Russian task group

[glojo]

I have never seen a Russian carrier launching\recovering aircraft but looking at the position where heavier aircraft take-off then the turn around of aircraft is not going to break any records and how many fully laden aircraft could they park on the deck waiting to take off?

Such a large ship but no catapults!!

A slightly smaller ship but was she a superior vessel? (Gone but not forgotten) This post is here to highlight how a ship with steam catapults is probably a better option than the Russian or even our own through deckers. The Russian ship can allegedly carry a few more aircraft but getting them off the deck in a hurry would be interesting to watch



I have highlighted the rear most take off slot for her heavier aircraft and as per a previous post I have still not seen any footage of any type of aircraft taking off from this Russian carrier with anything near a max weapon load! Rumours abound that the Russian carrier is allegedly going to be modernised, her boiler system removed, gas turbines installed and that ski jump replaced with catapults!! Nothing like good old fashioned scuttle-butt however that type of conversion will be more than a days work!! I would really appreciate input from Fod-Plod on the amount of work involved as to me it would appear to be a major task and if the boilers come out then I would ask, have the Russians 'borrowed' the design drawings for the American EMALS electromagnetic launch system.. Hopefully this thread will not drift toward the SH*R topic

[TEEEJ]

Update on the Russian Task Force. The Morse Meterological and Oceanographic messages continue.

1st January on 8345 KHz @ 18 GMT

Callsign RKO81

36.2N 14.7E

36.2 14.7 - Google Maps

2nd January on 8345 KHz @ 00 GMT

Callsign RKO81

36.0N 16.1E

36.0 16.1 - Google Maps

2nd January on 8345 KHz @ 00 GMT

Callsign RAL65

39.8N 11.4W

39.8N 11.4W - Google Maps

2nd January on 12464 KHz @ 12 GMT

Callsign RAL65

39.7N 11.1W

39.7N 11.1W - Google Maps

Frigate Ladny and Oiler Sergei Osipov left Malta this morning.

The 6th of January should see some exercise activity near Greece.

Russian Navy to carry out exercise in Mediterranean

A division of Russian Navy ships, headed by The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrier of the Northern Fleet, has come to an agreement with the Greek military about exercises in the Mediterranean Sea.

The exercises are to begin on the 6th of January, a spokesman for the Greek Central Headquarters reports.

According to the Greek military, the Russian division has not arrived at the site yet. The Russian ships set out on a trip on the 6th of December and carried out several exercises of on-board aircraft. Apart from The Admiral Kuznetsov, other ships of the Northern, Baltic and Black Sea Fleets are taking part in the trip.

From

Russian Navy to carry out exercise in Mediterranean: Voice of Russia

Russian Navy Delegation Visited Greece

[Courtney Mil]

Great work again, TEEEJ. Can we now safely disband GCHQ and leave it all up to you? If you're in the market for any other listening jobs, I might have some work for you.

Seriously, thanks for the update.

[Grimweasel]

Worrying times. I saw some stock charts last week from 1913 and 1938 and they were very very alike. Then the 2011 chart was overlaid and it was oddly similar. Same with gold. It could be just a fluke but some think it portends global conflict just as it did in the years before WW1 and 2.

With economic woes in Europe, a bubble popping in China, economic issues and huge debts in the US and a potential third term for Putin, Iran getting close to Nukes, Syria imploding etc - there are many catalysts for the next global war.

I would start stocking up on the beans, water, shotguns and rice. 2012 promises to be a game changer in my humble view. What better way to fix your economic woes than going to war!?

[TEEEJ]

Hi Courtney,

No problem. Lots of amateur radio enthusiasts in Europe and in the US are monitoring the Russian Task Force. For the Russians they have publically stated that the Task Force is not about Syria or support of Assad.

The Russian Task Force is on a bit of a goodwill jolly on this planned deployment. It certainly features a lot of port calls! The meteorological and oceanograpic Morse transmissions were a feature of all the past Russian Carrier Task Force deployments in recent years. This Task Force is slightly larger and they have assigned three vessels to collect the data. The hard part is linking up the callsigns to a specific ship.

The transmissions are in easily decodable international format. See following.

http://www.vos.noaa.gov/ObsHB-508/Ob..._compliant.pdf

RAL65 message from 31 Dec 2011 at 12 GMT hour

31121 99406 70111 41498 72707 10190 40430 52015 70322 873// 22212 00110 20302 31013 BT AR RAL65 K

The interesting parts of the transmissions are the lat and long, course and speed.

Second and third groups 99406 70111

40.6N 11.1W (If the third group starts with 1 then it denotes Easterly. 7 for Westerly)

The 222?? (22212) group is for course and speed. (RAL65 was on a NE course and travelling between 6 and 10 Knots.

