Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend Bri

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend Brisbane G20 summit

The Australian defence ministry is tracking a fleet of Russia warships sailing in international waters near its coast.

It is believed the vessels, currently in the Coral Sea near Papua New Guinea, could be heading to Brisbane for next week's G20 summit, which Vladimir Putin will attend.

Australian P3 Orion surveillance planes have been deployed to monitor the ships, along with a naval frigate, the HMAS Stuart.

Russia's Pacific flagship, the Varyag, is leading the contingent south, accompanied by destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov and one of the world's most powerful tugs, the Fotiy Krylov.

A supply tanker called Boris Butoma is accompanying them towards Australia's east coast.

A spokesperson for the Australian Defence Force told Sky News that Russian ships have been sent to international events before, including the 2009 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Singapore and the former President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to San Francisco in 2010.

He added: "The movement of these vessels is entirely consistent with provisions under international law for military vessels to exercise freedom of navigation in international waters.

"Defence regularly undertakes maritime surveillance patrols in the approaches to Australia."

Defence sources told The Australian that the move was aimed at showing an "aura of power" around Putin at the G20 summit and distracted from agenda items at the conference of world leaders.

The ships are expected to stay in international waters as part of what is known as a "high seas transit" for the leader, which is permitted under international law.

Russian warship Marshal Shaposhnikov during exercises in the Indian Ocean. Russian warship Marshal Shaposhnikov is heading towards Australia A report by a London based think-tank earlier this week chronicled a "highly disturbing" catalogue of Russian military encounters with Nato and allies over the last eight months.

The European Leadership Network (ELN) said Russia is risking military escalation across Europe with Cold War-style military "brinkmanship", following 39 "near-misses" involving its planes and ships where military confrontation or the loss of life was narrowly avoided.

Researchers said the upsurge in activity suggested the Russian armed forces were under orders to be more aggressive towards Nato and its allies, possibly to test the military response and serve "propaganda-related and political aims" to intimidate other nations.

The approach of the Russian ships comes after the Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, met with Putin at the Apec summit in Beijing.

He had vowed to "shirtfront" the Russian president over allegations that Russia had armed separatist rebels who allegedly shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine.

Children were among the 38 Australian citizens killed in the disaster, along with the rest of the 298 passengers and crew on board.

But Putin's press secretary said the meeting with Abbott on Tuesday went "without harsh phrasing" and the leaders agreed to support a "genuine investigation into the causes of the catastrophe".

Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend Brisbane G20 summit - Australasia - World - The Independent

 

[sgarg]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Interesting. Some gunboat diplomacy from Russia!

 

[Kshatriya87]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

They still in international waters though. And this is not the first time as per Australia. They just want to flex some muscles as China did with India during Xi's visit.

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Russia sends warships towards Australia before G20 meeting

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

The G20 Summit is promising to be explosive:

"One of the points I tried to make to Putin is that Russia would be so much more attractive if it was aspiring to be a superpower for peace and freedom and prosperity, if it was trying to be a superpower for ideas and for values, instead of trying to recreate the lost glories of tsarism or the old Soviet Union," he said.

Tony Abbott told Vladimir Putin to stop trying to 'recreate lost glories' during APEC 'shirtfront' meeting - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

British Prime Minister David Cameron has compared Vladimir Putin's Russia to Nazi Germany, before a face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader at the G20 Summit in Australia.

"Russian action in Ukraine is unacceptable. We have to be clear about what we are dealing with. It is a large state bullying a smaller state in Europe.

"We have seen the consequences of that in the past and we should learn the lessons of history and make sure we don't let it happen again," he said during a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Ukraine Crisis: David Cameron Compares Vladimir Putin's Russia to Nazi Germany Ahead of G20 Summit

op:

 

[pmaitra]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Newspaper front page calls on Mr Putin to apologise for the downing of flight MH17 - 14 November
Many Australians accuse Mr Putin of being behind the downing of flight MH17

Source: BBC News - G20 summit: Russia sanctions 'undermine trade' - Putin

Sorry, Aussies, this is not a game of cricket. You guys are barking up the wrong tree. If you want to hear "sorry," you gotta find the one responsible for shooting down MH17.

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

No love lost there between the Australians and Russians.

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Interesting tidbit, the Russian flotilla off Australia includes an ocean going tug boat... in case one of the cruiser and destroyer conks up (as usual)?

