Black Sea Fleet
The Black Sea Fleet (Russian: Черноморский Флот, Chernomorsky Flot) is the fleet of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Mediterranean Sea.
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The fleet traces its history to its founding by Prince Potemkin on May 13, 1783. The Russian SFSR inherited the fleet in 1918; with the founding of the Soviet Union in 1922 it became part of the Soviet Navy. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 the Russian Federation inherited the Black Sea Fleet and most of its vessels.
The Black Sea Fleet has its official primary headquarters and facilities in the city of Sevastopol (Sevastopol Naval Base). The remainder of the fleet's facilities are based in various locations on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, including Krasnodar Krai, Rostov Oblast and Crimea. The current commander, Vice-Admiral Igor Vladimirovich Osipov, has held his position since May 2019.
History
The Black Sea Fleet is considered to have been founded by Prince Potemkin on May 13, 1783, together with its principal base, the city of Sevastopol. Formerly commanded by such legendary admirals as Dmitriy Senyavin and Pavel Nakhimov, it is a fleet of enormous historical and political importance for Russia. In 1790, Russian naval forces under the command of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov defeated the Turkish fleet at the Battle of Kerch Strait.[3]
From 1841 onward, the fleet was confined to the Black Sea by the London Straits Convention.
As a result of the Crimean War, one provision of the Treaty of Paris was that the Black Sea was to be a demilitarized zone like the Island of Åland in the Baltic Sea, although Russia subsequently renounced the treaty and reconstituted its naval strength and fortifications in the Black Sea.
The crew of the battleship Potemkin revolted in 1905 soon after the Navy's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. Lenin wrote that the Potemkin uprising had had a huge importance in terms of being the first attempt at creating the nucleus of a revolutionary army.
During World War I, there were a number of encounters between the Russian and Ottoman navies in the Black Sea. The Ottomans initially had the advantage due to having under their command the German battlecruiser SMS Goeben, but after the two modern Russian dreadnoughts Imperatritsa Mariya and Imperatritsa Ekaterina Velikaya had been built in Mykolaiv, the Russians took command of the sea until the Russian government collapsed in November 1917. German submarines of the Constantinople Flotilla and Turkish light forces would continue to raid and harass Russian shipping until the war's end.
Soviet Navy
During the Russian Civil War, the vast majority of the Black Sea Fleet was scuttled by Bolsheviks in Novorossiysk; some were managed to be interned by the Central Powers (later passed to Ukraine, see Navy of the Ukrainian People's Republic) or Western Allies (later passed to the White movement, see Wrangel's fleet). In 1919 out of the remnants of the Russian Imperial Fleet was established the Red Fleet of Ukraine which existed few months before a major advance of the Armed Forces of South Russia which occupied all the South and East Ukraine. Most of the ships became part of the "Russian Squadron" of Wrangl's armed forces and after the evacuation sailed to Tunisia. Out of those ships, some were passed to the French Navy and some were salvaged.
Upon the defeat of the Armed Forces of South Russia, the Ukrainian National Army and the Polish Armed Forces in Ukraine the Soviet government signed a military union with the Russian SFSR transferring all the command to the Commander-in-chief of Russia. Few ships that did stay in Black Sea were salvaged in the 1920s, while a large scale new construction programme began in the 1930s. Over 500 new ships were built during that period as well as massive expansion of coastal infrastructure took place. The Fleet was commanded by Vice Admiral F.S. Oktyabrskiy on the outbreak of war with Germany in June 1941. The Fleet gave a credible account of itself as it fought alongside the Red Army during the Siege of Odessa and the Battle of Sevastopol.[4] (See Black Sea Campaigns (1941–44) for more details.)
In 1952, Turkey decided to join NATO, placing the Bosporus Strait in the Western sphere of influence. Together with the advent of long-range nuclear weapons, this dramatically decreased the strategic value of any naval activity in the Black Sea.
In the later post-war period, along with the Northern Fleet, the Black Sea Fleet provided ships for the 5th Operational Squadron in the Mediterranean, which confronted the United States Navy during the Arab-Israeli wars, notably during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.[5]
In 1988 Coastal Troops and Naval Aviation units of the Black Sea Fleet included:[6]
- Danube Flotilla:
- 116th River Ship Brigade (Izmail, Odessa Oblast)
- 112th Reconnaissance Ship Brigade (Lake Donuzlav (Mirnyy), Crimean Oblast)
- 37th Rescue Ship Brigade (Sevastopol, Crimean Oblast)
- Marine and Coastal Defense Forces Department
- 810th Marine Brigade (Sevastopol, Crimean Oblast)
- 362nd independent Coastal Missile Regiment (Balaklava, Crimean Oblast)
- 138th independent Coastal Missile Regiment (Chernomorsk, Crimean Oblast)
- 417th independent Coastal Missile Regiment (Sevastopol, Crimean Oblast)
- 51st independent Coastal Missile Regiment (Mekenzerye, Crimean Oblast)
- Naval Air Forces Department of the Black Sea Fleet
- 2nd Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Division (Gvardeyskoye, Crimean Oblast)(three regiments of maritime attack Tu-22M2s[7]
- 5th Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment (Veseloye, Crimean Oblast) - disbanded 15.11.94.
