I'd written this up last year and noticed I hadn't published it as it wasn't complete, but I should put it out there in case someone else finds the partial information helpful.
Built in 1949, Site Charlie was a National Stockpile Site (NSS) with all the above ground supporting buildings for that mission. Building types are my best guesses; I couldn't identify them all. I don't know where the portal is to building 7740, but need to re-review the PDF below for additional hints and labels for the buildings.
[ Work in Progress ]
I stumbled upon this document that has a spectacular diagram of building 7740
Marshal Gelovani Photo Credit: Savitskiy Igor / ShipSpotting.com Taken November 24, 2014 in Vladivostok
Following up on my last post about this interesting tug, the Fotiy Krylov (IMO 8613346 / MMSI 273441150) showed up at 2015-08-05 00:38Z at the Port of Corinto, Nicaragua.
The Port of Corinto is classified as a small port in the Northern Pacific, and has considerable warehousing and rail links to move cargo to/from the port.
So what?
Well, the Fotiy Krylov doesn't usually travel alone, but as a tug she usually has her AIS beacon on, unlike spy-ships or other ships of war. So, who's she travelling with this time?
Rumour has it she's with the Project 862/II Marshal Gelovani (NATO: Yug Class) Hydrographic survey vessel. I can't find an IMO or MMSI for her, just a reference to 906O. I also found reference that she is an AGE: General Purpose Experimental Ship (AGE = Auxiliary General Experimental). I wonder if she's experimenting with something, and what they're up to?
The only thing I know that's going on in Nicaragua is the new canal which is being bankrolled by the Chinese, which is going to erode the American-controlled Panama canal's monopoly. Just today they announced potential changes to the Pacific entry of the canal. Are the Russians helping with oceanographic surveying? Are they experimenting with new sonar? Nicaragua is an ally of Russia, so any number of other projects could be going on, or they could have just stopped for some fuel and cigars. I really don't know.
Title:Marshal Gelovani Russian Navy Auxiliary Project 862/II | NATO: Yug Class Launched:11.02.1983 Commissioned:29.07.1983 Serving:Pacific Fleet / Vladivostok, Russia Concept / Program (multiple sources have the ship listed differently): AGE: General Purpose Experimental Ship (AGE = Auxiliary General Experimental) General-purpose research ship Ekspeditsionnoye Okeanograficheskoye Sudno (EOS); Expeditionary Oceanographc Vessel Hydrographic survey vessel Displacement:1,892 tons / 2,490 tons (full) Dimensions:82.5 x 13.5 x 3.97 meters/270.6 x 44.3 x 13 feet Propulsion:2 Sulzer diesels, 2 shafts, 3,600 bhp, 15.6 knots Crew:46 civilian + 20 mission crew + 4 passengers/transients Built:Poland, Stocznia Polnocna, Gdansk [information compiled from multiple sources]
I'm not sure what the story is here, so I'm putting it out on the Internet to see if someone can fill in the blanks. It seems on June 4th 2015 three USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath landed at Gander International Airport (CYQX) with a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.
Why is this interesting?
Several reasons.
At the time there was a rumour of an in-flight emergency, but I can't find any details. There is also a rumour they were on their way to Iraq and/or the Azores (on their way to Iraq I guess?), but they're still there, as of last week.
The tail numbers of the planes are 98-0134, 91-0605 and 91-0332.
However, the tail also usually has a red or blue stripe along the top indicating their squadron, and the squadron number was painted on the tail as early as last year (ref: http://www.f-15e.info/joomla/operators/134-tailcodes#0-7-ln ) What does the lack of squadron number mean? Are these being decommissioned, or redistributed to another base? Either way, why keep the LN while in transit..?
I know full well that my 1999 6.5L TurboDiesel GMC Suburban K2500 doesn't need to be the "ultimate" bug-out vehicle, I'm not expecting to survive the Zombie Apocalypse, but I did want to be able to transport as much Diesel as I could fit behind the 3rd row of seats - sealed, and not leaking in case I wanted to travel far into the bush, or bring enough fuel for myself and a 2nd vehicle. I wanted to use military surplus jerry cans as well, because they're strong and built to military specifications. So how much Diesel can fit behind the 3rd row? It seems the magic number is twelve 20L Military Fuel Cans (240L).
Scepter has been manufacturing Military Fuel Cans (Jerry Cans) for the Canadian Forces (and US Military, and NATO) for at least two decades, and skids of surplus cans show up at Crown Asset Disposal from time to time. I have not been fortunate enough to find such a skid, but by keeping an eye on Kijiji, and having some luck, I have come into possession of twelve such cans. All have come with their fair share of scratches and marks, but I like that, it gives them character! The problem is, some of them leak from around the opening - but why?
This video described exactly why:
So now I'm posed with the issue of fixing them... but where do I get parts? eBay? Well, yes I could, but no seller has all the parts I need in one place. From the video above I know I need gaskets, replacement yellow tabs for some, and flanges.
There's Princess Auto; and who doesn't love Princess Auto?! