As reported BSNews our Istanbul colleague is a maritime journalist Cem Devrim Yaylalı, site editor turkishnavy.net, on December 10, 2013, a large landing ship Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation "George the Victorious" (016).

2013-12-10. Istanbul. BDK "St. George the Victorious" (016). Photo by Kerim Bozkurt from turkishnavy.net

As the editors found out BSNews , this ship first arrived in the Black Sea back in November - in any case, as follows from the photo of Novorossiysk shipspotter Alexander Shakun, on November 27, 2013, the BDK was being loaded at the Novorossiysk naval base.

Thus, this ship has already made at least one voyage as a naval ferry to Syria. Information from official sources or Russian media about the entry of this warship there was no such thing as the Black Sea.

An interesting design element, similar to the Ukrainian flag :)). BDK "St. George the Victorious" (016). Photo from Alexander Shakun’s blog, November 27, 2013, Novorossiysk naval base

BDK "St. George the Victorious" (016). Photo from Alexander Shakun’s blog, November 27, 2013, Novorossiysk naval base

BDK "St. George the Victorious" (016) - on the left. On the right - BDK "Yamal" Black Sea Fleet RF. Photo from Alexander Shakun’s blog, November 27, 2013, Novorossiysk naval base

Trucks awaiting loading onto the landing ship "George the Victorious" (016). Photo from Alexander Shakun’s blog, November 27, 2013, Novorossiysk naval base

Chronology of the large landing ship "St. George the Victorious" (016):

  • On August 5, 2013, it left Severomorsk, then made the transition to the Baltic Fleet, where it took part in a landing exercise amphibious assault to an unequipped coastline,
  • On October 19, 2013, it left Baltiysk (the main base of the Russian Baltic Fleet), beginning the transition to the Mediterranean Sea,
  • On October 29, 2013, after waiting for the passage of the storm front "Saint Jude" in the Bay of the Seine near the coast of France, it began to pass through the English Channel in a southerly direction,
  • On November 2-5, 2013, she called at Lisbon, Portugal, to replenish supplies and rest,
  • On November 5, 2013, he headed towards Gibraltar and further to the Mediterranean Sea to participate in the Russian Navy grouping,
  • On November 27, 2013 it was under loading in Novorossiysk,
  • until December 5, 2013, participated in exercises west and north of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea together with heavy nuclear missile cruiser"Peter the Great" ( Northern Fleet) and large landing ship Black Sea Fleet "Yamal"
  • On December 10, 2013, the Bosphorus passed towards the Black Sea.

BDK "St. George the Victorious"(until July 27, 2002 called BDK-45) - a large landing ship of Project 775/II (according to NATO classification - Ropucha II), built at the Stocznia Polnocna shipyard (Northern Shipyard) in Gdansk (Poland) in 1984, entered service built in 1985, became part of the Northern Fleet.

Displacement: 4080 tons. Dimensions: length - 112.5 m, width - 15 m, draft - 3.7 m. Maximum speed: 18 knots. Cruising range: 6000 miles at 12 knots. Powerplant: 2 diesels, 2 propellers, 19200 hp.
Capacity: up to 500 tons of equipment and cargo and 225 paratroopers, tank hold length - 95 m, width - 4.5 m, height - 4.5 m.
Armament: 2x2 57-mm AK-725 artillery mounts, 2 A-215 MLRS launchers, 4x8 MANPADS launchers.
Crew: 87 people.

This year, the crew of the large landing ship “George the Victorious” spent almost a year on a long voyage. And today is mine professional holiday Severomorsk soldiers also greet you at the combat post.

30.10.2014, 20:11

There is a profession in which there are no days off. And you have to work both on the shore and at sea. In complete calm and in a force eight storm. This year, the crew of the large landing ship "George the Victorious" spent 333 days on a long voyage - that's almost a year. And today, Severomorsk residents also celebrate their professional holiday - Surface Sailor Day - at the combat post.