- 124th Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment (Gvardeskoye, Crimean Oblast) - disbanded 1993.
- 943rd Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment (Oktiabrske) - disbanded 1996.
- 30th independent Maritime Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (Saki-Novofedorovka, Crimean Oblast)(Tu-22P)
- 318th independent Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment (Lake Donuzlav, Crimean Oblast)
- 78th independent Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment (Lake Donuzlav, Crimean Oblast)
- 872nd independent Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment (Kacha, Crimean Oblast)
- 917th independent Transport Aviation Regiment (Kacha, Crimean Oblast)
- 859th Training Center for Naval Aviation (Kacha, Crimean Oblast)
- 2nd Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Division (Gvardeyskoye, Crimean Oblast)(three regiments of maritime attack Tu-22M2s[7]
In 1989, the 126th Motor Rifle Division at Simferopol was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet from the Odessa Military District. Also that year, the 119th Fighter Aviation Division, with the 86th Guards, 161st, and 841st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiments, joined the Fleet from the 5th Air Army.[8] The 86th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment became part of the Moldovan Air Force upon the breakup of the Soviet Union. The 841st at Meria airport (between Poti and Batumi in the Adjar ASSR) (Georgian SSR) became the 841st independent Guards Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment in May 1991 and was disbanded in October 1992.[9]
After the fall of the Soviet Union
“Agreement on the principles for forming the Ukrainian Naval Forces and the Russian Naval Fleet based on the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) of the former USSR," the Yalta Treaty on the Black Sea Fleet was signed by the presidents of Ukraine and the RF on August 3, 1992 in Mukholatka, outside Yalta.
The military importance of the fleet has degraded since the collapse of the Soviet Union, due to significant funding cuts and, to a degree, the loss of its major missions. However, in the early 21st century, local conflicts in the Caucasus region (particularly the 2008 South Ossetia war) saw Moscow employ elements of the Black Sea Fleet off the coast of Georgia, and the development of oil transit in the region has strengthened Russia's support of the fleet.
In 1992, the major part of the personnel, armaments and coastal facilities of the Fleet fell under formal jurisdiction of the newly independent Ukraine as they were situated on Ukrainian territory. Later, the Ukrainian government ordered the establishment of its own Ukrainian Navy based on the Black Sea Fleet; several ships and ground formations declared themselves Ukrainian.
However, this immediately led to conflicts with the majority of officers who appeared to be loyal to Russia. According to pro-Ukrainian sailors they were declared "drunkards and villains" and they and their families were harassed.[10] The have also claimed that their names were branded "traitors to Russia" on local graffiti.[10] Simultaneously, pro-Russian separatist groups became active in the local politics of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Sevastopol municipality where the major naval bases were situated, and started coordinating their efforts with pro-Moscow seamen.
Joint Fleet and its partition
To ease the tensions, the two governments signed an interim treaty, establishing a joint Russo-Ukrainian Black Sea Fleet under bilateral command (and Soviet Navy flag) until a full-scale partition agreement could be reached. Formally, the Fleet's Commander was to be appointed by a joint order of the two countries' Presidents. However, Russia still dominated the Fleet unofficially, and a Russian admiral was appointed as Commander; the majority of the fleet personnel adopted Russian citizenship. Minor tensions between the Fleet and the new Ukrainian Navy (such as electricity cut-offs and sailors' street-fighting) continued.
On 28 May 1997, Russia and Ukraine signed several agreements regarding the fleet including the Partition Treaty, establishing two independent national fleets and dividing armaments and bases between them.[11] Ukraine also agreed to lease major parts of its facilities to the Russian Black Sea Fleet until 2017.[12] However, the treaty appeared to be far from perfect: permanent tensions on the lease details (including often reported issue of lighthouse control) continued. The Fleet's main base is still situated in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol. In 2009 the Yushchenko Ukrainian government declared that the lease would not be extended and that the fleet would have to leave Sevastopol by 2017.[13] In 2010 the Russian leasehold was renegotiated with an extension until 2042 and an option for an additional five years until 2047 plus consideration of further renewals.
