NF flagship cruiser Petr Veliky arrived to the Far East

20.05.2010 On Thursday Northern Fleet (NF) flagship heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Petr Veliky reached the Far East after a 2-month cruise; the ship is moored at Strelok Bay near Fokino, reports RIA Novosti.

After almost 52 days of long-range cruise started in NF main base Severomorsk, the cruiser has covered over 15,000 nautical miles. Since late March 2010 the ship has performed tasks in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Petr Veliky sailed through La Manche, Gibraltar, Suez Canal, Gulf of Aden, and called at Syrian port Tartus.

After mooring, the crew was triumphantly met by Pacific mariners. The meeting ceremony was arranged at the pier of Fokino naval base.

"Today is a really significant day in contemporary history of Russian Navy. It is the first time Northern Fleet ship reached Pacific Fleet. Let it be a short period, but it is very important for today's Russian Navy. We proved again our capability to execute any mission assigned to Russian Navy", said Vice Admiral Konstantin Sidenko, Pacific Fleet (PF) Commander.

He pointed out that in the nearest future ships of Pacific, Northern, and Black Sea fleets would jointly perform combat training tasks, and expressed confidence that all of them would be excellently accomplished.

Capt 1 rank Sergei Zhuga, cruise commanding officer in his turn assured on behalf of the crew that Northern mariners would make a fierce effort to complete any tasks assigned by the Navy command in an accurate and high-grade manner.

As it was previously reported by RIA Novosti citing Capt 1 rank Roman Martov, the head of PF Information and Public Relations Service, the crew needs a rest as it has carried out long cruise from Arctic Ocean to the Horn of Africa and then – to Russian Far East. Replenishment of food and fresh water is also required; afterwards, the crew will join the combat training process.

According to him, cruiser Peter Veliky along with PF warships and BSF flagship missile cruiser Moskva which is expected to arrive to the Far East in mid-May will jointly execute scheduled training tasks in the Sea of Japan.

Martov commented information emerged in web-sources that cruiser Petr Veliky had been disallowed to call at the Golden Horn Bay, Vladivostok.

"Calling of cruiser Petr Veliky to PF main base Vladivostok was not planned at all, because nuclear submarines and nuclear-powered civil vessels and warships are prohibited to call at this international port", said Martov.

Naval base Fokino is located in Primorsky Krai in the same-named town next to Vladivostok. Fokino base accommodates PF surface ships division and landing craft unit.

Petr Veliky sailed off NF main base Severomorsk on March 30 to hold a large-scale ocean exercise along with other Russian warships. In May 17-19 the cruiser took part in exercise held in assigned region of the Sea of Japan and led by Capt 1 rank Viktor Sokolov, PF Primorskaya flotilla commander. Pacific Fleet was represented by Guard cruiser Varyag, large ASW ship Admiral Panteleev, destroyer Bistry, missile boats, and naval aviation.

As previously reported RIA Novosti referring to Pacific Fleet HQ, Petr Veliky will meet BSF flagship Guard missile cruiser Moskva to hold joint exercise.

BSF flagship Guard missile cruiser Moskva sailed off Sevastopol on April 9 to participate in exercises held in the World Ocean. Cruiser Moskva is the lead ship of Project 1164 Atlant which comprised first six Soviet cruisers powered by gas turbines. In Feb 1983 the cruiser was commissioned into Red Banner's Black Sea Fleet.

Cruiser Petr Veliky is the world's biggest non-carrying warship. The cruiser is designed for destruction of large sea surface targets, antiaircraft and antisubmarine defense of naval formations in distant regions of the World Ocean.

In 1998, having passed trials the nuclear-powered cruiser was delivered to Russian Navy. Petr Veliky has standard displacement of about 24,000 tons; total displacement is 26,000 tons. Powerful nuclear reactor enables to accelerate up to 31 knots (60 kph). The cruiser's length is 251 meters; beam is 28.5 meters; height is 59 meters; crew is over 800 men.

Basic weapon of the cruise is antiship supersonic missiles P-700 Granit (3M-45 Shipwreck). 20 Granit missiles are mounted under top deck with elevation of 60 degrees. The ship is also armed with various state-of-the-art weapons capable to destroy submarines, surface and aerial targets. Petr Veliky has no analogs worldwide.