| The Russian fleet abandons the World Ocean Admiral Vladimir Masorin, who was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy on Sunday, yesterday outlined his own program for the development of the branch of the armed forces entrusted to him. The program is determined primarily by the parting words given to the new commander-in-chief by the president. “I was given the task of making sure that the fleet does not shake up public opinion,” the appointee said yesterday. “I will strive to fulfill it.” In addition, Vladimir Masorin intends to maintain continuity - “the line of development of the fleet that was developed by the previous command,” since it was written not by an individual, but by the main headquarters of the Navy. At the same time, the commander-in-chief was extremely harsh in his assessments and admitted that one cannot dream of world domination of the Russian fleet.
The admiral chose naval strategic nuclear forces as a priority, but he will not ignore other structures of the fleet. In particular, he named aviation, coastal units and marines. But the Commander-in-Chief will pay special attention to the training of rescuers and operators of underwater rescue vehicles, the modernization of this equipment, and the improvement of sophisticated rescue equipment. Unfortunately, this year, contrary to already announced plans, the Russian fleet will not be able to receive a Scorpion or Panther type vehicle. It's about money again. The English manufacturing company asks for a quarter of the price as an advance payment and promises to make the device in 20 weeks. But today the fleet does not have the funds for this; they managed to include them only in next year’s budget. So, God forbid, what happens - we will have to call foreigners for help again.
Today the Navy has six bathyscaphes, but all of them require modernization to extend their operation for at least another 15 years. Modernization, according to conservative estimates, will take seven years. The deputies promise to consider the sailors' financial problems at the very first meeting of the State Duma commission on closed items of the 2006 draft budget, which will take place on September 12. Vladimir Masorin honestly admitted that the Russian fleet is lagging behind the leading countries of the world in terms of rescue equipment. The Russians are at their level only in theory and training of submariners. So we cannot do without international military cooperation. The new commander-in-chief believes: in accordance with international agreements, Russian sailors must be ready to assist other states in rescue operations on an equal basis.
Perhaps the most important strategic direction of the new commander-in-chief’s work should be his openness (unless, of course, it was subtle PR before his appointment to a high position). Yesterday, as in the days when the AS-28 bathyscaphe was pulled out of the depths of the sea, Vladimir Masorin was extremely frank. He admitted that the bathyscaphe sank because Pacific Fleet officials did not perform their duties properly. After the all-round sonar in the submersible failed, the crew had to receive a command to ascend. However, the deputy commander of troops and forces in the northeast, Rear Admiral Alexander Zaika (he was removed from his post on Sunday), did not give such a command. And the crew of the bathyscaphe had no choice but to assess the underwater situation by looking out the windows. As a result, the cable of the abandoned fishing trawl was noticed late, the bathyscaphe got caught on it and lost speed. This marked the beginning of a situation that almost turned into a tragedy.
To save the AS-28, the Venom rescue apparatus available in the Pacific Fleet could well have been used, but its regular operator was on vacation, and he was replaced by a completely untrained person. As a result, the device, to call a spade a spade, was broken, like an inept child breaking a toy. There was also a second “Venom” in the Northern Fleet, but it turned out to be not suitable for air transportation. In the end, as we know, we had to turn to the British and Americans. The breakdown of the Venom cost the fleet 3 million rubles. Without exaggeration, this is the cost of bungling and a disregard for one’s work. Repairing the bathyscaphe itself will cost a pretty penny.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy yesterday was truthful to the point of mercilessness. Although he noted the “generally competent” actions of the bathyscaphe crew, who had been at a depth of two hundred meters for three days, he did not hide: during the investigation, violations by the crew of the rules of operation of the device were revealed. To celebrate, they did not attach any importance to this circumstance, but now the commander-in-chief decided to reproach the rescued. Vladimir Masorin did not consider it necessary to hide the fact that some naval commanders were roughly punished. The commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Fedorov, received a severe reprimand, the chief of staff of the fleet, Vice Admiral Sidenko, and the commander of troops and forces in the northeast, Vice Admiral Gavrikov, received a warning about incomplete performance. One circumstance is somewhat confusing - every time, speaking about the guilty, Vladimir Masorin emphasized: the High Command of the Navy was “reported late”, the main command “did not receive a report about this.” This, obviously, was not very persistently demanded of his subordinates by the then Chief of the Main Staff of the Navy, Admiral Masorin.
But let’s attribute this roughness to the age-old naval and army traditions of blaming someone else, but not ourselves. The new commander-in-chief is seen as a man who soberly assesses the current capabilities of the Russian navy. If his predecessor Vladimir Kuroyedov advocated for the Navy to enter the World Ocean in general, then Admiral Masorin advocated for the presence of our fleet only in those regions where Russia really needs it. It is there that, as the sailors say, the flag should be displayed. “I would, of course, like to see the fleet in any latitudes, but it is necessary to evaluate reality,” he said. In general, in building the fleet, the appointee intends to be guided only by “fundamental documents on the development of naval forces.” Apparently, the admiral had in mind, among other things, a new plan for the construction of the fleet, which the Minister of Defense should sign in the near future. “Our fleet is not built the way Masorin, Ivanov or Sidorov want,” the newly appointed commander-in-chief emphasized. It is not clear whether he meant the Minister of Defense when he mentioned the name Ivanov. Nikolay POROSKOV |
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