KALININGRAD, October 22. /TASS/. A group of warships of the Russian Baltic Fleet comprising the corvettes Soobrazitelny and Stoiky, the medium sea tanker Kola and the sea tug Konetsky have set off for a long-distance voyage in the North Atlantic, Fleet spokesman Roman Martov said on Monday.
"A group of warships of the Baltic Fleet has left the Fleet’s man naval base of Baltiysk for a voyage in distant waters to accomplish planned missions in the North Atlantic. Aboard the corvettes are Ka-27PS anti-submarine warfare helicopters and the naval group’s crews comprise marine infantry units that have undergone special training," the spokesman said.
During the voyage, the warships’ crews will accomplish various combat training assignments, carry out joint communications, air defense and anti-submarine defense drills, and also replenish supplies at sea by various methods, he said.
The crews of shipborne helicopters of the Fleet’s naval aviation that are based on the corvettes will perform flights in the Atlantic Ocean and practice searching for a notional enemy’s submarines, detecting surface targets and carrying out search and rescue operations, he noted.
"The voyage’s basic task is to ensure naval presence and demonstrate the [Russian Navy] St. Andrew’s flag in various parts of the Atlantic," the Baltic Fleet spokesman said.