RUSSIA: Pacific Fleet Back In Business

strategypage.com/ ^ | August 27, 2003 | Q & D Headlines

[Destro]

RUSSIA: Pacific Fleet Back In Business

August 27, 2003: For the first time in 15 years, Russia held major military exercises in the far east, off the Kamchatka peninsula. Over ten days, twelve missiles were fired from ships, warplanes and subs at surface targets. Forces involved included about 75 Russian ships (including five nuclear submarines), at least 20 aircraft and some 30,000 troops and civilians. Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, Russia's Pacific fleet has largely been slowly crumbling. There was not enough money to even maintain many ships, which could be seen tied up and growing more derelict each year. But in the last two years, the navy budget has increased and dozens of ships and subs have been assigned full complements of sailors and supplied with replacement parts and other materials to make the vessels capable of operations again.

[Jason Kauppinen]

Russia's flat tax must be doing well then.

[Just mythoughts]

"...flat tax must........" Or they are selling nuclear for high dollar, got a sack full of money from Iran for nuclear, maybe Syria is getting the same.

[ClearCase_guy]

Russia's Pacific fleet has 20 aircraft? Sounds like a series threat.

[cavtrooper21]

Sounds like China and North Korea are making them a little nervous...

[Patriotways]

with our taxs money, we give to Russia

[mathurine]

Everybody abhors a vacuum, and the Russians left one that they probably want to refill before the "nuthouse naval legions of the orient" move into it. Only 20-some ships, and the effectiveness of the array is to be considered here-- but still it is 20-some ships and our Navy would not want to lose 20-some more and might appreciate getting 20-some more-- especially over there in Asian seas.

[cavtrooper21]

Yea, when push comes to shove they will more than likely back us up. They haven't forgotten the Mongol hordes and they have a real vested interest in the region.