Pacific Fleet detachment to visit Singapore

29.10.2009
Pacific Fleet task unit composed of Guards missile cruiser Varyag, rescue tug Fotiy Krylov and ocean-going tanker Pechenga sailed off Vladivostok and headed for Singapore on Oct 28, says PF Information and Public Relations Service.

Demonstration of Russian Navy and strengthening of relations between the two countries are main tasks of the distant cruise. During friendly call at Singapore, Russian mariners will visit museums and memorials as well as meet with local sailors. Natives and guests of Singapore will be allowed to get aboard Varyag. According to APEC Summit program, Sergei Darkin, Governor of Primorsky Krai will also visit the flagship of Pacific Fleet.

Marines, air group, cadets of Pacific Naval Institute named after S.O. Makarov and representatives of Vladivostok Eparchy are on board the cruiser. The latter will conduct Orthodox services aboard and hand over ornaments to Orthodox Church in Singapore.

The unit sailed off under flag of Rear Admiral Sergei Avakiants, Commander of PF Primorskaya Flotilla. Commander of Varyag cruiser is Guards Capt 1 rank Eduard Moskalenko.

Varyag is a missile cruiser of Project 1164 Slava.

REGISTRATION

Pacific Fleet

CONSTRUCTION, NAME

The cruiser was laid down on July 31, 1979 at 61 Communards Shipyard in Nikolayev under the name of Chervona Ukraina, set afloat on Aug 28, 1983, commissioned on Feb 28, 1990. It was renamed for Varyag in 1996.

MILESTONES

The ship was initially commissioned in Soviet Black Sea Fleet and after its partition was transferred to Pacific Fleet.

In 1996 Tula Region and Russian Orthodox Church incurred patronage under the cruiser.

In 1997 the cruiser took part in drill cruise to Korea and Japan. At the first time among crewmembers was a chaplain, Benjamin Bishop of Vladivostok and Far East.

In May 2001 Alexis II Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia paid a visit to Varyag.

In 2002 Varyag became a flagship of Pacific Fleet instead of heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev.

In 2005 the ship called at ports of Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and China along with the task unit.

In 2007 the cruiser visited South Korean port Pusan to participate in naval parade in honor of establishing of South Korean Navy.

In spring 2009 Varyag took part in festivities at Chinese port Qingdao on occasion of Chinese Navy's 60th anniversary.

PERFORMANCE

Speed: 32 knots
Economic speed: 16 knots
Cruising capacity: 30 days
Crew: 480 men

DIMENSIONS

Displacement: 11490 tonnes
Length: 186.4 meters
Beam: 20.8 meters
Height: 42.5 meters (at midship)
Draft: 8.4 meters

ARMAMENT

16 Bazalt ASM system launchers (load is 16 ASM P-500), two torpedo tubes, antisubmarine rocket launchers RBU-6000, two 130-mm gun mounts AK-130, one 30-mm gun mount AK-630, two Osa-MA SAM launchers, eight S-300F Rif SAM launchers, one antisubmarine helicopter Ka-25 (Ka-27).

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: Guards missile cruiser Varyag (ru.wikipedia.org)