Georgia in the Fleet partition
The newly independent nation of Georgia, which also hosted several bases of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet when it was the Georgian SSR, also claimed a share of the Fleet, including 32 naval vessels formerly stationed at Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti. Not a CIS member at that time, Georgia was not, however, included in the initial negotiations in January 1992. Additionally, some low-importance bases situated in the Russian-backed breakaway autonomy of Abkhazia soon escaped any Georgian control. In 1996, Georgia resumed its demands, and the Russian refusal to allot Georgia a portion of the ex-Soviet navy became another bone of contention in the progressively deteriorating Georgian-Russian relations. This time, Ukraine endorsed Tbilisi's claims, turning over several patrol boats to the Georgian Navy and starting to train Georgian crews, but was unable to include in the final fleet deal a transfer of the formerly Poti-based vessels to Georgia.[14] Later, the rest of the Georgian share was decided to be ceded to Russia in return for diminution of debt.
Since the 2008 South Ossetia war the Russian Black Sea Fleet has not taken part in any joint naval exercises involving Georgian warships.[15] However, such a statement has little meaning since the Georgian Navy has ceased to exist (early 2009 it was merged with the Georgian coast guard).[16]
Russia is a member of the Black Sea Naval Co-operation Task Group usually referred to as BLACKSEAFOR.
Combat operations
Russia employed part of the fleet during the 2008 Georgian conflict. Russian units operating off Georgia's separatist Abkhazia region resulted in a reported skirmish with the Georgian Navy. As a result, Ukraine's then President Viktor Yushchenko decreed that the Black Sea Fleet would henceforth need permission to cross the Ukrainian border to enter and leave to Sevastopol,[17] to which a Russian admiral retorted that the President of the Russian Federation and not Ukraine commands the Black Sea Fleet. Yushchenko's decrees[17] were without force and deployed units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet returned to their home moorings without incident. The texts of the 1997 Ukraine-Russia agreements regarding the presence of Russian Black Sea Fleet ships in Crimea contained no requirement for Ukraine's permission to cross the Ukrainian border to enter or exit Sevastopol.
Black Sea Fleet and Ukraine
In a letter to then Russian President Medvedev, former Ukrainian President Yushchenko complained about alleged "infringements of bilateral agreements and Ukrainian legislation"[18]
In 2009, Ukraine government announced that the lease of Russian naval bases on the Crimea would not be extended beyond 2017,[19][20] in response the Russian Black Fleet initiated the expansion of its base in Novorossiysk. In July 2007, the Navy Commander announced that the new base would be ready in 2012.[21] Under the 1997 bilateral treaty, Russia paid $98 million annually and the treaty provided for an extension by mutual agreement. Russian officials repeatedly said they would like to extend the lease.[22][23]
In June 2009, the head of the Ukrainian Security Service said that after December 13, 2009, all officers from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) represented at the (Russian) Black Sea Fleet must leave Ukraine, from then the Security Service of Ukraine will ensure the security of the (Russian) Black Sea Fleet and Russian sailors on Ukrainian territory.[24] According to the Russian Foreign Ministry the employees of the FSB, working at the Black Sea Fleet facilities, are to remain on Ukrainian territory "in line with bilateral agreements".[25]
In October–November 2009, the (Russian) Black Sea Fleet complained about illegal inspection of (non-boat) transport vehicles owned by the fleet by the Sevastopol State Auto Inspectorate and Ukrainian security officers, calling them "disrespect for the status of the Russian military units and an unfriendly step aimed at worsening the Russian-Ukrainian relations".[26][27]
On April 21, 2010, Ukrainian President Yanukovych and Russian President Medvedev reached an agreement whereby the Russian lease on naval facilities in Crimea would be extended beyond 2017 by 25 years with an additional 5-year renewal option (to 2042–47) in exchange for a multiyear discounted contract to provide Ukraine with Russian natural gas.[28][29][30] This deal is controversial in Ukraine.[31][32][33][34][35]
Joint exercises of the Ukrainian Navy and the (Russian) Black Sea Fleet were resumed after a seven-year interval with a command-staff exercise in June 2010.[36] In May 2011, Russian-Ukrainian at-sea naval "Peace Fairway" (Farvater Mira) exercises resumed.[37]
In 2010, based on an agreement between Ukrainian and Russian governments military counterintelligence officers from the Russian Federal Security Service returned to the (Russian) Black Sea Fleet base.[38]
