Missile cruiser "Pyotr Veliky" returning to base
The Northern Fleet’s flagship, the nuclear-powered missile cruiser “Pyotr Veliky” (Peter the Great) is returning to its base in Severomorsk after a five months tour of duty on the World’s oceans.
According to the Regional Command in Northern Norway (LDKN), “Pyotr Veliky” passed the coast of Northern Norway this weekend, Norwegian Broadcasting Cooperation reports.
During the tour, the vessel has taken part in joint drills with the Venezuelan Navy in Venezuelan and international waters and the joint Russian-Indian naval manoeuvres “Indra-2009” in the Arabian Sea. In January, it became the first Russian vessel to visit South Africa.
According to Wikipedia “Pyotr Veliky” is a Kirov class battle cruiser that was taken into service in the Northern Fleet in 1998. Excluding aircraft carriers, Kirov class ships are the largest combat surface ships in the world. The 250 meters long vessel has a crew of 655 men and its main armament can consist of 20 SS-N-19 missiles.
