Does the Baltic need Russian Varshavyankas?

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In recent years, militaryполитическая the situation around the Kaliningrad region is only heating up. Through the efforts of the NATO member states, the Baltic Sea and its shores have been turned potentially into one of the hottest spots in the world. The servicemen of the North Atlantic Alliance are regularly trained how to sink Russian ships, shoot down planes, blockade and storm Kaliningrad.

The Baltic Fleet of the Russian Federation is in a clear minority in relation to the combined forces of NATO. The main striking force of our Balts is the Kalibr cruise missiles, which are capable of striking surface and ground targets. However, the naval submarine component is frankly weak. To date, only one outdated submarine remains in service - the Dmitrov diesel-electric submarine of the Halibut project. The B-871 "Alrosa" should have strengthened it for a long time, but it is still being repaired in Sevastopol. There is a discussion in the expert community whether the appearance there of new Varshavyankas equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles can change the balance of power in the Baltic.



Varshavyanka is a surprisingly successful project. Due to the design features, they have an extremely quiet course, for which NATO submarines of this class were nicknamed the "Black Hole". Another great advantage is the ability to strike with Kalibr cruise missiles, which the Varshavyanki have repeatedly demonstrated in the Mediterranean. In a very short time, "Admiralty Shipyards" were able to build six submarines of this type for the Black Sea Fleet. Then a series of submarines for the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation was laid, which will be even more silent. In the Baltic, things are much more deplorable. Admiral Vladimir Valuev, ex-commander of the Baltic Fleet, bluntly stated two years ago:

In the Baltic, which is surrounded by nine countries, there are submarine forces in Germany, Poland, Sweden. If we analyze the situation, then without submarines, I think the task of carrying out operations by the Baltic Fleet in full is unrealistic.

The question is not entirely straightforward. On the one hand, the Baltic Sea is relatively shallow and semi-enclosed, lacking the necessary operational space in its water area. On the other hand, the emergence of new diesel-electric submarines, equipped with "Caliber", will give the Russian fleet additional firepower, and the low noise of submarines will force the potential enemy to strain harder. In addition, the "Varshavyanka" could be actively used in the exercises of the Baltic on the search and destruction of NATO submarine forces, increasing their combat training.

Despite this, according to the general director of Admiralty Shipyards, Alexander Buzakov, following the results of the Army-2020 forum, an agreement on the construction of Varshavyanka for the Baltic Fleet was never signed. The RF Ministry of Defense still prefers to save money. The expert community suggests that the “Black Holes” near Kaliningrad in the military department will be plugged by the transfer of new diesel-electric submarines from the Black Sea.

There are indeed grounds to think so. For example, two of our small missile ships (MRK) "Serpukhov" and "Zeleny Dol" of project 21631 "Buyan-M", which were originally built for the shallow Caspian Sea, were transferred to the Black Sea in the Crimea. From there they went to the shores of Syria, where they successfully fired off "Caliber" at the positions of the terrorists. After that, the command decided to transfer both RTOs to the Baltic, with which the small ships did an excellent job, although they went around Europe during the dangerous autumn-winter period, when serious storms occur on Biscay. It is quite possible that the same rotation will happen with Varshavyanka.
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  1. 123
    +1
    1 September 2020 15: 10
    In the Baltic, which is surrounded by nine countries, there are submarine forces in Germany, Poland, Sweden. If we analyze the situation, then without submarines, I think the task of carrying out operations by the Baltic Fleet in full is unrealistic.

    Do the Poles have a submarine fleet?

    Despite this, according to the general director of Admiralty Shipyards, Alexander Buzakov, following the results of the Army-2020 forum, an agreement on the construction of Varshavyanka for the Baltic Fleet was never signed. Russian Defense Ministry still prefers to save money

    Apparently, it's not about saving, they are waiting for the new project to be "finished" to a working state.
  2. +1
    1 September 2020 15: 43
    The Baltic Sea is so shallow and limited that today diesel-electric submarines and ships of the first rank are not needed, given the existing coastal bridgeheads (Kaliningrad and Leningrad). The main will be aviation and coastal anti-ship missiles, and small surface ships. Let's remember the Great Patriotic War, so the entire Red Banner Baltic Fleet was driven into the Gulf of Finland beyond Kronstadt, closed by minefields and practically did not operate throughout the war ... Today, with numerous enemy forces in the Baltic, history will repeat itself, and the large fleet has nothing to do, because they will quickly become targets. .. The strategy for long-range coastal weapons and aviation ... Therefore, the actions to equip the Baltic Fleet are correct ...
    1. 0
      3 September 2020 14: 09
      You confuse Black with Baltic. It is not as shallow as you think. It is not for nothing that Varshavian women are nicknamed Black Hole. That is why the Scandinavians ran off their feet last year in search of our Warsaw women. Even the corvette was ditched. NEEDED! Let me remind you that Varshavyanka carries a Caliber. All small BRITAIN is covered from the Danish coast!
      1. +1
        3 September 2020 15: 21
        In the Baltic, map in hand and with depths, refresh your knowledge ... Why should I climb the closed sea (access to the North Sea and Atlantic is tightly closed during wartime) and shallow water, when you can get everyone from the coast! You will also deepen your understanding on naval strategy ...
  3. -1
    1 September 2020 16: 40
    Does the Baltic need Russian Varshavyankas?

    And security is never too much. Especially with "calibers"! The main thing is to know when to stop.
  4. 0
    1 September 2020 17: 27
    They are needed not only in the Baltic, but also in the Potomac, near Manhattan.
    1. +1
      1 September 2020 20: 08
      That's just where they are needed. And the rest: many and different.
  5. +3
    2 September 2020 08: 43
    Auto RU. We are not Iraq or North Korea. Kaliningrad is no more vulnerable than California or Florida.
    Will the Poles pop? If we answer in full, let them appeal to the white Sahib from the ruins of Warsaw as much as they like. For as in an anecdote:

    - Petro, a tiger attacked your mother-in-law!
    - He attacked himself, let him fight back.
  6. +2
    4 September 2020 10: 28
    The submarine fleet of the BF of the Russian Federation is certainly needed, only persons who have no place in the army can argue the opposite ...
  7. 0
    5 August 2021 01: 10
    The Baltic Sea is located within the continental shelf. The average sea depth is 51 meters. In the areas of shoals, banks, near the islands, there are shallow depths (up to 12 meters). There are several basins in which depths reach 200 meters. The deepest basin is Landsort (58 ° 38 ′ N 18 ° 04 ′ E HGЯOL) with a maximum sea depth of 470 meters. It is not clear why write various nonsense. The same scribblers all the time argue about the fact that the aircraft carrier formation of the US Navy is trying to enter the Sea of ​​Azov and provide support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Just ridiculous, elementary ignorance of school geography lessons.