MOSCOW, September 8. /TASS/. Warships of the Caspian flotilla have taken to the sea within the snap combat readiness check of the Central Military District launched on Monday, chief of the Russian Navy’s combat training department, Rear Admiral Viktor Kochemazov, said on Tuesday.
"Within the framework of a surprise inspection of troops and forces of the Central Military District, warships, boats and support vessels of the Caspian flotilla have moved from the permanent deployment bases in Astrakhan and Makhachkala to the Caspian Sea dispersal areas," Kochemazov said.
According to him, the navy men have drilled various algorithms of action fulfilling combat tasks during the inspection. They also had the shipboard damage control drills and a number of other exercises.
"The inspection put to test watch officers’ knowledge and skills in ships’ navigation and manoeuvring in formation during the fulfilment of tasks in marine areas within the tactical groups. The officer personnel drilled the organisation of anti-aircraft and anti-mine defence at sea. The support vessels’ readiness for emergency and rescue operations and resources’ provision to the tactical group of ships in the Caspian Sea has also been checked," the official said.
The Central Military District’s snap combat readiness check is conducted from September 7 to 12, in the run-up to the Center-2015 strategic maneuvers, which are to begin on September 14. The inspection of the military also involves aircraft of other military districts, the Airborne Forces and Military Transport Aviation. In total, the drills involve about 95,000 troops.