Russian Frigate Forces German Vessel Away from Oil Tanker in Baltic Sea

The Russian Baltic Fleet frigate "Supryazitelni" pushed a German Coast Guard vessel away from the oil tanker Kira K while it was transiting the Vymarn Belt Strait in the Baltic Sea.

The Russian navy ship was escorting the Panama-flagged tanker when the German ship Bayreuth attempted to approach. In response, the frigate increased its speed and positioned itself between the unwanted visitor and the tanker, warning the German vessel not to come closer.

The warning was issued in English, according to the Iltalehti newspaper. The German ship understood the message, subsequently reducing its speed and altering its course.

Observers from the Greenpeace organization, including Ukrainians, as well as members of the German Bundestag, the European Parliament, and journalists, monitored the attempted interception of the tanker.

Details on the Frigate Supryazitelni

The frigate Supryazitelni was the first ship produced in the Project 20380 series. It entered service with the Russian Baltic Fleet in 2011. In 2012, it was awarded the honorary title "Guard Ship," a designation inherited from two previous vessels bearing the same name: an anti-submarine ship of the Black Sea Fleet and a Project U-7 destroyer that became a guard ship in 1943.

Specifications and Armaments

The frigate has a displacement between 2,000 and 2,200 tons. Its dimensions include a length of approximately 104.5 meters, a beam of 11.1 meters, and a draft of 3.7 meters. It can reach a maximum speed of 27 knots (about 50 km/h) and has a cruising range of 4,000 nautical miles (around 7,400 km) at a standard speed of 14 knots.

The crew consists of roughly 100 personnel, and the vessel can remain at sea for up to 15 consecutive days.

Propulsion and Combat Systems

The frigate uses a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system powered by four 16D49 diesel engines delivering a total output of 24,000 horsepower (17.9 megawatts). It is equipped with two propeller shafts.

Armaments include a 100 mm A-190 naval gun, two AK-630M close-in weapon systems for air defense, and eight 3M24 "Uran" anti-ship missiles. The ship also features 12 vertical launch system (VLS) cells for the Redut air defense system, capable of firing 9M96E and 9M100 missiles.

Anti-submarine warfare capabilities are provided by two quadruple 330 mm torpedo tubes for Paket-NK torpedoes, which target submarines and incoming torpedoes. The frigate also has a flight deck for operating a Ka-27 helicopter.

Stealth and Electronic Warfare

The frigate is constructed using stealth technology to reduce its radar signature, making it less detectable. It is equipped with TK-25E-5 electronic countermeasure systems and devices for deploying decoy flares.