On 10 September, the unit of warships and auxiliary vessels of the Northern Fleet, continuing the transition from the Yenisei Bay to the New Siberian Islands, met with the Vaygach nuclear-powered icebreaker in the Kara Sea, says press center of RF Defence Ministry.
The cruise’s leader Vice-Admiral Oleg Golubev, the Commander of the Kola Flotilla of All-Arms Forces, flew by a Ka-27PS helicopter from the board of the large ASW ship ‘Severomorsk’ to the icebreaker, where a meeting was held on further joint actions during the passage through the Straits of Matisen and Vilkitsky.
According to ice reconnaissance drifting ice floes and icebergs are observed in the straits.
The unit of ships and vessels of the Northern Fleet will pass through the ice-dangerous regions in the single column formation following the Vaigach nuclear-powered icebreaker.
On the eve, on 9 September, the Severomorsk major ASW ship carried out an exercise on guarding and defending the unit of ships and vessels which were crossing the sea space. During the exercise, the combat details of the AK-100 and AK-630 artillery systems fired on simulated air targets.
The sixth Arctic cruise of the Northern Fleet’s surface forces was begun on August 10 with going out from the NF main base of Severomorsk. The unit includes the large ASW ship Severomorsk, large landing ship Kondopoga, as well as auxiliary vessels: the tanker Sergei Osipov, rescue tug Pamir and lifting-and-mooring vessel KIL-164. On 9 September, the hydrographic vessel Senezh entered into the strength of the Northern Fleet's unit of ships and vessels.