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 Marines-aka Naval Infantry

Amid this weeks conflicting news reports about Russia sending ships loaded with marines to Syria, I thought that I would spend some time in this update covering the Russian Naval Infantry. 

The Naval Infantry was officially formed in 1705, and has fought in every major conflict since then. 

Naval Infantry at the battle of Stalingrad

It is a small organization consisting of around 12000 men. They don't often use heavy weapons and are meant to be used as an initial strike force that would later be reinforced. 

In wartime they would seize strategically important islands and port facilities. 

Each major fleet has at least one regiment of Naval Infantry. 

If actually sent to Syria, these troops would be used to increase the security at the port of Tartus, and help in the evacuation of Russian citizens. 

Syria Update

I wanted to update the situation in Syria as it concerns the Russian Navy. As we all know Syria has a serious domestic crisis on its hands. Russia is concerned about its influence in the region, as well as protecting the port facilities in Tartus, Syria. In a bold statement the Russian General Staff announced,

“The Mediterranean Sea is a zone of the Black Sea Fleet responsibility. Hence, warships may go there in the case it is necessary to protect the Russian logistics base in Tartous, Syria. Several warships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including large landing ships with marines aboard, are fully prepared to go on the voyage,”

While many could see this as a sign that the Russian's are trying to escalate the situation by helping the Syrian government, I see it as simply a move to protect Russian assets in the port of Tartus.

Here is a link to the article.

On Friday I will provide a history update instead of the usual news update. That is if everything remains as is.

Syria and the Russian Navy

Once again it's Friday and we are ready for the end of week news.  The big news out of Russia this week has been the sale of attack helicopters to Syria, with the US condemning the sale and Russia defending it. So how does this effect the Russian Navy? The Russian Navy maintains a port complex in the Syrian city of Tartus. This base is very important from a prestige and logistical point of view. If the current Syrian regime were to fall, Russia is very worried about losing its influence. 

Other News:

Yuri Dolgorukiy surfacing during sea trials.

The Yuri Dolgorukiy put to sea to finish sea trials. The article is in Russian.

Yekaterinburg on fire while in drydock

It will take up to two years to repair the ballistic missile submarine Yekaterinburg, which was damaged in a fire in December. Again the article is in Russian. 

Russians in Syria

It was reported by RIA Novosti that the Russian Navy will maintain a presence off the coast of Syria.

This is in response to the large number of US, British, and French warships currently operating in the area.

At the beginning of the month the Russian Navy dispatched the destroyer Smetlivy to the area.

It is reported that this ship intends to make a port call in Tartus, Syria.



Smetlivy, Kashin class destroyer



Other Russian warships are reportedly making preperations in order to maintain the presence.

I believe that all of this is connected with the Russian need to maintain its past spheres of influence.

 Syria was an important ally during the Soviet period, and still is a major purchaser of Russian military technology.

Here are the links to the articles:

English- http://en.rian.ru/world/20120413/172799962.html
Russian- http://news.rambler.ru/13560666/

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