1st figure Code

0 = Ship hove to
1 = NE
2 = E
3 = SE
4 = S
5 = SW
6 = W
7 = NW
8 = N
9 = Unknown
/ = Not reported

2nd figure Code

0 = 0 Knot
1 = 1 - 5 Knots
2 = 6 - 10 Knots
3 = 11 - 15 Knots
4 = 16 - 20 Knots
5 = 21 - 25 Knots
6 = 26 - 30 Knots
7 = 31 - 35 Knots
8 = 36 - 40 Knots
9 = Over 40 Knots
/ = Not reported

The three ships transmitting weather data are RAL65, RKO81 and RAL46. Ship RAL46 ceased transmissions and two ships make a port call at Malta ( Frigate Ladny and the oiler Sergei Osipov). After being underway for a period of time callsign RAL46 reappeared with weather traffic.

Frigate Ladny is Black Sea Fleet and I can't see her having any involvement with HQ Northern Fleet? Ladny went to Ceuta, Spain after a port call in Toulon, France.

Going back to the first RAL46 transmission heard from the Atlantic on 21st December 2011.

RIT DE 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

That placed her in the Atlantic and working with HQ Northern Fleet.(RIT)

36.7N 09.6W

RAL46 appears to be RFS Sergei Osipov.

RKO81 is controlled primarily by HQ Baltic Fleet Headquarters.(Callsign RMP). This narrows it down to either the Frigate Yaroslav Mudry or the tanker Lena.

Interfleet task force was formed in the Moray Firth when the Baltic Fleet (BF) task unit consisting of frigate Yaroslav Mudry and tanker Lena joined the force.

From

Warships, Supply Vessels of Russian Navy’s Carrier Group Move on Through Atlantic >> Naval Today

RAL65 initally entered the Mediterranean and then left after a short period. There is rumour on a Russian forum that the Admiral Chabenenko has been recalled after a port of call in Ceuta, Spain. RAL65 could be the Chabenenko or a tanker in support?

RAL65 has been noted off Portugal for the last few days and now appears to be moving north. Either this is a port of call to Brest, France or it is returning home and possibly via the English Channel? Scramble the Nimrods! OK maybe just the Fleet Ready Escort?

Update for 3rd January.

3rd Jan 00 GMT

RAL46

34.9N 21.4E

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

3rd Jan 06 GMT

RAL46

34.7N 24.7E

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

3rd Jan 12 GMT

RAL46

34.6N 23.8E

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

3rd Jan 06 GMT

RKO81

34.8N 22.1E

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

3rd Jan 12 GMT

RKO81

34.7N 22.1E

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

3rd Jan 18 GMT

RKO81

34.6N 23.6E

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

3rd Jan 12 GMT

RAL65

43.4N 09.8W

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

3rd Jan 18 GMT

RAL65

44.4N 09.1W

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

[Courtney Mil]

Thanks for the info, TEEEJ. I filled my brain up with met stuff in pilot training - enough to read an airfield actual and TAF. This is a whole different ballgame. The link to the NOAA handbook was very interesting too. I gather from your posts that you're reading these in morse too! Again, I had to learn that in pilot training, but managed to forget it all the day after the exam! I'm impressed!

Please keep up the great work!

Courtney

[TEEEJ]

Hi Courtney. No problem. The Morse is only around 12 words per minute. Sometimes up to 16 wpm. I can copy up to about 30 wpm. There are a lot of amateurs radio guys copying the Task Force at the moment.

Update for 4th January

12464 RIW DE RAL65 QSA ? QTC K @ 1207
RAL65 341 16 4 1601 341 BT FOR RJH45 RJH74 BT
04121 99470 70070 41498 82811 10140 40410 51010 70322 883// 22272 00110 20707 04013 BT AR RAL65 K

RAL65 (RFS Admiral Chabenenko or support vessel?)

47.0N 07.0W

47.0N 07.0W - Google Maps

4th January 06 GMT

RKO81 (RFS Yaroslav Mudry or RFS Lena)

34.6N 25.8E

34.6N 25.8E - Google Maps

4th January 00 GMT

RKO81

34.6N 24.7E

34.6N 24.7E - Google Maps

4th January 00 GMT

RAL46 (RFS Sergei Osipov)

34.6N 26.2E

34.6N 26.2E - Google Maps

One Amateur Radio enthusiast has picked up a very nice find. Only a partial call with a possible R in it.

4th January 00 GMT

???98

34.9N 35.8E

Located off Tartus, Syria.

34.9N 35.8E - Google Maps

[GAVRO]

message

I read http://www.vos.noaa.gov/ObsHB-508/Ob..._compliant.pdf and i try to find the other groups.

[GAVRO]

Thanks for the info

Thanks for the info TEEEJ.

[glojo]

Hi Teej,
Why do you think Russia is trying to deny the destination of this battle group when for many months they have been quite happy to tell the World about this so called planned deployment?

Do you know if the ocean going tug is still in company with the carrier?

[Biggus]

glojo,

Try using ..... Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

and type in Nikolay Chiker.

That will show you where the tug is, or at least it did 2 minutes ago.

[TEEEJ]

No problem. GAVRO.

NOTAM for the exercise in the Mediterranean.


Start : 2012-01-02T08:00:00
End : 2012-01-06T16:00:00
Lower : 0
Upper : 270
Location : Europe(35.8,20.5) - Radius 50nm

Code : QWMLW
Traffic : IV

E) JAN 02 05 0800-1600, (ALTERNATIVE JAN 03 06 0800-1600).
RUSSIAN NAVY AND AIRFORCE WILL MAKE A WITHOUT FIRING EXERCISE
WITHIN ATHINAI FIR AS DESCRIBED BELOW:
1.-EXERCISE AREA (WITHOUT FIRING): 361240N0193802E 362406N0195735E
354522N0211928E 352406N0212153E.
VERTICAL LIMITS: SCF-FL270.
2.- PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE AIRCRAFT:
2.1.- EXERCISE ACFT WILL FLY VFR-VMC IN ACCORDANCE WITH ICAO
RULES AND PROCEDURES AS AMPLIFIED IN AIP-GREECE.
2.2.- EXERCISE ACFT WILL SUBMIT FLIGHT PLANS AND WILL ESTABLISH
CONTINUOUS RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH ATHINAI CONTROL FREQ 134,325 OR 124,625 AND EMERGENCY FREQ 121.5 OR 243.0 AND WITH ATHINAI FIC FREQ 119,750. 2.3.- PRIOR COORDINATION WITH APPROPRIATE ATC UNITS IS REQUIRED IN CASE EXERCISE ACFT EXPECT TO ENTER CONTROLLED AIRSPACE.

[TEEEJ]

Glojo wrote

Why do you think Russia is trying to deny the destination of this battle group when for many months they have been quite happy to tell the World about this so called planned deployment?

Hi Glojo,

The callsign noted sending weather off Tartus, Syria might not be a part of the Task Force or a major warship? There are Russian Navy support platforms based at Tartus and this will also include small vessels.

Admiral Valentin Selivanov revealed in November.

"In Tartus now there aren't any our ships. There is only our floating workshop and storage platform. A month ago also there came the Black Sea Fleet patrol ship "Smetlivy", but she has already returned to Sevastopol.

I won't provide a link to the above as it sparks off my malware software warning.

It has been mixed messages over the past week or so in the Russian media. Some sources say no Tartus visit and others say a small visit. They are obviously very aware that positioning the Task Force in Syrian waters will send out the wrong messages to the international community. The last thing the Russians want is for Assad to interprete this deployment as direct military support and that he can safely ramp up the crackdown on his citizens.

From the Russian backed UN draft.

The draft demands that "all parties" in Syria stop violence. But it also includes a new reference to "disproportionate use of force by Syrian authorities", in what is seen by some analysts as toughening of Moscow's position towards Damascus.

From

BBC News - Syria crisis: Russia circulates surprise UN resolution

[glojo]

BIGGUS, TEEJ

Thank you both very much and it does look like she is still all present and accounted for

I understand what you are saying TEEJ and I guess they do not realise it looks silly to deny the obvious, plus the ships are all visiting the planned ports of call that were also published.

Apart from that then it must surely be in the interests of ANY nation to protect its citizens that are 'trapped' in an alleged 'battlezone'

[GAVRO]

TEEEJ where did you find the information about exercise in the Mediterranean, these NOTAM?

Regarding ruvr : The exercises are to begin on the 6th of January, in NOTAM are other data.

[TEEEJ]

Hi GAVRO,

The exercise is still being published for the 6th. I was referring to the flight exercise in the NOTAM.

Russian Navy to carry out exercise in Mediterranean: Voice of Russia

4 January 18 GMT

RAL65

47.0N 06.0W

Heading North East at 6-10 Knots.

47.0N 06.0W - Google Maps

My last update as I will be offline until next week.

[GAVRO]

HI TEEEJ,
Great Work

I undeserstand that in other fligt exercise, OK?, but I not understand how is transmitted this NOTAM...os on radio or is published on site?

[glojo]

Much to my surprise this battle group has now arrived in Syria and will probably remain in port for at least the next six days.

On Sunday, a large Russian naval flotilla led by an aircraft carrier was docked in the Syrian port of Tartous in what Damascus state media hailed as a show of solidarity by its Cold War ally. The Russian naval flotilla aircraft led by an aircraft carrier docked in the Syrian port of Tartous.

[GAVRO]

Great work again TEEEJ.

I wait new information about Russian Navy ships.

[TEEEJ]

GAVRO,

It was originally posted on the following forum.

Scramble Messageboard • Information