Cruiser Varyag returned to Vladivostok

17.11.2010 Pacific Fleet (PF) flagship Guard missile cruiser Varyag returned today to Vladivostok from the 4-day friendly visit to South Korea.

The triumphant meeting ceremony was held at the Golden Horn Bay; among attendants were the fleet officials, relatives and friends of Varyag's crew, the military band.

Visit of Varyag to South Korea was conducted in Nov 9-13. Pacific mariners along with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev took part in solemn ceremony on Nov 11. The jack flag of legendary cruiser Varyag which entered a loosing battle with Japanese squadron near Chemulpo (now Incheon) in 1904 was handed over to Russia. The crew of present-day Varyag has brought the heroic predecessor' jack to Vladivostok.

Pacific mariners worthily represented the St. Andrew's flag in Incheon, reported RIA Novosti referring to Capt 1 rank Roman Martov, spokesman for PF Commander. The visit was held in the atmosphere of hospitality and kindness. The city authorities arranged a huge cultural program for the cruiser's crew. The fleet's delegation conducted protocol meetings with S Korean Navy's officials, paid a courtesy visit to Incheon mayor.

"The crew visited the memorial established in 2004 in honor of 100th anniversary of the legendary battle of cruiser Varyag and gunboat Koreyets, and paid honors to heroic Russian sailors", Martov said.

According to him, the flag-transferring ceremony was the most memorable event of the visit. The Russian-Korean agreement provides that the jack will be exhibited in Russian museums for two years. The decision to hand over the legendary cruiser's flag was associated with 20th anniversary of diplomatic relationship between our countries which is celebrated this year.

Korean laws prohibit transferring of cultural relics to foreign countries for ever. Nonetheless, the flag of cruiser Varyag was handed over to Russia on the permanent basis, although must be periodically shown in S Korean museums, said the official.

Missile cruiser Varyag is a successor of the same-named legendary warship which crew won glory in the Chemulpo Battle during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905).

Current cruiser Varyag is armed with powerful multipurpose attack missile system, SAM systems, ASW rocket launchers, torpedo tubes, and gun mounts of various calibers and purposes. NATO dubbed Russian ships of such class as "flattop killers".