Orac,
Amazing how a story can get blown out of all proportion! This is just the standard marine protection force on the Russian Navy, tanker Iman. I've been tracking this vessel in Morse Code, call sign RMGB, ever since it left the Black Sea. The conspiracy nuts have got hold of it and are implying that the marines are being used to crush the rebels. Hardly likely that the Russians are going to deploy a ship for such a mission and allow it to transmit routine weather and sea state reports all the way from the Black Sea!
Even the Amur Class Repair Ship PM-56 (Call sign RIR98) that was previously in Tartus, Syria had a protection force on board. This also transmitted routine Morse weather and sea states on its transit to and back to the Black Sea.
BSF Floating Workshop PM-56 Returned to Sevastopol
To provide security during the cruise, PM-56 had an anti-terror group and boarding party consisting of BSF marines.
The Russian Navy tanker Iman sent routine weather during 12 GMT today.
12464 Khz
RCV DE RMGB QSA ? QTC K @1204Z
RMGB 193 19 21 1600 193 BT SML FOR RJH45 RJE73 BT
21121 99349 10358 41998 03502 10190 40200 53001 70200 80000 22200 00190 20000 88000 80000 21015 BT AR
RMGB K
This is international weather code. See following for how to decode.
http://www.vos.noaa.gov/ObsHB-508/Ob..._compliant.pdf
From the second and third groups 99349 10358
This breaks to
34.9N 35.8E
Map Link
From the 11th group the vessel is indicating 00 which means hove to / at anchor / stopped.
The rest is just weather and sea state code. For example the sixth group is the temperature Plus 19 degrees.
RCV = Head quarters Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol
RMGB = Auxiliary Vessel Iman
Here was the Russian Navy tanker Iman back on 22 February at 12 GMT as she headed for the Bosphorus.
12464 Khz
RCV DE RMGB 22121 99443 10330 22252
44.3N 33.0E Heading South West at 6-10 Knots
Map Link