Russian Pacific Fleet to enter Japan’s naval base

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Russian Pacific Fleet task unit will pay on Tuesday, Aug 28 a short official visit to Japan’s naval base Maizuru, a Russian fleet spokesman said, according to RIA Novosti.

Pacific Fleet’s destroyer Admiral Panteleyev, the tanker Boris Butoma and the salvage tug Fotiy Krylov will enter the Japanese port on their way to home port in Vladivostok from the United States’ Pearl Harbor, where they took part in the international RIMPAC naval exercise.

“An official Russian delegation will meet in Maizuru with the commander of the naval base, the mayor of the city and other officials… Pacific Fleet’s vessels will leave the port of Maizuru on September 1 and head to its home port,” Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov said.

A detachment of Japan’s Naval Force ships will pay a reciprocal visit to Vladivostok starting on September 23 and will participate in a number of joint naval drills with the Russian Navy, he added.

It was for the first time, when Russia participated in the RIMPAC drills, which started in 1971 and initially involved the navies of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain and the United States.

The 2012-RIMPAC drills, held between July 11 and August 1 near the U.S. Hawaii, involved 45 warships and support vessels from 22 countries, as well as 100 combat aircraft and over 20,000 marines.

The exercise comprised dozens of combat missions and exercises, including humanitarian, search and rescue operations. RIMPAC-2012 also practiced evacuation of civilians in an amphibious landing operation, as well as joint anti-submarine and anti-aircraft defense.