 Editor in Chief Bill   | 04 Aug 2023 6:21 a.m. PST |
…Yet video published online showed what appeared to be a partly sunken Russian Navy vessel being towed in the waters around Novorossiysk.Pro-war Telegram channels claimed the ship was the Olenegorsky Gornyak, which has been used to transport troops and military hardware into occupied Ukrainian ports… Moscow Times: link |
79thPA  | 04 Aug 2023 7:04 a.m. PST |
It's a lesson for all of the world's navies. |
| Editor in Chief Bill | 04 Aug 2023 7:07 a.m. PST |
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| Griefbringer | 04 Aug 2023 8:07 a.m. PST |
Checking from maps, Novorossiysk seems to be slightly to the east of the Kerch Straits. Considering that the Ukrainians were able to strike the Kerch bridge recently, it probably should not come as a surprise that their drones would be able to reach also Novorossiysk. |
| ROUWetPatchBehindTheSofa | 04 Aug 2023 9:23 a.m. PST |
The photos I've seen show it has a nasty list. It may be recoverable but I'd bet its going to need a lot of dry dock time. |
| Inch High Guy | 04 Aug 2023 11:27 a.m. PST |
It's a Ropucha-class LST. The Russians have two others of this class which were previously damaged, and they were not repaired because the Russians lack the parts to put them back into commission. With this sort of damage it is possible this one is effectively done as well. |
| 79thPA | 04 Aug 2023 11:30 a.m. PST |
It is about 50 years old, as well. |
 Legion 4 | 04 Aug 2023 11:56 a.m. PST |
Guess there are no lessons learned in the Russian military. |
| Bunkermeister | 04 Aug 2023 6:39 p.m. PST |
"In 2007, it was considered the best landing ship of the Northern Fleet." It might still be that. Looks like it was moving. It looks like there were spotlights shining on the drone boat. It does not look like there was any fire directed at the drone. Too bad for Ukraine there was no follow up attempt to do more damage. Hint, the best way to insure sinking is an attack at the same time from both sides. Makes it harder to counter-flood when you get hit. Mike Bunkermeister Creek |
| soledad | 05 Aug 2023 1:14 a.m. PST |
A tanker was hit today. It was transporting fuel for the russian army. It was hit in Ukranian territorial water. It seems to be seriously damaged. |
| Griefbringer | 05 Aug 2023 2:32 a.m. PST |
A tanker was hit today. It was transporting fuel for the russian army. It was hit in Ukranian territorial water. It seems to be seriously damaged. More specifically, it was hit around the Kerch Strait. On a related note, BBC has put out a brief article about Ukrainian sea drones: link |
| ROUWetPatchBehindTheSofa | 05 Aug 2023 2:45 a.m. PST |
Since if it was being used at all it will likely have been for cargo runs I don't suppose the Ukrainian's will care much one or the other as long as its out of action. Seems they have also shut the Kerch bridge again. |
| Griefbringer | 05 Aug 2023 3:12 a.m. PST |
I don't suppose the Ukrainian's will care much one or the other as long as its out of action. Getting it repaired and back into action would certainly take quite some time, and the rescue operation ties up resources, but if it makes it back to harbour it can also be salvaged for parts that can be used on other ships (or welded on top of old armoured tractors). Not sure if there is anything particularly valuable mounted on a transport craft that old. That said, speaking of sinking ships, how wide is the shipping lane under the Kerch bridge, and how deep is the water at that spot? Having a ship sinking in that spot might hinder the traffic a bit, though that would not be easy to implement. In any case, the threat of future strikes might make the Black Sea fleet a bit nervous. |
| LostPict | 05 Aug 2023 5:25 a.m. PST |
A Swarm of cheap USVs most be the stuff of Nightmares for the Russian navy. Can we go home, yet? |
