Pacific Fleet Ships Head for Kuril Islands

27.08.2012 Pacific Fleet (PF) task unit on Aug 25 started a historical "Cruise of Memory" in order to pay honors to Soviet mariners died during liberation of the Sakhalin and Kuril islands in the World War II, said PF spokesman Capt 1 Rank Roman Martov.

The cruise began at 1 pm fr om Vladivostok.

"It's the fifth military historical cruise. Our ships will call at Kunashir, Iturup, and Paramushir islands, and visit Okhotsk to attend festivities associated with 365-th anniversary of the town along with WW2 veterans", Martov told Interfax.

He specified that the PF task unit consisted of landing ship Admiral Nevelskoi and seagoing tug Kalar.

The fifth Pacific Fleet's historical "Cruise of Memory" will be held since Aug 25 through Sept 17.

As was earlier reported, the cruise is held in order to celebrate the 365-th anniversary of Okhotsk which is considered the cradle town of Russian Pacific Fleet, and paying honors to Soviet naval mariners fell during liberation of the Sakhalin and Kuril islands in the World War II.

"It is planned to visit places wh ere the Sakhalin offensive and Kuril landing operations were held in Aug 1945", Martov said.

As for him, a memorial ceremony commemorating servicemen died in M-49 and M-63 submarines will be held onboard the landing ship in the Peter the Great Bay. Also, in the La Perouse Strait it is planned to pay honors to Soviet submarine L-19 and American one USS Wahoo failed to return from patrols.