Today's Baltic Fleet: combat-credibility and modernization

01.02.2011 Baltic Fleet was established on Feb 2, 1701 by decree of Emperor Peter the Great ordered to build six 18-cannon ships at the Lake of Ladoga. A press conference named "Today's Baltic Fleet: combat-credibility and modernization" was held on Jan 31 in RIA Novosti media center in St. Petersburg on the eve of 310th anniversary of Baltic Fleet.

However, since invited Leningrad Naval Base Deputy Commander Capt 1 rank Oleg Dovganiuk could not attend the press conference for good and valid reasons, the talk was not about combat-credibility and modernization of Baltic Fleet but mostly about its seamy side.

Director of JSC Baltspetsflot A.I. Shpigel took the floor first. Having briefly reported about activity of his organization, Mr. Shpigel told about the sorry state of most auxiliary vessels at Leningrad Naval Base. Having outlined the absence of repair facilities required to maintain auxiliary fleet in proper state, he referred in detail to salvage ship Karpaty which is currently pending dismantle. Before decommission, the vessel had spent many years in Kronshtadt at final stage of repairs. Russian Navy command found improper that the special-purpose salvage ship was still in service, probably, because they wait for new salvage ship Igor Belousov which has been under construction at Admiralteyskie Verfi for 5 years now (and there is no knowing when it is going to be completed). "That's it – the old ship has been written off while there's nothing to change it", concluded Mr. Shpigel.

Chief designer of Prometei Central Research and Development Institute Valentin Slepnev continued the press conference. He pointed out that his organization has always took active part in creation of new ships for Baltic Fleet and mentioned some of them – submarine St. Petersburg, corvette Stereguschiy and frigate Admiral Gorshkov. But development of modern navy implies numerous research works, while officials who are in charge for navy development unfortunately have no special expertise and judge the process only by permanently increasing paper flow. Despite the fact that Prometei institute has all appropriate facilities to produce advance and sophisticated shipbuilding materials, state defense order covers not more than 40-45 per cent of researches conducted in the institute, which is obviously indicative of indifference to the navy development.

The subject of rational use of governmental funds was elaborated by the chairman of St. Petersburg Submariners' Club Igor Kurdin. He noted that the money invested to Skolkovo project should be better appropriated to such organizations as Prometei. According to Mr. Kurdin, "that would be of more advantage". Afterwards he told about fruitless attempt of the Submariners' Club offered administration of St. Petersburg to take the same-named newest submarine under patronage. Submarine St. Petersburg serves in Kronshtadt submarine flotilla, which is the only submarine division in Baltic Fleet. He expressed regret that BF command could not dispatch a ship for memorial cruise arranged for relatives of Soviet submarine S-2 wrecked in 1940.

Participants of the press conference answered numerous questions, and expressed common regret that official representatives of Baltic Fleet and Leningrad Naval Base did not attend the conference.