Russian Navy Cruisers Positioned to Counter US, French, Italian Carrier Groups in the Mediterranean

[Dial H For Hero]

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/22/russian-navy-cruisers-positioned-to-counter-u-s-french-and-italian-carrier-groups-in-the-mediterranean

Three Russian guided-missile cruisers have been arrayed across the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to counter three NATO carrier strike groups, causing concern in the Pentagon, a U.S. defense official told USNI News on Tuesday.

As of Monday, the three Slava-class cruisers were operating in and around the Aegean Sea – RTS Moskva (121) in the Black Sea, RFS Varyag (011) south of Italy and RTS Marshal Ustinov (055) off the coast of Syria, near Russia’s naval base in Tartus.

Moskva is based in the Black Sea, while Marshal Ustinov traveled from the Northern Fleet and Varyag from the Pacific Fleet. Ustinov and Varyag entered the Mediterranean from opposite ends earlier this month.

The three 11,500-ton Slavas were designed around launchers that can hold 16 SS-N-12 Sandbox anti-ship cruise missiles – each about the size of a telephone pole. Developed in the 1970s, the Slavas and the Sandboxes were designed to take on U.S. and NATO aircraft carriers by overwhelming them with a barrage of high-speed cruise missiles to sink ships.

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[AllyCat]

1. Russia was lying all along. We knew it.

[abqtommy]

2. I have confidence in the NATO naval, air and ground forces, if it comes to that. nt

[Dial H For Hero]

7. The SS-N-12 is an older missile, but throw enough of them at a carrier group and some will

get through. How many would it take, though?

[Bettie]

3. He has to know that directly attacking NATO vessels would

be very bad for him.

Or does he believe that no one will do anything?

Much like TFG, he hasn't really faced much in the way of consequences for anything. He manages to acquire wealth and power despite sanctions.

[uponit7771]

4. After Putin's recent speech I don't know, he sounded like I said he sounded for YEARS; angry at west

... for the fall of USSR.

Shit, it wasn't our fault that they busted their rainy day fund on Afghanistan

[Bettie]

6. I guess there are two questions:

Does he feel bold enough to launch a war?

Does the West have the will to stop him, or will he be rewarded with Ukraine and whatever else he decides to take?

[uponit7771]

8. 1. In *ALL* of Ukraine? After this week I'd say yes because he SOUNDED like he thinks he can ...

... subjugate the Ukrainian people and they'd fall in line like in Chechnya and Georgia.

At minimum he's going to ooze his way into the two eastern UKR provinces.

2. Yes, I think the west is willing to stop Putin but after we get a full all out hit on a NATO country. After an attack NATO will gather will of the people the resources of our forces and go and fuck his shit up.

I don't think he wants to tangle with NATO, he crazy but he aint that crazy.

[Mr.Bill]

5. If Russia wants to take on the combined naval power

of NATO countries, Russia won't have a navy for very long.

[TomSlick]

9. It would be profoundly stupid for the Russians to fire on western naval vessels.

I would expect any western fleet to return fire if fired upon. An attack on a naval vessel of any NATO member would require all of NATO to respond militarily.