Russian, Chinese ships especially successful in firing at waterborne targets

MOSCOW, May 21. /TASS/. Crews of Russian and Chinese naval ships that took part in a joint naval exercise ‘Naval Cooperation 2015’ in the eastern part of the Mediterranean were especially successful in delivering gunfire at waterborne targets, the chief of the exercise on the Russian side, Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov. He stressed the high degree of mutual understanding, which the Russian and Chinese crews had attained during practical exercises of the united grouping of ships to protect the areas of navigation and fishing. "I’d like to not successful delivery of gunfire at waterborne target for the purpose of defence against ships and the launches of antisubmarine rockets as part of organizing anti-submarine defence out in the sea," Adm. Fedotenkov said. "This episode required particularly smooth coordination and this smoothness was displayed to the full extent," he said. "All in all, Russian and Chinese had eight sessions of gun practice on May 21. They fired at waterborne targets and also performed four sessions of launching antisubmarine rockets and subsurface targets." The maritime phase of the exercise consisted of four episodes, which included joint maneuvering of tactical groups of ships during daytime and nighttime, a drill in control over the forces of the united grouping from aboard the Moskva missile carrying cruiser, replenishment of supplies, and transshipment of cargoes on the move. "The key component parts were the convoying of ships, organization of anti-submarine, antiaircraft, anti-ship, and anti-subversive defense, the freeing of ships seized by pirates, as well as the practicing of inspection, arrest and escorting of suspicious ships," Adm. Fedotenkov. He underlined the professionalism of Russian and Chinese seamen who managed to fully implement the concept and practical instructions of the commanders of the exercise in the part of the Mediterranean that is complex enough from the point of view of navigation. Read more