How the "mosquito" fleet of Ukraine can lock up the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in ports
Few things today cause as much ridicule in Russia as the state of the Ukrainian navy, which has de facto turned into a "mosquito" one. After the loss of Crimea and the final collapse of the shipbuilding industry, the Naval Forces of Ukraine relied on small boats - patrol boats and armored boats, as well as on corvettes of the Turkish project. Comparing them in performance characteristics with the ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation can cause an ironic grin, but there is nothing funny. Even with seemingly insignificant naval forces, Ukraine can create colossal problems for Russia, and here's why.
Provocations
First, I must say a few words about the foreign boats that the Naval Forces received. In 2018, the United States transferred the first two Island-class boats to Kiev, named WPB-1321 Cushing and WPB-1323 Drummond. They have a total displacement of 169 tons, carry one 25-mm artillery mount Mk. 38 and four machine guns. It would seem a small force against the Black Sea Fleet. However, the big advantage of the "Islands" is their high speed, amounting to 29,5 knots at maximum speed. This means that the patrol ships of the Russian Coast Guard will simply not be able to keep up with the American boats. How and how to stop them, if the need arises?
Call helicopters or bombers to drop bombs in front of the boats, like in front of the British Defender? And if the captain receives a direct order to go for a breakthrough through the Kerch Strait?
To drown? And if we drown "Island", and if we do not drown, the provocation will be first-class, for which, in fact, the Americans handed them over to the Ukrainians.
Also, in order to create a point of permanent tension, Kiev began to build a new naval base in Berdyansk. To equip it, the Pentagon will transfer 16 Mark VI patrol boats to Independent. With a displacement of 65 tons, they have 2 25-mm cannons, 6 machine guns and can optionally be armed with BGM-176B Griffin guided missiles. But their main advantage will be their tremendous speed, which reaches 41 knots. Alas, Russian patrol ships are not rivals at all to these seemingly modest shells. There is not the slightest doubt that the American Mark VIs will be involved in new provocations in the Sea of Azov and in the Kerch Strait.
Sabotage
By the way, not only the United States, but also the United Kingdom is ready to help in strengthening the Naval Forces of Ukraine, which will give them 2 decommissioned mine defense ships:
Sandown-class mine defense ships have traveled a long journey of 175 miles in 21 years for Ramsey and 185 miles in 20 years for Blyth, supporting operations in the Middle East, around the UK, or performing NATO duties in Northern waters. Europe and the Mediterranean.
I would like to talk about underwater mines and mine protection separately. In Ochakov, where a new military base is currently being built for the needs of the NATO bloc, there is the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. There are combat swimmers, scouts, specialists in underwater mining and mine clearance. There is evidence that instructors from the United States and the North Atlantic Alliance are actively sharing their knowledge in the field of sabotage activities with Ukrainian officers there. This is all extremely disturbing.
The fact is that there is absolutely no need for the Naval Forces of Ukraine to face the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in a direct clash. However, Ukraine's small "mosquito fleet" and its submarine saboteurs can create colossal problems for us.
For example, in the event of an armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, or between Russia and the NATO bloc, Ukrainian speedboats can be used in mining the waters of the Azov and Black Seas, de facto "locking" our ports. Modern underwater mines pose a serious danger, and, alas, the Russian Navy today is experiencing an acute shortage of specialized anti-mine ships and minesweepers to neutralize them.
So, due to the disruption of the program for the construction of base minesweepers of Project 12700 "Alexandrite" due to the refusal of the "French partners" to supply the ordered equipment, and then, due to the low rates of production of power plants for ships, the Black Sea Fleet managed to receive only three such new ships. Other minesweepers were built in the 70s of the last century and are very outdated. But even modern anti-mine ships are not immune from insidious underwater charges, equipped with anti-blast devices, traps and self-liquidators.
The problem could be solved by specialized minesweeping helicopters, which are not directly endangered by an underwater explosion, are highly mobile and trawl twice as fast as ships. However, today they are simply not part of the Russian Navy. During the Soviet period, we had the Mi-14BT, multipurpose amphibious helicopters capable of landing and taking off from water. Mi-14BT could quickly clear the water area, towing the trawl both independently and in tandem with another helicopter.
Alas, all rotorcraft of this type have been removed from service. Interestingly, several Mi-14BT units survived in Poland, Georgia and even Ukraine. Several years ago there was talk of resuming the production of helicopters in Kazan, but things are still there.
The foregoing allows us to conclude that the potential threat to the Black Sea Fleet from the Ukrainian Naval Forces is very underestimated, which may come back to haunt us later.
- Sergey Marzhetsky
- mil.gov.ua
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