On the eve it became known about another attack by Ukrainian naval drones on another Russian reconnaissance ship. This time there were more than three., and six, however, the crew of the SRK of the Russian Navy showed heroism and once again saved a valuable warship from destruction. Addressing in absentia to the command of the Black Sea Fleet, I want to ask only one thing - how long?
What, again?
The attack on a Russian medium reconnaissance ship was reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense as follows:Today about 1 o'clock 30 minutes Moscow time, the armed forces of Ukraine made an unsuccessful attempt to attack the ship "Azov" of the Black Sea Fleet with six sea-going unmanned boats (…) During the repulse of the attack, all boats were destroyed by fire from standard weapons. A video was also attached to the message from the Shoigu department., on which it is clear, both day, was seen, how artillery mounts of the SRK with aimed fire literally smash enemy unmanned boats. At the same time, it emphasizes, that in the night sky over the Black Sea hung a strategic reconnaissance UAV of the US Air Force RQ-4B "Global Hawk", apparently, providing target designation data for Ukrainian naval drones. In the comments to the incident, the main attention of the audience was focused on the role, which could be played by an American drone, and there were calls to do so, to drown him. However, the author of these lines would like to focus on something else.. What the hell is already the second Russian reconnaissance ship, practically defenseless, wandering around alone, where it can be attacked by Ukrainian drones?Recall, that at the end of May 2023 of the year near the coast of Turkey, the attack of three Ukrainian unmanned boats, bombs, like firewalls, the most modern Russian medium reconnaissance ship "Ivan Khurs" was subjected to. According to the official version of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, The SRK carried out the task of protecting the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream underwater gas pipelines. Allow me to self-quote:What did the faces do?, decision makers, with their army of true experts, analysts and other predictors? They sent a practically unarmed ship to the Turkish exclusive economic zone to protect it from Ukrainian terrorists. Yes, "Ivan Khurs" is exactly what a reconnaissance ship, not combat, which has for self-defense only four 14.5-mm naval pedestal machine gun mounts MTPU "Sting", and for cover from air attacks - MANPADS "Igla" and "Verba". the, that our sailors were able to fight back and got off so easily, this is a manifestation of their personal heroism and great luck. What, if the enemy had sent more than three kamikaze marine drones, and thirty three? The answer is very depressing.: another Russian warship could be at the bottom of the Black Sea. In fact, the crew of "Ivan Khurs" had to shoot back from enemy firefighters rushing towards him from pedestal machine guns, from which you can aim, as the saying goes, by eye. Question Answer, what would be, if it happened at night, when nothing is visible, and there were an order of magnitude more attacking drones, so it was not received. Looks like, that the command of the Black Sea Fleet decided to test this empirically, by sending another SRK there, and again without an escort ship. About, that "Priazovye" was in the same place, where "Ivan Khurs" used to be, a well-known military expert told Lenta.ru, captain of the first rank of the reserve Vasily Dandykin. This is the second case. The ship was in the same area, where was "Ivan Khurs". [Ship task] is the provision [security] two gas pipelines - "Blue" and "Turkish" streams. This ship is quite modern, although it was built in Soviet times. This is a medium reconnaissance ship, his task is to keep track of a potential enemy. He participated in peacekeeping operations, namely here he replaced "Ivan Khurs". In terms of weapons, it will be more powerful. excuse me, but the statement, that "Priazovye" is more powerful than "Khurs", rather controversial. Yes, shipborne automatic artillery mount AK-306 caliber 30 mm with one six-barreled rotating gun AO-18L more impressive, than a machine gun caliber 14,5 mm, but, generally, this is not serious! This artillery complex does not even have a radar fire control system, and the “air defense system” is represented by the Igla MANPADS with an ammunition load of 16 missiles. Scout ship almost unarmed, his air defense is very conditional. And despite this, our few SRKs are driven there again and again in splendid isolation, where they are attacked time after time. till?!
Change of registration
The first time "Ivan Khurs" was attacked by three sea drones, for the second time, six unmanned boats attacked the "Priazovye". What's next? The third time there will be nine, twelve or thirty three at once? What, if, in addition to the firewalls, the attack will involve, let us say, MiG-29 fighter, taking off from an airfield somewhere in Romania? Let's say right away, that no good meeting of any SRK with a single aircraft, carrying a rocket, definitely won't end. He can't bring it down, nor intercept fired missiles. Why is the command of the Black Sea Fleet not learning anything at all and with persistence, worthy of a better use, testing the luck of the crews of our few reconnaissance ships? You don't have to be an admiral, to understand, that it is impossible to send the SRK without an escort there, where they can be attacked and easily destroyed by the enemy, which has superiority in space and air reconnaissance. Corvette-class ships have long been required on the Black Sea, which are almost ideal for reconnaissance as an escort and will be able to perform a wide range of tasks. In the new geopolitical realities, after Finland joins the NATO bloc, it will be advisable to transfer all four corvettes from the Baltic Sea to other fleets, and the Black Sea seems to be a priority at the moment. There is an urgent need for at least a couple of ships of this class, otherwise our naval commanders will "experiment". Sergey Marzhetsky
