02.11.2012
Text: Eastern Military District Press Service
Photo: Eastern Military District Press Service
Pacific Fleet (PF) anti-piracy task unit headed by Rear Admiral Vladimir Vdovenko on Nov 2 left homebase Vladivostok and set a course for the Arabian Sea. The eighth PF anti-piracy task unit consists of destroyer Marshall Shaposhnikov, seagoing oiler Irkut, and rescue tug Alatau.
According to the destroyer's commanding officer Capt 1 Rank Andrei Kuznetsov, "the crew is ready to accomplish all assigned tasks. The ship's arms and equipment operates normally".
Underway to the Gulf of Aden, the task unit will call at the Indian port Mumbai. Russian mariners plan to hold the SAREX-type exercise jointly with Indian Navy. During the deployment, PF sailors will visit ports of Thailand, South Korea, Djibouti, and Seychelles.
The destroyer is reinforced with two Ka-27 helicopters and a marine unit that passed counter-piracy training course.
In May 2010 being deployed to that region for the first time, destroyer
Marshall Shaposhnikov carried out an unprecedented operation and released the crew of Russian tanker
Moscow University. That operation was directed by Capt 1 Rank Ildar Akhmerov.
