Nearly a year after stopping in South Africa, the Russian Navy Baltic Fleet training vessel Smolny is back in Cape Town for a visit as part of its Africa-Asia voyage.
The Smolny left Kronstadt at the end of June on a training voyage – the vessel carries about 400 personnel, including 200 naval cadets and foreign military personnel from friendly countries. The Russian Ministry of Defence said during the trip, future naval officers will undergo practical training.
In its first African stop, the Smolny visited Equatorial Guinea (20 July) for the second time, as well as Sao Tome and Principe (23 July), where guided tours were held for members of the Armed Forces, National Police, students, and local Russians. Visitors explored the ship’s navigation systems, weaponry, and training facilities, and spoke with the crew and cadets, according to the Russian embassy.
On 27 July the Smolny docked in Pointe-Noire in the Republic of Congo – also its second visit. While in port, Russian and Congolese representatives held talks about expanding bilateral naval cooperation. Departing Pointe-Noire on 30 July, the Smolny then headed to Cape Town, arriving on Tuesday 5 August.
After its South Africa stop, the Smolny is due to make port calls in Tanzania and Vietnam before returning to Vladivostok in late September. There are 15 Tanzanian military students on board.
During last year’s voyage, the Smolny visited numerous African countries, including Cameroon, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Namibia, and Angola. The vessel also visited Venezuela and Cuba last year.
The Smolny (Smolnyy) is the lead ship of the class. The 138 metre long vessel has a cruising range of 9 000 nautical miles at 14 knots, and a full speed of 20 knots. Standard displacement is 6 120 tons. Armament comprises four 76 mm guns and two twin 30 mm anti-aircraft guns.
Smolny was commissioned on 30 June 1976 and since mid-2015 has made various long sea voyages to train cadets of the naval educational institutions of the Russian Defence Ministry. Over the last 50 years the Smolny has trained some 45 000 cadets.
The post Russian Navy training ship Smolny back in Cape Town appeared first on defenceWeb.
