BE-12 Chaika (Nato:Mail)

This is an ASW aircraft that entered service during the Soviet Union and continued to serve into the new century.  It is believed that several of the aircraft are still operational with the Black Sea fleet.

The Mail looks like it is a relic of Wold War II, but it if fact entered the fleet in 1960.

150 of the aircraft were built, with its primary mission being ASW and maritime patrol. 

The Be-12 is an amphibious aircraft that is often referred to as a flying boat. 

In addition to serving in the Soviet Navy and later the Russian Navy, the Be-12 served with a number of other navies, including Egypt and Syria. 

Russia is currently testing a new ASW aircraft and with its appearance the last of the Mail's should be retired. 

Tartus, Syria

This city has been in the news a lot lately. I have heard of Tartus often in articles about the Russian Navy, and knew that it was a port facility that the Russian Navy often used. What I didn't know about was the history of how and why the Russian Navy maintained a presence in Tartus.

Russian facilities in Tartus

The Soviet Navy first began using Tartus in the 1970's, along with other ports in the Mediterranean Sea. At the time the Soviet Navy maintained 5th Mediterranean Squadron. Eventually only Tartus was used for support and repair of vessels that were deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. 

Russian and Syria naval officers in Tartus

After the fall of the Soviet Union the Russian navy very rarely sent and ships out into the Mediterranean Sea, but they still maintained a presence in Tartus. 

Through various agreements with the Syrian government the Russian Navy is currently expanding and modernizing its facilities in Tartus. 

Currently the facilities are supporting anti-piracy operations.

Russia has invested a lot of time and money into the facility in Tartus, and I believe that with the current situation in Syria the Russian Navy is worried about losing that investment. 

Russian Troops in Syria

      This week there were reports that Russian troops had been sent to Syria in order to assist the Syrian government with what they are calling a terrorist insurgency.  When I first saw these reports my attention was immediately peaked, and I couldn’t believe that Russia had actually escalated the situation by sending troops. As I looked around the internet it seems that the news agencies overreacted to a report of a Russian tanker docking in Tartus, Syria with a security force on board. 



Iman oil tanker



 He is a quote from Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, about the situation:

“As the defense ministry said, it is an oil tanker. We don’t have any warships in the Syrian regional waters. There are no Russian special forces aboard the oil tanker…but we should be aware that aboard these kinds of tankers, there is always a force to protect it against any attack. Ships of the Black Sea fleet are operating within the framework of an international plan for anti-piracy,” Lavrov said.

Here is a good read about the situation.

 And in other news:

The Bulava missile will enter service in October, after undergoing more tests

                                      

    Submarines: The Quiet Bulwark of the Russian Navy