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Russian missile frigate returns to Sevastopol after Mediterranean mission

The Admiral Makarov had operated as part of Russia’s Mediterranean taskforce since November

SEVASTOPOL, March 5. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet’s frigate Admiral Makarov has arrived at the home base in Sevastopol after accomplishing missions in the Mediterranean Sea, the Fleet’s press office reported on Tuesday.

The missile frigate had operated as part of Russia’s Mediterranean taskforce since November last year.

"An official ceremony was held in Sevastopol under the direction of Black Sea Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Alexei Moiseyev to welcome the ship’s return from its missions in distant waters. Frigate Commander Captain 2nd Rank Grigory Breyev reported to the fleet’s commander that the tasks assigned in the distant sea zone had been fulfilled successfully," the press office said.

In compliance with the planned rotation, the frigate Admiral Essen has replaced the Admiral Makarov in the Mediterranean Sea. The Admiral Essen passed through the Black Sea Straits on Monday.

The Admiral Makarov is the third Project 11356 blue-water frigate named after Imperial Russian Navy Commander, Oceanographer and Vice-Admiral Stepan Makarov. The latest frigate was delivered to the Navy and the naval flag was hoisted on the warship on December 27, 2017.

The Project 11356 frigates have a displacement of 4,000 tons, a length of 124.8 meters, a speed of 30 knots and a sea endurance of 30 days. They are armed with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, Shtil-1 surface-to-air missile complexes, A-190 100mm artillery guns, air defense artillery, rocket launchers and torpedoes and can also carry a deck-based Kamov Ka-27 (or Ka-31) helicopter.

The Soviet Navy’s 5th Mediterranean Squadron served as a prototype for the Russian Navy’s permanent Mediterranean taskforce operating at present. The 5th operational Soviet Squadron dealt with the tasks of naval presence in the Mediterranean theater of operations during the Cold War period.

Its main rival was the US Navy’s 6th Fleet. The Soviet Squadron was disbanded on December 31, 1992, a year after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

As it emerged in 2013, Russia was creating a new operational Mediterranean taskforce in its modern history. Russia’s new permanent taskforce is dealing with planned and emergency combat missions arising in the Mediterranean theater of operations, including warding off threats for Russia’s national and military security.

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