03.12.2009
The new training year has started on December 1 at all ships, units and divisions of Northern Fleet as well as at Navy in whole. This day is traditionally known for solemn rallies held at all Russian naval bases. Commanders estimated activities of military collectives during the passed period and gave new tasks for the forthcoming one.
This meeting started early in Severomorsk – at 08.00 am. Sailors were standing stockstill when the Russian national anthem played and the fleet commander Nikolai Maksimov took the floor.
"The year of 2009 was extremely stressful for us, but the personnel has excellently completed all given missions. I would like to distinguish heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser
Pyotr Veliky, large antisubmarine warfare ship
Admiral Levchenko, landing ships
Georgy Pobedonosets and
Alexander Otrakovsky".
Northern Fleet's mariners have successfully conducted over 1,200 exercises and about 900 drills with various weapons during winter and summer periods, said the commander. Personnel demonstrated high skills at such large-scale maneuvers as
Ladoga-2009 and
Autumn-2009. The fleet should stay at the same high level in new training year as well.
"The main objective is obviously strengthening discipline at ships and units", underlined Nikolai Maksimov. "Of course, one should not forget to improve professional skills which must except cases of death and traumatism at the fleet".
Forthcoming training period will be no less stressful than the finished one. For instance, Russian Navy's task unit led by large ASW ship
Admiral Chabanenko has recently sailed off to Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden to protect civil vessels from pirates. The situation is really uneasy there; even in the last year over hundred pirate attacks happened near west coast Africa.
Northern Fleet has to be prepared for such serious exercises as
Vostok-2010.
Right after the meeting, Northern Fleet Commander met with journalists and answered their questions. In particular, they talked about reforms of the armed forces and solving housing problems of the servicemen.
"The main phase of reformation has been already completed", said Nikolai Maksimov. "We are currently waiting for new staff schedule. Speaking about dwelling, there are 5,020 men in need to have it. So far only 817 men have been provided with apartments and housing certificates. But we will continue resolving this problem especially as our government guaranteed to provide servicemen with dwelling. By the way, after tragic events in Ulyanovsk where an explosion happened at ammunition depot, Northern Fleet had been inspected on security at weapons storage areas. Inspection boards of Leningrad Military Command and Ministry of Defense have not revealed any serious violations.
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