While a Yushchenko Foreign Minister said that Russia cannot unilaterally replace its Black Sea Fleet ships without Ukraine's consent,[39] the recent lease extension also revalidated the agreements of 1997. Those agreements stipulate that the Russian Black Sea Fleet can maintain the same numbers and types of ships that it had based in Sevastopol as a result of the 1997 fleet division without approval by Ukraine. This stipulation permits Russia to increase the current size of the fleet which has fallen below those numbers.[40]
As a result of the stance of the Ukrainian authorities, it was reported on 20 May 2013 that Russia would be concentrating on its new base in Novorossiysk and putting Sevastopol on hold as it upgrades the Black Sea Fleet. The Project-11356 frigate Admiral Grigorovich and the Project-636 submarines (Kilo class submarine) Novorossiysk and Rostov-na-Donu were expected to join the Fleet in 2014 and new moorings were being made ready for them at the base.[41]
Additions of ships to the Fleet
Repeated and sometimes contradictory announcements have been made claiming that new ships will join the fleet. On December 3, 2009, First Vice Mayor of Sevastopol Vladimir Kazarin stated that Russia's Black Sea Fleet could lose its combat capability, given a small number of ships and the absence of new ones.[42] Similar doubts had been stated by the Russian media. The Gazeta newspaper noted that, by 2015, the majority of the warships would no longer be fit for duty.[43]
In April 2010, Russian Navy sources said that up to four frigates and four diesel-electric submarines will be added to the Black Sea Fleet by 2015.[44] In June 2010, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky announced that Russia was reviewing plans for the naval modernization of the Black Sea Fleet. The plans include 15 new warships and submarines by 2020.[45][46] These vessels will partially replace the reported decommissioning of Kerch, Ochakov (decommissioned in 2011 and sunk as a blockship in 2014), several large support ships, and a diesel-electric submarine.
Also in 2010, Russian Navy Headquarters sources said that, by 2020, six frigates of Project 22350 Gorshkov-class, six submarines of Project 677 Lada-class, two large landing ships of Project 11711 Ivan Gren-class and four class-unspecified ships will be delivered. Due to the obsolescence of the Beriev Be-12 by 2015, they will be replaced with Il-38s. Sukhoi Su-24M aircraft are planned to be upgraded to Su-24M2 at the same time.[47][49] However, the November 2011 suspension of the building of the second and third Lada-class boats throws this particular announcement into doubt.
The Project 636.3 (Kilo-class) diesel-electric submarine Novorossiysk — the first of three such new submarines, which was laid down at Admiralty Wharves Shipyard, St. Petersburg on August 20, 2010 — is destined to serve in the Black Sea Fleet.[50] Navy sources also say that Project 11356 Grigorovich-class frigate will be dispatched to the Black Sea.[51] The Admiral Grigorovich, the lead ship of the class, was laid down on December 18, 2010 and was expected to be in service 34 months from that date (October 2013). Three ships of this class are to be in service in the Black Sea Fleet before 2015.[52]
After the 2014 Crimean crisis, in which Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Navy were evicted from their bases and subsequently withdrawn from Crimea,[53] Russia planned to integrate several vessels from the Ukrainian Navy into the Black Sea Fleet. According to sources from Black Sea Fleet Headquarters, inspections of all ships were to be done by the end of 2014.[54]
Speaking ahead of the nationwide Navy Day festivities in 2015, Black Sea Fleet commander Adm. Vitko said that, "For the first time in quite a long period, more than ten brand-new boats and support vessels have been accepted into service within one calendar year."[55] Overall, in 2015 the fleet received 15 new ships, including two submarines, two missile corvettes, seven counter-sabotage boats, support, rescue and auxiliary vessels.[56]
Controversies
The Russian Black Sea Fleet's (BSF) use of leased facilities in Sevastopol and the Crimea was sometimes controversial. A number of incidents took place:
- For security reasons, the BSF refused to allow Ukrainians to inspect its aircraft cargo, after allegations by Ukrainians that they could be carrying nuclear weapons, which would have infringed upon Ukraine's status under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)[18]
- The BSF transported rockets repeatedly through the port of Sevastopol without seeking permission from Ukrainian authorities.[18]
- A lighthouse is located on the headland which, starting in 2005, was the subject of a controversy between Ukraine and Russia. From August 3, 2005, the lighthouse was occupied by the Russian military.[57] Despite a controversial ruling by a Court in Sevastopol on the subject, Russian military officials referred to the fact that they only took orders from the chief of the Russian Navy headquarters and no one else. Ukrainian activists complained that Sarych was illegally occupied by the Russian Navy.[58] As a military facility, the territory around the Sarych headland is closed to trespassers with barbed wire, and the Russian flag flew over Sarych.[59]
- In 2006, Ukrainian officials blocked Russian workers from entering the BSF lighthouse in Yalta.
