BF landing ship Kaliningrad to attend BALTOPS 2010

10.06.2010 Large landing ship Kaliningrad took part in pre-cruise shape-up of the ships attending the international exercise in Polish port Gdynia in June 4-6. The ship left Polish territorial waters on June 7 and headed for the exercise zone.

Over 30 surface ships and submarines, 10 aircrafts and several helicopters are to participate in the exercise BALTOPS 2010 which is annually conducted under NATO's initiative Partnership for Peace. According to plans, naval maneuvers in the Baltic Sea are called to promote mutual understanding, confidence, closer partnership and cooperation among the navies of participating countries; to provide national forces and headquarters with possibility to improve professional skills by attending joint drills. Except for Russian Navy, warships of Germany, France, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, the US, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Belgium will take part in the exercise. Large landing ship Kaliningrad headed by Capt 2 rank Mikhail Kushnerev acts within tactical group of 11 ships along with Danish, Swedish, German, American, and Polish ships.

During the active phase of the international maneuvers being held in the Baltic in June 7-16 the warships will conduct joint ASW and air defense drills, perform firings upon surface and aerial targets, practice replenishment at sea, towage and cooperative maneuvering, train checking of the "violator vessel", and demonstrate anti-terror and anti-piracy capabilities at sea. Upon termination of the sea phase, large landing ship Kaliningrad will call at the port of Kiel (Germany) to participate in summing up of the exercise and attend traditional sailing event Kiel Week.