Large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov and USS Farragut carried out anti-piracy drill in the Gulf of Aden

14.04.2010 Pacific Fleet (PF) large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov and USS Farragut conducted anti-piracy drill in the Gulf of Aden, reports RIA Novosti citing Capt 1 rank Roman Martov, director of PF Information and Public Relations Service.

According to the exercise scenario, while escorting a convoy through the Gulf of Aden Marshal Shaposhnikov received a distress signal from a vessel attacked by pirates. The US destroyer acted as the ship in distress.

Marshal Shaposhnikov dispatched deck-based helicopter and fast-speed motorboat with search team on board. Soon the "pirate vessel" was stopped; having boarded Farragut's heliport, PF marines found and arrested 6 "pirates".

Exercise command was satisfied with the operation done. During the exercise Russian and American search teams shared experience and skills of boarding; sailors of both countries performed their tasks rapidly and in professional manner, pointed out Martov.

The successfully conducted exercise gives evidence of new stage of coordination development of anti-piracy forces deployed in the Gulf of Aden, said Rear Admiral Bernard Miranda, commander of Combined Task Force 151 which comprises USS Farragut.

At present, Marshal Shaposhnikov is forming subsequent convoy to escort it through the Gulf.

The fourth PF anti-piracy task unit consisting of large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov (with two deck-based helicopters aboard), tanker Pechenga and ocean-going salvage tug MB-37 on March 29 arrived to the Gulf of Aden to attend international anti-piracy operation. Marshal Shaposhnikov has escorted two convoys of merchant vessels through the Gulf.

USS Farragut is an Arleigh Burke class destroyer. The ship was laid down on Jan 9, 2004; launched on July 23, 2005; commissioned on June 10, 2006. Displacement is 9,200 tons; length is 155 meters; beam is 20 meters; draft is 9.4 meters; speed is 30 knots; crew is 290. Armament: two VLS for RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-Asroc missiles; 127-mm gun mount Mark 45; two 25-mm gun mounts; four 12.7-mm machineguns; two Phalanx close-in weapon systems, two 3-tube torpedo launchers Mk 32; multipurpose helicopter SH-60 Sea Hawk.

Marshal Shaposhnikov is a Project 1155 large ASW ship.

REGISTRATION

Pacific Fleet

CONSTRUCTION, NAME

The ship was laid down in 1983 at Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad; launched in January 1985; commissioned on February 15, 1986.

MILESTONES

In 1987 the ship visited ports of Mozambique, India, Angola and Seychelles.

In 1988-1989 she was deployed in the Persian Gulf.

In 1990 the ship called a visit to North Korean port; evacuated Soviet citizens from Ethiopia.

In 1993-1994 she was under complete overhaul at Dalzavod shipyard in Vladivostok.

In 1994 the ship visited Hawaii; in 2006 – Guam.

In September 2008 a fire occurred on board the ship during exercise in the Sea of Japan. Two seamen died.

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS

Speed: 29.5 knots, cruising – 14 knots
Endurance: 30 days
Crew: 220 men
Total displacement: 7,480 tons
Standard displacement: 6,840 tons
Length: 163 meters
Beam: 19 meters
Draft: 7.8 meters

PROPULSION

2 shafts, 4 gas turbines, 61,000 shp (2 x 8,000 shp cruise gas turbines GTU M-70 and 2 x 22,500 shp boost gas turbines GTU M-8KF)

ARMAMENT

2 x quadruple launchers of Rastrub rocket torpedo system
6-26 mines
8 Kinzhal SAM launchers (64 missiles)
1 coupled 100-mm AK-100 gun mount
4 x 6-barreled 30-mm machineguns AK-630M
RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers
2 Ka-27 helicopters