- During the 2008 South Ossetia War, the Ukrainian Navy was ordered to block the entrance to Sevastopol from Russian vessels taking part in the hostilities. However, Russian Navy ships returned to base unimpeded by the sympathetic Ukrainian sailors.
- June 20, 2009 – In Sevastopol, a Russian fleet servicemen allegedly used physical force against 30 civilians. The city also alleges contract violations by the Construction Management Corporation of the Black Sea Fleet for not following through on promises to construct requested commercial housing after taking advance payment. The city began talks with the President and the Prime-Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, and also to the Russian Minister of Defense Anatoliy Serdyukov with respect to the contract violations, but those did not yield results.[60]
- On August 27, 2009, Russian marines successfully prevented Ukrainian bailiffs from enforcing a Ukrainian court ruling on seizing lighthouses belonging to the BSF.[18] Russia stated that Ukrainians may not step onto its bases without permission. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry described the Russian obstruction as a "disregard for Ukrainian legislation and international agreements".[18]
- On April 16, 2013, a "high-ranking Russian Defense Ministry official" complained to Interfax that "Ukraine’s stubborn position" was slowing the cancellation of customs payments (for the fleet) and that Ukraine still upheld (former) Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's 2008 decrees that banned the "relaxed procedure" of BSF formations crossing the Ukrainian border.[17]
Fleet Commanders
| # | Rank | Name | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VADM | Aleksey Fedotovich Klokachev | 1783 |
| 2 | VADM | Yakov Filippovich Sukhotin | 1784 – 1785 |
| 3 | RADM | Nikolay Semenovich Mordvinov | 1785 – 1789 |
| 4 | RADM | Marko Ivanovich Voynovich | 1789 – 1790 |
| 5 | RADM | Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov | 1790 – 1792 |
| # | ADM | Nikolay Semenovich Mordvinov | 1792 – 1799 |
| 6 | ADM | Vilim Petrovich Fondezin | 1799 – 1802 |
| 7 | ADM | Aleksandr Ivanovich de Travers | 1802 – 1811 |
| 8 | ADM | Roman Romanovich Gall | 1811 |
| 9 | VADM | Nikolay Lvovich Yazykov | 1811 – 1816 |
| 10 | ADM | Aleksey Samuilovich Greig | 1816 – 1833 |
| 11 | ADM | Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev | 1834 – 1851 |
| 12 | ADM | Morits Borisovich Berg | 1851 – 1855 |
| 13 | VADM | Nikolay Fedorovich Metlin | Sep 1855 – Dec 1855 |
| 14 | VADM | Aleksandr Ivanovich Panfilov | Jan 1856 – Aug 1856 |
| 15 | RADM | Grigoriy Ivanovich Butakov | Aug 1856 – Jan 1860 |
| 16 | VADM | Bogdan Aleksandrovich Glazenap | 1860 – Jan 1871 |
| 17 | ADM | Nikolay Andreyevich Arkas | 1871 – 1881 |
| 18 | ADM | Mikhail Pavlovich Manganari | 1881 – 1882 |
| 19 | VADM | Aleksey Alekseyevich Peshchurov | 1882 – 1890 |
| 20 | RADM | Roman Andreevich Grenkvist | 1890 |
| 21 | VADM | Nikolay Vasilyevich Kopytov | 1891 – 1898 |
| 22 | VADM | Yevgeni Ivanovich Alekseyev | 1898 |
| 23 | VADM | Sergey Petrovich Tyrtov | 6 May 1898 – 1903 |
| 24 | VADM | Yakov Appolonovich Giltebrandt | 1903 |
| 25 | VADM | Nikolay Illarionovich Skrydlov | 1903 – 1904 |
| 26 | VADM | Aleksandr Khristianovich Kriger | 1904 |
| 27 | VADM | Grigoriy Pavlovich Chukhnin | 1904 – 1906 |
| 28 | RADM | Ivan Konstantinovich Grigorovich | 1906 |
| 29 | VADM | Nikolay Illarionovich Skrydlov | 1906 – 1907 |
| 30 | RADM | Genrikh Faddeevich Tsyvinskiy | 1907 |
