Pomor- 2012

The Russian-Norwegian joint naval exercise kicked off on the 11th of May. The Russian large anti-submarine ship Admiral Chabanenko and the Norwegian frigate Fridtjof Nansen left from the port of Severomorsk to conduct the drills. 

Together the ships covered more than 1000 nautical miles, completed 20 military tasks including firing of the artillery and conventional firing weapons, and worked on firefighting and life saving drill. 

The exercises concluded in the Norwegian port of  Bodo. 

On the last day of the exercise, representatives from the headquarters of the Northern Fleet held a ceremonial flag raising. The honor guard and an orchestra from the Northern Fleet paid their respects at a memorial for those who died  in World War II. 

During their time in the city the Russian sailors were given an opportunity to visit some of the local landmarks, including the aviation museum. 

Both sides agreed that the exercises were successful. 

Busy Busy

The busiest ships in the Russian Navy are the Udaloy class destroyers. 

These ships were designed and built for the Soviet Navy. They were intended to be primarily anti-submarine platforms, but have become all-purpose ships filling a variety of roles.  They have participated in anti-piracy operations, fishing ground protection, and most recently war games with maritime partners.

A single follow-on vessel of the Udaloy II class was commissioned in 1995. Other ships of this class were planned, but never finished. 

 The first of the Udaloy’s will soon be going in for major overhaul, probably to modernize them and give them a more balanced role.

In 2008 Admiral Chabanenko became the first Russian warship to transit the Panama Canal since World War II.

Admiral Chabanenko

Udaloy with missile hatchs open