The sea of ​​mistakes does not forgive. For the military this is an axiom. Training on a ship is commonplace. Today the training is led by senior assistant commander Sergei Golovin. Experienced sailor. For nine years in uniform he managed to serve on landing ships of the Baltic, Black Sea and Northern fleets. All he has left to conquer is Pacific Ocean, but the north turned out to be closer in spirit.

“This year has been very busy for the ship. The ship took part in several long-distance voyages, performing tasks both in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Arctic. We've come a long way and the crew has gained a lot of experience."

The long journey was neither more nor less - ten months. This is a record among landing ships. And a real test of strength for the crew.

Conscript sailors serve on a par with midshipmen and officers. They have to learn military science as quickly as possible. Every possible emergency situation at sea is handled on shore. Of course, serving is not easy, says radiotelegraph operator Vasily Ananyev. But there are many of us, and we are wearing vests. Emergency service for the guy it started in May of this year. Only six months have passed, and the sailor already has an Arctic combat campaign behind him. Kotelny Island, New Siberian Islands. More than a month at the end of the world.

Vasily Ananyev, radiotelegraph operator:“We passed by three straits - the Red Gate, Vilkitsky and Matisson. There was a small storm there once. Like this, more or less. Overall, I liked everything.”

Sergei Golovin, senior assistant commander of the large landing ship "George the Victorious":“Those who fell in love with the sea remain on the crew, extend their service and stay here. It's always more than half personnel urgent service."

Mikhail Bogir - senior gunner of a rocket artillery battery. He serves as a paratrooper for almost three years. This is his first contract. I started as an electrician, and now important person. Essentially, he is responsible for the ship's armament.

Mikhail Bogir, senior gunner of a rocket artillery battery:“When we have shooting, I ensure that the power units are turned on so that our guns can work.”

Mikhail followed in the footsteps of his sailor father. And he is proud to serve on the best landing ship of the Northern Fleet. The tasks that a paratrooper is capable of performing cannot be performed by any ship of another class.

The crew is one family, as sailors like to say. And it's not hard to believe. When 365 days a year are working days, the words “service” and “friendship” become synonymous.

The large landing ship "George the Victorious" is the eighth in a series of 13 ships of Project 775/II, which is the second series of ships of Project 775, the construction of which was carried out at the shipyard "Stocznia Północna im Bohaterow Westerplatte" ("Stocznia Północna im Bohaterow Westerplatte"), city ​​of Gdansk, Poland. It is a multi-deck, flat-bottomed landing ship of the inland sea zone with a forecastle and a developed aft superstructure.

The ship is designed for amphibious landings on an unequipped coast and for transporting troops and cargo by sea. Capable of transporting various types armored vehicles, including tanks. Equipment and cargo are unloaded both from the stern and from the bow.

It was laid down under the name "BDK-45", construction number 775/20. On March 05, 1985 it became part of the Northern Fleet. Had the following tail numbers: 123 (1985); 133 (1985); 135, 018 (1986); 023 (1987); 036 (1990); 010 (1999); 016 (1999).

Main characteristics: Full displacement 4080 tons, standard displacement 2768 tons. Length 112.5 meters, beam 15.01 meters, draft 3.7 meters. Speed ​​17.59 knots. Cruising range 6000 miles at 12 knots. Sailing autonomy is 30 days. Crew 87 people.

Power plant: 2 diesel engines, 2 propellers, total power 19200 hp.

Capacity: Up to 500 tons of equipment and cargo and 225 paratroopers can be located on board.

Armament: 2 twin 57 mm AK-725 artillery mounts, 2 launchers of the A-215 Grad-M multiple launch rocket system, 4 launchers of the Strela-2 man-portable anti-aircraft missile system.

She was repeatedly declared the best ship in the formation and in the association.

Twice declared the best surface ship of the Northern Fleet based on the results of 1999.

Awarded the Diploma of the Governor of the Murmansk Region.