| 31 | RADM | Robert Nikolayevich Viren | 1907 – 1908 |
| 32 | VADM | Ivan Fyodorovich Bostrem | 1908 – 1909 |
| 33 | VADM | Vladimir Simonovich Sarnavskiy | 1909 – 1911 |
| 34 | VADM | Ivan Fyodorovich Bostrem | 1911 |
| 35 | RADM | Pavel Ivanovich Novitskiy | 1911 |
| 36 | VADM | Andrey Avgustovich Ehbergard | 1911 – Jun 1916 |
| 37 | VADM | Aleksandr Vasilyevich Kolchak | Jun 1916 – Jun 1917 |
| 38 (Acting) | RADM | Veniamin Konstantinovich Lukin | Jun 1917 – Jul 1917 |
| 39 | RADM | Aleksandr Vasilyevich Nemitts | Jul 1917 – Dec 1917 |
| 40 | RADM | Mikhail Sablin | 1918 |
| 41 | Captain 1st Rank | Aleksandr Ivanovich Tikhmenev | 1918 |
| 42 | Captain 1st Rank | Aleksandr Ivanovich Sheykovskiy | 1919 |
| 43 | Captain 1st Rank | Aleksey Vladimirovich Dombrovskiy | May 1920 – Oct 1920 |
| 44 | Ehduard Samuilovich Pantserzhanskiy | Nov 1920 – Nov 1921 | |
| 45 | Andrey Semenovich Maksimov | Nov 1921 – Jul 1922 | |
| 46 | Aleksandr Karlovich Vekman | Jul 1922 – May 1924 | |
| 47 | Mikhail Vladimirovich Viktorov | May 1924 – Dec 1924 | |
| 48 | Ehduard Samuilovich Pantserzhanskiy | Dec 1924 – Oct 1926 | |
| 49 | Vladimir Mitrofanovich Orlov | Oct 1926 – Jun 1931 | |
| 50 | Fleet Flag Officer 2nd Rank | Ivan Kuz'mich Kozhanov | Jun 1931 – Aug 1937 |
| 51 | Fleet Flag Officer 2nd Rank | Petr Ivanovich Smirnov-Svetlovskiy | Aug 1937 – Dec 1937 |
| 52 | Fleet Flag Officer 2nd Rank | Ivan Stepanovich Yumashev | 1938 – Mar 1939 |
| 53 | VADM | Filipp Sergeyevich Oktyabrskiy | Mar 1939 – Apr 1943 |
| 54 | VADM | Lev Anatol'evich Vladimirskiy | Apr 1943 – Mar 1944 |
| 55 | VADM | Filipp Sergeyevich Oktyabrskiy | Mar 1944 – Nov 1948 |
| 56 | ADM | Nikolai Efremovich Basistiy | Nov 1948 – Aug 1951 |
| 57 | ADM | Sergey Georgiyevich Gorshkov | Aug 1951 – Jul 1955 |
| 58 | VADM | Viktor Aleksandrovich Parkhomenko | Jul 1955 – Dec 1955 |
| 59 | ADM | Vladimir Afanasyevich Kasatonov | Dec 1955 – Feb 1962 |
| 60 | ADM | Serafim Evgeniyevich Chursin | Feb 1962 – Dec 1968 |
| 61 | ADM | Viktor Sergeyevich Sysoyev | Dec 1968 – Mar 1974 |
| 62 | ADM | Nikolay Ivanovich Khovrin | Mar 1974 – April 1983 |
| 63 | ADM | Aleksey Mikhailovich Kalinin | Apr 1983 – Jul 1985 |
| 64 | ADM | Mikhail Nikolayevich Khronopulo | Jul 1985 – Oct 1991 |
| 65 | ADM | Igor Vladimirovich Kasatonov | Oct 1991 – Dec 1992 |
| 66 | ADM | Ehduard Dmitriyevich Baltin | Dec 1992 – Feb 1996 |
| 67 | ADM | Viktor Andreyevich Kravchenko | Feb 1996 – Jul 1998 |
| 68 | ADM | Vladimir Petrovich Komoyedov | Jul 1998 – Oct 2002 |
| 69 | ADM | Vladimir Vasilyevich Masorin | Oct 2002 – Feb 2005 |
| 70 | ADM | Aleksandr Arkadyevich Tatarinov | Feb 2005 – Jul 2007 |
| 71 | VADM | Aleksandr Dmitrievich Kletskov | Jul 2007 – Jul 2010 |
| 72 | VADM | Vladimir Ivanovich Korolev | Jul 2010 – Jun 2011 |
| 73 | VADM | Aleksandr Nikolayevich Fedotenkov | Jun 2011 – May 2013 |
| 74 | ADM | Aleksandr Viktorovich Vitko[61] | 17 May 2013 – June 2018 |
| 75 | VADM | Aleksandr Alekseevich Moiseev[62] | 26 June 2018 – 3 May 2019 |
| 76 | VADM | Igor Vladimirovich Osipov [63] | 3 May 2019 – present |
List of Black Sea Fleet warships
New ships included from the Ukrainian Navy