'Show of force' as Australia tracks Russian ships | Daily Mail Online

Australian media reports said they include a "heavily armed" cruiser and destroyer, a tug boat and a refuelling vessel.

Welcome Australians to Putin's Comedy Show!

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

This is the tugboat insurance of the Russian flotilla, Fotiy Krylov:

 

[apple]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Interesting tidbit, the Russian flotilla off Australia includes an ocean going tug boat... in case one of the cruiser and destroyer conks up (as usual)?

That's good. Was worried they were going to run out of coal. It's a long row back to Vladivostok

 

[Ray]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

From links it is said that Russia's TASS news agency reported late last month that the battle group, led by a Slava-class cruiser that is capable of carrying nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, left from Vladivostok on October 23.

The fleet is made up of the "Varyag" cruiser, a destroyer named "Marshal Shaposhnikov", a salvage and rescue tug and a replenishment oiler.

The reality of tug boats under the protection of a fleet has many reasons.

It is well known that tug boats could be there to assist the submarines to do a lift on the undersea cables in the region so that eavesdropping devices and hydrophones can be installed. That is not a new happening at all.

The tug Foty Krylov is said to be one of the world's most powerful tug boats.

Maybe that is why such a huge surveillance is on to check if there are submarines too or some activities that are not in Australia's interest,

One should not take the Russian move as something of a joke.

There must be some method to what appears madness and one should sit up and take note and analyse.

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Russia's TASS news agency reported late last month that the battle group, led by a Slava-class cruiser that is capable of carrying nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, left from Vladivostok on October 23.
The fleet is made up of the "Varyag" cruiser, a destroyer named "Marshal Shaposhnikov", a salvage and rescue tug and a replenishment oiler.

The reality of tug boats under the protection of a fleet has many reasons.

It is well known that tug boats could be there to assist the submarines to do a lift on the undersea cables in the region so that eavesdropping devices and hydrophones can be installed. That is not a new happening at all.

One should not take the Russian move as something of a joke.

There must be some method to what appears madness and one should sit up and take note and analyse.

It could be, but the more logical explanation for the thug is that it's an insurance against breakdown in any of the ships of the flotilla since they are too far away from their base... Here's an article on the role of the Fotiy Krylov in the Russian Pacific Fleet that is sure to rile up emotions among Russophiles:

Oceangoing Tug

The most important ships in the Russian Navy right now are its fleet of oceangoing tugboats. Whenever a large Russian Navy ship travels abroad two other ships accompany it: a tanker to provide fuel and an oceangoing tug in case it breaks down.

The issue is reliability. Many of Russia's older ships are seriously out of date, powered by thirty-year old propulsion systems that are unreliable. Sending a powerful ship such as the Admiral Kuznetsov, Admiral Vinogradov or the Pyotr Velikiy abroad on a show the flag mission would be counterproductive if the ship broke down and had to be rescued.

Russia's tugboat crews serve in the background and don't enjoy the privileges of sailing abroad. In 2010, the Russian Pacific Fleet sent its flagship Varyag to visit San Francisco. The large, imposing cruiser docked and its sailors scrambled ashore to buy cell phones and designer clothes. The crew of the salvage tug Fotiy Krylov were not as lucky: although the (comparatively) little ship accompanied Varyag all the way from Vladivostok, the tug remained outside the Golden Gate and never docked in the city.

It's safe to say that until a new generation of large surface ships with more reliable propulsion systems enters service, tugboats will continue to be among the most important ships in the Russian Navy.

Russian news: Russia Has A Badass Navy - Russia Insider

So you think the Fotiy Krylov was also repairing undersea cable in San Francisco when it accompanied the Varyag there?

 

[Ray]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

It could be, but the more logical explanation for the thug is that it's an insurance against breakdown in any of the ships of the flotilla since they are too far away from their base... Here's an article on the role of the Fotiy Krylov in the Russian Pacific Fleet that is sure to rile up emotions among Russophiles:



So you think the Fotiy Krylov was also repairing undersea cable in San Francisco when it accompanied the Varyag there?

Lao Tsu had said -"There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent."

When China was lulled the world by selling the idea that was in a 'Peaceful Rise' phase the US slept and even assisted with technology for dollars.

And now the US regrets it since China is about to breast the tape ahead of the US.

Laugh as you might, but he laughs best who laughs last.

I would not take Russia or China's activities lightly, given their forays into changing the world scenario.

