Russia’s northern Fleet to begin final naval exercises in 2013

The forces of the Russian Northern Fleet will begin several drills, “which will be held on September 21-25 and will become the main final event of fleet’s combat training in 2013,” a press officer of the Western Military District for the Northern Fleet told Itar-Tass. “About 2,500 servicemen, up to 30 warships and logistic support vessels, more than 50 units of military hardware, 20 airplanes and helicopters are involved in the naval exercises,” the press service reported. The naval exercises will drill planning and command of the troops of the Northern Fleet, rebuff of a landing of the marines and a search-and-rescue operation. “At maritime firing ranges in the Barents Sea separate ships and ship-based groupings of the fleet will drill air defence actions, search for and tracking of submarines of a imaginary enemy, use of anti-submarine and anti-ship systems and will drill artillery fire suppression of the coastal targets in a landing of the marines,” the press service said. The naval exercises “will focus on rescue operations and aid to ships and vessels hypothetically in distress.” “The coast guard troops of the Northern Fleet reinforced by an airborne formation transferred to the Kola Peninsula from central Russia will drill the rebuff of a landing of marine cadets of an imaginary enemy amid the anti-landing defence of the coast,” the press officer added. At the naval exercises “the commanders will acquire the practice of command of the troops with the use of modern automated control systems,” he said.