Russian, Chinese naval vessels practice escort of ships at drills in Mediterranean

MOSCOW, May 19. /TASS/. Russian and Chinese naval vessels have practiced tasks of replenishing supplies in motion and escort of ships in the framework of the active phase of the Russian-Chinese naval exercises Maritime Cooperation-2015 in the Mediterranean, Russian navy spokesman Captain 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said Tuesday. "During daytime on May 19, as part of drills in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, a joint Russian-Chinese task force… fulfilled tasks to replenish stocks and transfer cargoes in motion, following parallel courses, and practiced an episode to escort vessels and ships," Dygalo told TASS. He specified that the task force comprised the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship missile-carrying cruiser The Moskva, patrol ship The Ladny and two amphibious assault ships The Aleksandr Otrakovsky and The Alexander Shabalin, the MB-31 salvage tug, missile-carrying hovercraft The Samum, as well as China’s two frigates: The Linyi and The Weifang, and the Weishanhu support ship. The Maritime Cooperation 2015 drills’ active phase takes place in the Mediterranean Sea on May 17-21. Read more