Text: RusNavy.com
Photo: Guards missile cruiser Varyag. Eastern Military District Press Service
Pacific Fleet (PF) task force comprising Guards missile cruiser Varyag, destroyers Marshal Shaposhnikov, Admiral Vinogradov, and salvage tug SB-522 under command of Capt 1 rank Sergei Zhuga left homebases on Apr 15 and set a course for China.
During the cruise, ships practice maneuvering and change of formation. To train air crews and monitor aerial, surface and underwater situation, helicopters Ka-27 took off destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov.
PF marines carried out anti-terror activities in the night time. Crews of the ships held damage control drills.
At present, the task unit has passed the Korea Strait and entered the East China Sea. PF destroyer Admiral Tributs, tanker Pechenga, and seagoing tug MB-37 heading from the Gulf of Aden will join the task unit on Apr 19 at assigned rendezvous point. After that, the completed task force will lay a course for Qingdao.
Recall that PF naval mariners will attend the Maritime Cooperation 2012 Russian-Chinese exercise in Apr 22-27. Concept of the exercise provides various scenarios of joint anti-piracy and counter-terror actions.