In the 2014 Crimean crisis Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Navy were evicted from their bases and Ukraine subsequently withdrew its forces from Crimea.[53] Fifty-four out of sixty-seven ships of the Ukrainian Navy have been transferred to the Black Sea Fleet, with St. Andrew flags raised on them.[64] On 8 April 2014 an agreement was reached between Russia and Ukraine to return Ukrainian Navy materials to Ukraine proper.[65] The greater portion of the Ukrainian naval ships and vessels were then returned to Ukraine but Russia suspended this process after Ukraine did not renew its unilaterally declared ceasefire on 1 July 2014 in the conflict in the Donbass.[66] According to the fleet commander Aleksandr Vitko, this happened because the vessels were old "and, if used [by Ukraine], could hurt its own people".[67]
30th Surface Ship Division
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | Guided Missile Cruiser | Moskva | Slava | 1983 | Active, Fleet Flagship |
| 810 | Guided Missile Destroyer | Smetlivyy | Kashin | 1969 | Active |
| 801 | Guided Missile Frigate | Ladnyy | Krivak | 1980 | Active |
| 808 | Guided Missile Frigate | Pytlivyy | Krivak | 1981 | Active |
| 745 | Guided Missile Frigate | Admiral Grigorovich | Admiral Grigorovich | 2016 | Active [68] |
| 751 | Guided Missile Frigate | Admiral Essen | Admiral Grigorovich | 2016 | Active |
| 799 | Guided Missile Frigate | Admiral Makarov | Admiral Grigorovich | 2017 | Active |
4th Independent Submarine Brigade
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year | Base | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 554 | Diesel Attack Submarine | Alrosa (B-871) | Kilo 877V | 1990 | Sevastopol | Active |
| 555 | Diesel Attack Submarine | Novorossiysk (B-261) | Improved Kilo 636.3 | 2014 | Novorossiysk | Active |
| 556 | Diesel Attack Submarine | Rostov na donu (B-237) | Improved Kilo 636.3 | 2014 | Novorossiysk | Active |
| 557 | Diesel Attack Submarine | Staryy Oskol (B-262) | Improved Kilo 636.3 | 2015 | Novorossiysk | Active |
| 558 | Diesel Attack Submarine | Krasnodar (B-265) | Improved Kilo 636.3 | 2015 | Novorossiysk | Active[69] |
| 559 | Diesel Attack Submarine | Velikiy Novgorod (B-268) | Improved Kilo 636.3 | 2016 | Novorossiysk | Active[70] |
| 560 | Diesel Attack Submarine | Kolpino (B-271) | Improved Kilo 636.3 | 2016 | Novorossiysk | Active[71] |
197th Assault Ship Brigade
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 152 | Landing Ship | Nikolay Filchenkov | Alligator | 1975 |
| 148 | Landing Ship | Orsk | Alligator | 1968 |
| 150 | Landing Ship | Saratov | Alligator | 1966 |
| 151 | Landing Ship | Azov | Ropucha-II | 1990 |
| 142 | Landing Ship | Novocherkassk | Ropucha-I | 1987 |
| 158 | Landing Ship | Caesar Kunikov | Ropucha-I | 1986 |
| 156 | Landing Ship | Yamal | Ropucha-I | 1988 |
68th Coastal Defense Ship Brigade
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 059 | ASW Corvette | Alexandrovets | Grisha I | 1982 |
| 071 | ASW Corvette | Suzdalets | Grisha III | 1983 |
| 064 | ASW Corvette | Muromets | Grisha III | 1983 |
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 913 | Seagoing Minesweeper | Kovrovets | Natya I | 1974 |
| 911 | Seagoing Minesweeper | Ivan Golubets | Natya I | 1973 |
| 912 | Seagoing Minesweeper | Turbinist | Natya I | 1972 |
| 601 | Base Minesweeper | Ivan Antonov | Alexandrit | 2018 |
41st Missile Boat Brigade
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 609 | Guided Missile Corvette | Vyshniy Volochyok | Buyan-M | 2018 |
| 615 | Guided Missile Corvette | Bora | Dergach | 1989 |
| 616 | Guided Missile Corvette | Samum | Dergach | 2000 |
| 617 | Guided Missile Corvette | Mirazh | Nanuchka-III | 1986 |
| 620 | Guided Missile Corvette | Shtil | Nanuchka-III | 1978 |
| 626 | Guided Missile Corvette | Orekhovo-Zuyevo | Buyan-M | 2018 |
