BF frigate Yaroslav Mudry started long cruise

24.06.2010 One of the Baltic Fleet's (BF) newest ships frigate Yaroslav Mudry on June 20 sailed off Baltiysk to perform training tasks in a long-range cruise, an informed source reported to the Central Navy Portal. The cruise will not be limited by waters of the Baltic, as the ship is heading for the North Sea. On her way passing the Great Belt strait (Denmark), the ship was shot by local amateur photographers.

Lead ship of Project 11540 frigate Neustrashimy is currently in Baltiysk. The ship twice took part in anti-piracy patrols off Somalia. Before the second cruise all four turbines (both cruising and boost) were replaced with new ones. Therefore, motor potential of the ship had been completely recovered. At present, the matter is considered about inter-cruise preventive maintenance either at base or at 33rd Ship Repair plant (Kaliningrad).

The most topical issue at BF main base is whether two Project 11540 frigates would be transferred to Black Sea Fleet. This initiative is being actively worked on; orientation officers have held polls among commissioned personnel as for further service in Sevastopol. According to a competent source, the directive ordering to transfer those ships to Black Sea Fleet has been already issued.

A Project 11540 Yastreb frigate was developed by Zelenodolsk Design Bureau in 80's. Total displacement is 4,250 tons; length is 130 meters; beam is 15.6 meters; draft is 4.26 meters. Gas-turbine powerplant provides full speed of 30 knots and fuel range of over 3,000 nm at 18 knots. As for now, Russian Navy has in inventory two frigates of this project which are Neustrashimy and Yaroslav Mudry; the ships are somewhat different in shipborne arms.