BF frigate Neustrashimy returned to Baltiysk from long cruise

20.04.2010 Baltic Fleet (BF) frigate Neustrashimy headed by Capt 1 rank Alexei Apanovich returned to Baltiysk Apr 20 after counter-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden and off Horn of Africa.

Top-ranking officials of Naval Base Baltiysk, representatives of Russian Orthodox Church, and relatives of crewmembers attended the triumphant ship meeting ceremony.

Arrival of frigate Yaroslav Mudry (commander is Capt 3 rank Anton Shishkarev) and tanker Olekma to Baltic Fleet main base is expected today as well. The task unit is commanded by Capt 1 rank Pavel Yasnitsky. The frigates have been returning from the Mediterranean to home base together.

During 5-month cruise frigate Neustrashimy has escorted dozens of ships through the Gulf of Aden and visited a number of foreign ports.

Frigate Yaroslav Mudry during her first month-long cruise accompanied Northern Fleet (NF) cruiser Petr Veliky from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and performed training tasks in the Atlantic Ocean.

As for BF representative, arms and equipment of the ships operate normally; the crews are disease-free.

REFERENCE

Neustrashimy is a Project 11540 Yastreb frigate.

REGISTRATION

Baltiysk, Baltic Fleet

CONSTRUCTION, NAME

The ship was laid down on March 25, 1987 at Yantar Shipyard; launched on May 25, 1988; commissioned on December 28, 1990; joined Baltic Fleet on March 14, 1991.

MILESTONES

The ship multiply participated in naval exercises, including BALTOPS joint RF-NATO exercise in 1994, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

In 2003 the frigate secured Russian delegation at the visit of President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin to London.

In 2004 the ship was deployed in the Mediterranean, in 2005 – in Norwegian Sea.

In 1994 the frigate won the Navy Commander's Prize for antisubmarine warfare; in 1996, 1997 and 1998 – prizes for air defense; in 1997, 1998 and 1999 – prizes for artillery firing.

On September 24, 2008 the ship was detached to the Gulf of Aden for protection of civil traffic from Somali pirates. During the mission Neustrashimy sailed over the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea; visited ports of Libya and Yemen; spent 7.5 months at sea and achieved a Baltic Fleet's record since the Great Patriotic War.

PERFORMANCE

Propulsion: two-shaft COGAG2 – 2 cruising gas turbines 20,000 shp in total and 2 boost gas turbines 37,000 shp in total
Power: 57,000 shp (total)
Speed: 30 knots; cruising – 18 knots
Endurance: 30 days
Crew: 210 men

DIMENSIONS

Displacement: 3,590/4,350 tons
Length: 129.8 meters
Beam: 15.6 meters
Draft: 8.35 meters

ARMAMENT

6 x 533-mm torpedo tubes
2 Vodopad-NK ASW rocket torpedo systems
RBU-6000 ASW rocket launcher
4 Kinzhal SAM systems
2 Kortik air defense missile/gun systems
100-mm gun mount AK-100 with MR-145 Lev guiding radar
Ka-27 ASW helicopter

Yaroslav Mudry is a Project 11540 frigate, second ship of the series designed for protection of warships from undersea and surface attacks; search, detection and tracking submarines; attacking enemy ships; covering landing operations etc.

REGISTRATION

Baltic Fleet

CONSTRUCTION, NAME

The ship was laid down in 1988 at Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad under Project 11540 and launched in 1990. The construction was frozen in 1994 due to underfinancing. In 2002 the works were resumed along with upgrade program. The ship was delivered to the Navy on July 24, 2009.

PERFORMANCE

Propulsion: two-shaft COGAG2, 2 cruising gas turbines (20,000 shp in total) and 2 boost gas turbines (37,000 shp in total)
Power: 57,000 shp (total)
Speed: 30 knots; cruising: 18 knots
Endurance: 30 days
Crew: currently 27 officers, 31 warrants and 155 enlisted

DIMENSIONS

Displacement: 4,500 tons
Length: 129.8 meters
Beam: 15.6 meters
Draft: 8.35 meters

ARMAMENT

6 x 533-mm torpedo tubes
2 Vodopad-NK ASW rocket torpedo systems
RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers
4 Kinzhal SAM systems
2 Kortik SAM/gun systems
100-mm gun mount AK-100 with MR-145 Lev guiding radar
Ka-27 ASW helicopter