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl072/nsnl72mil.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.astrosol.ch/networksofthecis ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.astrosol.ch/networksofthecis ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RichC]

RAL 46 seems to be a familiar callsign on a lot of the CW nets. I think it is either the carrier or Chabanenko. I wonder how often the Chabanenko gets out and about other than with the carrier?

[T_J]

RAL 46 seems to be a familiar callsign on a lot of the CW nets. I think it is either the carrier or Chabanenko. I wonder how often the Chabanenko gets out and about other than with the carrier?

Hi Rich,

It is hard to tie them down exactly by callsign.

Weather report from callsign RK081 with coordinates.

Transmitted on 8345 Khz at 0030 GMT 22 December

RK081 BT 794 20 22 0400 794 BT SML

22001 99369 70069 41798 10305 10160 .027. .4000 70200 81/// 22223 00170 21/// 303// ...... Signal fades out

From the second and third group the lat and long is

36.9N 06.9W (North West of Rota/Cadiz, Spain)

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&cp= ... a=N&tab=wl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Callsign RFH77 has been very busy on 12464 Khz with HQ Sevastopol (RCV). I think that this is the Frigate Ladny that has been in the Mediterranean since early December? It would be nice to get a weather report but all he seems to be doing is setting up secure HF links.

[T_J]

Morse Code message on 12464 at 1214 GMT - 22 December. This places the vessel in the Mediterranean.

RMP DE RK081 QSA IMI QTC K
RKO81 303 20 22 1600 303 BT SML FOR RJD38 BT

22121 99357 70041 41798 12705 10180 40266 5.000 70200 81001 22233 0170. ..501 327// 4///// 88000 80000 22017 AR RK081

From the second and third groups of the message.

35.7N 04.1W

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=3 ... a=N&tab=wl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The callsign that the vessel (RK081) is sending the message to is RMP. This is the Baltic Fleet HQ at Kaliningrad so it narrows down the likely candidates.

http://qrg.globaltuners.com/details.php?id=6748" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very hard to tie down the callsign to a specific ship. It could be anyone of the Baltic Fleet vessels in the Task Group? RK081 is possibly the Tanker Lena entering the Mediterranean first
to link up with the Black Sea Fleet Frigate Ladny?

Baltic Sea Fleet elements of the Task Force.

Tanker Lena
Frigate Yaroslav Mudry
Frigate Neustrashimy

http://navaltoday.com/2011/12/15/russia ... ier-group/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[T_J]

Another two vessels enter the Mediterranean.

Morse Code message on 12464 Khz at 1254 GMT - 22 December

RIT DE RAL46 QSA IMI QTC K
RAL46 145 17 22 1630 145 BT FM RAL46 RAL65 FOR RJD74 RJH45

22121 99357 70040 41/98 03004 10180 40.62 51020 70200 22233 330// 40801 22012 BT AR RAL46

From the second and third group of the message.

35.7N 04.0W

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=3 ... a=N&tab=wl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Vessel RAL46 is also sending the message for another callsign RAL65. It appears to be travelling in close proximity. Callsign RAL46 and RAL65 could be the
carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and escort Admiral Chabanenko?

The callsign RIT is HQ Northern Fleet Severomorsk.

[22A]

Another two vessels enter the Mediterranean.

OK then; now redundant Nimrod crew can stand on Gib with a pair of binos & observe what's happening.

[T_J]

Good mornig 'Ayup-han9' on a Russian forum who is obviously monitoring Fighter Control! I noticed that you mentioned the Nimrod aircraft. Just a reminder that the Nimrod is now retired. The picture that you posted was a Nimrod MRA4. The replacement for the Nimrod MR2, the Nimrod MRA4, was cancelled.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12297139" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Frigate Ladny is currently visiting Ceuta.

Black Sea Fleet (BSF) frigate Ladny pays formal visit to Spanish port of Ceuta, told BSF Information Support Department to Central Navy Portal.

Carrying out long-range cruise in the Mediterranean Sea, BSF frigate Ladny pays the last formal call at Spanish port of Ceuta en route to rendezvous point with Russian Navy's task force. Earlier on, Ladny called at ports of Malta and France. Basically, the visit's purpose is replenishment of fuel and water supplies as well as crew rest. During the visit, the cruise command will visit city and military authorities of Ceuta.

Visit of frigate Ladny to the Spanish port will finish on Dec 23. As is expected, tomorrow the ship would join the task force of Northern and Baltic fleets led by aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov.

From

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=13936" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

According to the the seawaves website the Ladny will visit Valletta, Malta on the 27th December. The RFS Sergei Osipov will visit Valletta, Malta on the 26th December.

http://www.seawaves.com/portvisits.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hard to say from the monitored Morse communications whether the Kuznetsov is actually in the Mediterranean. Obviously some elements have made the transit. Callsign RKO81 made a further transmission yesterday with a position further east off the coast of Morocco.

A Russian TV Channel reported the following on the 22nd December.

The Russian squadron led by heavy aircraft carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" is close to Gibraltar.

[RichC]

TJ
Are you referring to the russian monitoring forum with the NATO scanner section?

[T_J]

TJ
Are you referring to the russian monitoring forum with the NATO scanner section?

No. I've sent you a PM.