So you think the Fotiy Krylov was also repairing undersea cable in San Francisco when it accompanied the Varyag there?

Let me assist you to improve your vision of undersea cables around the world.

I hope you have now got it, whether there are undersea cables off California.

Further, adversary's tugs don't 'repair', they 'intercept'.

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Lao Tsu had said -"There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent."

When China was lulled the world by selling the idea that was in a 'Peaceful Rise' phase the US slept and even assisted with technology for dollars.

And now the US regrets it since China is about to breast the tape ahead of the US.

Laugh as you might, but he laughs best who laughs last.

I would not take Russia or China's activities lightly, given their forays into changing the world scenario.



Let me assist you to improve your vision of undersea cables around the world.

I hope you have now got it, whether there are undersea cables off California.

Further, adversary's tugs don't 'repair', they 'intercept'.

The role of Russian Navy's ocean going tugs are widely discussed in military forums. They always accompany Navy ships whenever they are deployed far from their bases. Of course you are familiar with Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier and its accompanying tug?

Anyway, what is laughable here is the penchant for antics on Putin's part. It's like he has a compulsive behavior to be seen by everybody as macho. He goes to Australia and he must be the most macho there. I say what a waste of Russian tax payer money (not that I care). The most hilarious part there is the fact that Putin's bluster (Russian Pacific Fleet) can only sail close to Australia if they are accompanied by a tug boat...

 

[apple]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Lao Tsu had said -"There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent."

Yeah, because Russia is Australia's opponent

Russia, the legitimate "World power" with "competent" military and intelligence capabilities.

 

[jouni]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

As always, this tugboat is built in Finland. Without us Russia is going nowhere. I hope they at least have clean and new uniforms when they go on shore.

 

[Ray]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

The role of Russian Navy's ocean going tugs are widely discussed in military forums. They always accompany Navy ships whenever they are deployed far from their bases.

And what are the conclusions of the wide discussion in military forums?

Heard about the innocuous 'trawlers' in the Cold War days?

Technically speaking – any Cold War naval vessel was a potential spy ship, but the Soviet ships that were of the greatest concern to the U.S. Navy were those pesky, little, decrepit looking fishing trawlers that were interfering with naval operations worldwide. We called them AGIs (Auxiliary General Intelligence). The Soviets simply called them "trawlers" (tral'shchiki). We gave them credit for being covert, but the Chief of the Soviet Navy (Admiral Konstantin Makarov) told me in 1988 "It's all my government would give us. We wanted better ships, but were told they were too expensive." To the U.S. Navy – these small, ubiquitous AGIs were a genuine pain in the barnacles. They sat off all of our major base areas- worldwide. A U.S. ballistic missile submarine could not enter or leave its base in Spain, or Scotland without being harassed by a Soviet AGI.. Our aircraft carriers could not conduct flight operations without an AGI cutting across its bow or sitting in the middle of it's bombing zones. I increasingly came to believe that they just wanted to taunt us and ruin our day.

�John Murphys - Cold War Warriors:� Spy Ships, Theirs and Ours

They were initially taken to be merely rusty trawlers and then...........................................!!!!!!!!!

Rusting tubs, but a powerful weapon nonetheless.

Yesterday's trawlers could be today's tug - both apparently looking like jokes!

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

As always, this tugboat is built in Finland. Without us Russia is going nowhere. I hope they at least have clean and new uniforms when they go on shore.

I don't think they go ashore that much on foreign voyages. According to observers Russian tug boat crews don't go ashore much on foreign voyages as they are hidden from public view. They are the part of the Russian Navy (most important) that the Russians do not want the World to see...

 

[Ray]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

Yeah, because Russia is Australia's opponent

Russia, the legitimate "World power" with "competent" military and intelligence capabilities.

Indeed.

Russia is no friend of the US and its vassals and surrogates.

Russia is no superpower these days, but it wants to give the impression that it is.

 

[asianobserve]

Re: Russian warships heading for Australia as Putin prepares to attend

And what are the conclusions of the wide discussion in military forums?

Heard about the innocuous 'trawlers' in the Cold War days?



They were initially taken to be merely rusty trawlers and then...........................................!!!!!!!!!

Rusting tubs, but a powerful weapon nonetheless.

Yesterday's trawlers could be today's tug - both apparently looking like jokes!

It is not a matter of "could" anymore, these fleet tug boats are well known to accompany Russian Navy ships on long voyages as insurance against mechanical troubles on its warships.