Baltiysk Base Hosts American, British and French Warships

25.06.2012 Ships of US, British, and French navies called at Baltiysk port (Russia) on June 24 to take part in the FRUKUS-2012 four-lateral joint naval exercise.

According to press secretary of Western Military district Capt 2 Rank Vladimir Matveyev, French frigate De Grasse was the first to moor at Baltiysk, the main base of Baltic Fleet and Russia's westernmost port city. The French ship arrived in the Baltic Sea after participation in the PACEX Russo-French naval exercise recently finished in the Barents Sea, reports ITAR-TASS.

The second ship arriving in the naval harbor was Royal Navy's destroyer HMS York. She took the place aboard the French frigate. Russian BF frigate Yaroslav Mudry is also moored in Baltiysk; the ship is to represent Russian Navy in the coming maneuvers.

The fourth participant – American cruiser USS Normandy – anchored off the harbor at the noon.

"Today, senior officers of foreign ships will pay courtesy visits to the port's senior naval officer, Baltiysk Naval Base Commander Rear Admiral Sergei Popov, and to Baltiysk city administration", Matveyev said.

The Baltic Fleet's spokesman pointed out that participants of the FRUKUS-2012 exercise would stay in Baltiysk base till June 26. The first coastal phase of the exercise will be held there.

In these days, naval mariners of the four countries will compete in swimming, soccer, bowling, and billiards, as well as have eventful cultural program, tours around Baltiysk and Kaliningrad.

On June 27, ships will take the Baltic Sea to carry out the second phase of the FRUKUS-2012 exercise. In the Baltic test ranges and under way from Baltiysk to St. Petersburg, the participants will practice repelling attacks of small-size boats and aircraft, joint maneuvering, gun firing drills, vessel inspection, rescue of a man overboard and assistance to a "distressed" ship.

The purpose of the international exercise finishing in St. Petersburg on June 30 is to improve naval interaction amid participating countries, Matveyev said.