"Russia May Deploy Permanent Mediterranean Task Force" Topic

Russia is considering deploying a permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean Sea. Such a task force will be commanded by the Black Sea Fleet and could consist of up to 10 combat and auxiliary ships deployed on rgathered from three Russian fleets. The deployment of Russian warships in the Mediterranean had been a subject of planning for some time, to secure the country's interests in the region. Russian warships have been deployed near Syria for the past six months. The vessels could rely on ports in Cyprus, Montenegro, Greece and Syria as resupply points….

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Interesting thought but I have to doubt whether they actually have the cash to make it happen. Or are they just planning to pull ten ships out of the Black Sea Fleet and anchor them in Syria or someplace?

Well, the last time the Black Sea fleet tried to move out of port to exercise in the Med they were only able to get one sub at least halfway there. The other ships were either short of crews, broke down, or were unable to leave their berths. This should be interesting.

The Soviets had a full-time Med squadron during the 1970s and 1980s, based out of Libya and Syria. It wasn't huge, but it was mainly symbolic and politically useful.

I guess they are planning to take up the slack when the USN curtails its European deployments. I've seen the reductions in operations forced by sequestration and its pretty brutal!

The Russians are not as bad off financially as they were after the wall fell. They are making a mint on Oil and Natural Gas production, which in turn is funding the rebirth of their military, thus the uptick in training activities not seen since the cold war. Their R&D has been picking up the pace as well.

I doubt the Syrian port option will be a viable one now, or in the near future.

Libya would be interesting, though I imagine they'd have to pay a lot for access there.

Perhaps Egypt as well, if they have the rubles.

I suppose they could ask the Italians, be funny to see USN and RusN ships 'homeported' at La Maddelena.

They have a secret plan to invade Monaco…Women, Cars and Cash, the new strategic target.

Last I read Russia's embarking on a serious rearmament plan.

New ships and overhauled ones have been joining all major fleet units for the last few years. They've even started upgrading the Caspian flotilla (e.g. deployment of 1 Gepard Class corvette).

And in other news in another thread, USN is curtailing a whole heap of deployments and training to USN aviators.

In the future having a deployed corvette with a 25mm gun will be major naval presence.

Lots of plans, but it'll be interesting to see if they pan out.

I guess as long as oil prices remain high, that may work, but if the global recession/depression takes hold with a vengeance, that could change quickly.

Seems to me dugout canoe building classes/seminars might be a good idea, for those with a little extra spare time.

I love it when people hype the 'growing naval might' of China and Russia. Our defense expenditure last year is over three times that of China and Russia combined, and even with sequestration that is unlikely to narrow by much.

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Here is some more information as to types and possible uses

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Just ran across a news item mentioning that Russia may loosen restrictions on arms sales to Libya, so it appears one or more of their ports may be in play.

I thought that the Russian Black Sea fleet is stationed in Ukraine? It could get interesting the next time Russia ups the gas price; Ukraine could counter by upping the Black Sea port rent…