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 962 | Missile Boat | Shuya | Tarantul-II Mod | 1985 |
| 955 | Missile Boat | Burya | Tarantul-III | 1987 |
| 952 | Missile Boat | Veter | Tarantul-III | 1991 |
| 953 | Missile Boat | Naberezhnye Chelny | Tarantul-III | 1991 |
| 954 | Missile Boat | Ivanovets | Tarantul-III | 1988 |
| 630 | Guided Missile Corvette | Ingushetiya | Buyan-M | 2019 |
184th Novorossiysk Coastal Defense Brigade
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 053 | Small Antisubmarine Ship | Povorino | Grisha III | 1989 |
| 054 | Small Antisubmarine Ship | Eysk | Grisha-III | 1987 |
| 055 | Small Antisubmarine Ship | Kasimov | Grisha-III | 1984 |
| 368 | Patrol ship | Vasiliy Bykov | Project 22160 | 2018 |
| 375 | Patrol ship | Dmitriy Rogachev | Project 22160 | 2019 |
| # | Type | Name | Class | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 901 | Seagoing Minesweeper | Anatoliy Zheleznyakov | Gorya | 1988 |
| 770 | Seagoing Minesweeper | Valentin Pikul | Natya I Mod | 2001 |
| 908 | Seagoing Minesweeper | Vice-Admiral Zakharin | Pr.02668 | 2009 |
| 426 | Base Minesweeper | Mineralnyye Vody | Sonya | 1990 |
| 438 | Base Minesweeper | Leytenant Ilin | Sonya | 1982 |
| 201 | Base Minesweeper | RTShch RT-46 | Yevgenya | 1997 |
| 219 | Base Minesweeper | RT-278 | Olya | 1997 |
| 575 | Landing Craft | D-144 | Serna | 2008 |
| 659 | Landing Craft | D-199 | Serna | 2014 |
| 653 | Landing Craft | D-106 | Ondatra | 2009 |
Black Sea Naval Infantry and Coastal Missile-Artillery Forces
- 11th Independent Coastal Missile-Artillery Brigade - Anapa, Krasnodar Region: 3x K-300P Bastion-P anti-ship missile system,[72] Bal anti-ship missile system
- 810th Independent Guards Naval Infantry Brigade
- 382nd Independent Naval Infantry Battalion
- Object 100 Utes (near Sevastopol')
- Missiles (included deployed on Crimean peninsula)
Black Sea Fleet Naval Air Force – HQ Sevastopol
- Status in 2010[47]
- 25th Independent Anti-submarine Helicopter Regiment – HQ at Kacha, Crimea – ~20 helicopters of types Ka-27 and Mi-14
- 917th Independent Composite Air Regiment – HQ at Kacha, Crimea – ~10x Antonov transport aircraft of types An-2, An-12 and An-26; 4x Be-12; ~10x Mi-8
- 43rd Independent Naval Shturmovik (Assault) Air Squadron – HQ at Gvardeyskoye, Crimea – 18x Su-24M; 4x Su-24MR;
Also, a squadron of Sukhoi Su-30SMs (2016).[73]
See also
- Black Sea Fleet electoral district (Russian Constituent Assembly election, 1917)
- 1936 Montreux Convention governing the passage of military ships into the Black Sea
- Soviet Black Sea Fleet during the Battle of Stalingrad
References
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Further reading
- Simonsen, Sven Gunnar (June 2000). ""You take your oath only once:" Crimea, The Black Sea Fleet, and national identity among Russian officers". Nationalities Papers. 28 (2): 289–316. doi:10.1080/713687467.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Black Sea fleet of Russia. |
- Russia – Ukraine Lease agreement
- Unofficial site
- History of the Black Sea Fleet during WWII (in Russian)
- Narodny Oglyadach reports on morale situation in Russian naval base in Sevastopol
- КОРАБЛІ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ФЛОТИ (1917–1918 рр.) – Ukrainian Navy (1917–1918) (in Ukrainian)
- Ukrainian Navy: ferial excursions into the past and present
- Stratfor, Fwd:INSIGHT - RUSSIA - Black Sea Fleet focus & some sub issues - Stratfor discussion on Black Sea Fleet, 2011
- Ukraine – Historical Naval Flags (1918)
