Hoist the Colors! Brand New Frigate "Admiral Makarov" Leaves Kaliningrad to Join Fleet in Sevastopol
The Admiral Makarov frigate leaves Kaliningrad for Sevastopol. Today, the ship built at the Yantar plant was introduced to the Russian Navy, and St. Andrew's flag was solemnly flown on board.
My colleague Konstantin Morozov attended the ceremony.
"The flag! Jack! Fly the dressing flags!"
St. Andrew's flag flies over the frigate under the orchestra music. Designed to protect the southern border, the new frigate joins the Navy in front of the excited engineers and the crew. The Navy men will remember December 27. And they'll never forget it.
In the Navy, they call it the "birth of the ship." The Admiral Makarov frigate starts its journey with the first St. Andrew's flag raising. Following the order of the Navy Commander, it'll be sent to the Black Sea Fleet. Admiral Makarov has the Kalibr cruise missiles onboard, which are famous for their use in Syria, the Shtil-1 air defense system, a 100-millimeter cannon, rapid-fire cannons, mines, and torpedoes. There are a helicopter spot and a hangar. On the Black and Northern Seas Fleets' ranges, the staff learned to shoot from any weapon. More than dozen thousand geographical miles were covered during the training.
Admiral Makarov is the last of the frigates built on the Yantar Baltic plant. Our Navy's wishes won't be limited. Now, new orders are under consideration, but it's a military secret.
Vladimir Tryapichnikov, Russian Navy Shipbuilding Department Head: "We're considering a lot of different kinds of ships, promising ships. With a bigger tonnage than this ship. With a more global armament in its number and effectiveness. Of course, I wouldn't want to disclose secrets. But those are ships of the far ocean zone. In the future, they might join the Navy".
In Sevastopol, Admiral Makarov will join the 30th unit of the Black Sea Fleet's surface ships. The patrol vessel will protect the ships and borders. It's also be fighting pirates and terrorists, including in the Mediterranean. The frigate will head to the Crimea after completing the military training.
Konstantin Morozov, Vasily Terekhov for Vesti from Kaliningrad.