Projection of Russian Naval Power

I have always been fascinated with naval warfare, both the modern and the ancient: the projection of the power of the State beyond its limited land mass and its ability to affect commerce and trade both in positive and negative ways. But naval forces are also useful in cementing alliances across the seas; such naval forces add a crucial element of prestige, especially in the eyes of third world allies that respect the 'gun boat' more than mere words and threats.

The naval build up in the East Mediterranean goes beyond the immediate international crisis over Syria. The US has dominated the Mediterranean ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Now the Russian Federation is looking to recapture some of its predecessor's lost power and prestige, and why not indeed.

By some accounts the Russian de facto Mediterranean task force consists of roughly 16 surface ships. The US 6th Fleet alone has consisted of as many as 40 surface ships at one time. Is this a revival of the Soviet, cold-war-era Fifth Eskadra (5th Operational Mediterranean Squadron)? Only time will tell, for the time being warships are being rotated on a regular basis in the Mediterranean between the Black Sea, Baltic, Northern and Pacific fleets.



The fact remains that the Russian Navy is a far smaller force than its Soviet predecessor, unlike the US Navy which has 84 cruisers and destroyers, 10 aircraft carriers and 17 frigates, that is over a hundred primary combat and capital ships. By contrast the modern Russian Navy has one aircraft carrier, one heavy missile cruiser, four cruisers and 13 destroyers. One of those cruisers and three destroyers are either in the Mediterranean or on their way, in addition to a frigate, several landing ships, tankers and tugs.

There are, however, few navies in the world today that can match the sheer number of big and powerful vessels the US Navy has, but the mere presence of this many Russian Navy ships in the Mediterranean signals a Russian desire to be taken more seriously by all powers concerned, whether the US, the UK, or France.

While Russia has taken great care to communicate its unwillingness to go to war over Syria, it has also stressed its vehement opposition to any attack on Syria by the US and its allies. According to defense experts Russian warships could give Syrians early warning of cruise missile launches, particularly by submarine. They can also jam radars or navigation systems. But there is no indication that Russian assistance to the regime would have to go that far. Syria has a well developed air defense system and subsonic cruise missiles can be shot down by these systems.

The Syrian Civil War may drag on for a while, we may yet see more atrocities committed by both sides, and the war has already shown signs of staling into a stalemate situation on several fronts. The final outcomes may be determined in one of two ways: by peaceful negotiations resulting form sheer exhaustion or by sending enough money and weapons to one side or the other to drastically tip the balance. The latter does not seem likely at this juncture. But beyond the war in Syria, a significant Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean is here to stay.

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