In September 2007, he participated in joint naval exercises with the Norwegian Navy's Horten in the Barents Sea.

In 2009, he took part in the operational-strategic exercises Ladoga-2009 and Zapad-2009.

From July 10 to August 29, 2012, he performed tasks in the Barents, Norwegian and North Seas, in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in various areas of the Mediterranean Sea together with ships and vessels of the Baltic, Black Sea and Northern Fleets under a single command, which was carried out by the commander of the Kola Flotilla of various types Northern Fleet forces Rear Admiral Vladimir Kasatonov from aboard the large landing ship "George the Victorious".

According to a message dated September 14, 2013, the naval base, where, according to the plan for the preparation of the joint strategic exercise "West-2013", mobile units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus will be taken on board. On September 18, military personnel and equipment of the Belarusian Armed Forces are on board to participate in the Zapad-2013 exercises. On September 28, large landing ships, "George the Victorious" left and headed for the Leningrad naval base to transport military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus who took part in the joint strategic exercise "Zapad-2013" in the Kaliningrad region. October 29, after waiting for the passage of a storm front in the Bay of the Seine near the coast of France, the English Channel. On November 2 at night the Leningrad naval base and headed for Baltiysk. November 05 to the port of Lisbon (Portugal).

According to a message dated June 22, 2014, a business call to the port of Ceuta (Spain), where on June 17, together with the Olenegorsk Miner. Naval landing group of the Northern Fleet consisting of large landing ships "George the Victorious" and "Olenegorsky Gornyak" June 25, 2014 English Channel. In July 2014 he returned from a trip to the Mediterranean Sea. In September he arrived as part of a detachment of ships to the New Siberian Islands, and on October 9 he returned to Severomorsk.

As of 2015, it was in combat service with the Navy, preparing for repairs at the 35th shipyard.

July 26, 2015 at naval parade on Navy Day in Severomorsk. On August 7, divisions of the separate motorized rifle Arctic brigade of the Northern Fleet and personnel onto the large landing ships "George the Victorious" and. According to a message dated August 21, to the mouth of the Yenisei River. August 22 and continued moving upstream of the river in the direction of the port of Dudinka. On August 31, in the port of Dudinka, the ship’s crew will host excursion groups of Taimyr schoolchildren, and on September 1, officers of the Northern Fleet will conduct lessons in courage in schools in Dudinka and Norilsk. September 02 and took a course along the Yenisei to exit into the Kara Sea. September 08 and continued a long voyage across the seas of the Arctic Ocean in the direction of the New Siberian Islands. September 09, as part of a detachment of ships and vessels of the Northern Fleet in ice-hazardous areas of the Arctic, accompanied by a nuclear icebreaker of the state corporation Rosatom. October 10 to Severomorsk from the Arctic expedition.

On June 13, 2016, it transited the Bosphorus Strait, heading to the Mediterranean Sea. On November 16, it entered the Black Sea and transited through the Black Sea straits, heading to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the ship’s ninth trip to Syria this year. On March 2, 2017, transited the Black Sea straits and entered the Mediterranean Sea. This is the second trip to the Mediterranean Sea on the basis of a planned rotation. According to a message dated March 25, performing tasks as part of an operational formation Navy Russia in the Mediterranean Sea, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered Atlantic Ocean. According to a message dated March 29, “Alexander Otrakovsky” left the Northern Fleet detachment and entered the Barents Sea. On September 12, under the command of Captain 2nd Rank Andrei Zharkov, to Severomorsk after successfully completing the tasks of a long-distance voyage across the seas of the Arctic Ocean and an interspecific tactical exercise for the defense of an important industrial facility on the Taimyr Peninsula.

Takes part in, which began on June 13, 2018 in the Barents Sea. September 11 in Severomorsk, where a solemn meeting took place of the expeditionary detachment, which completed the tasks of the third stage of the complex expedition to New Earth who arrived on board the ship.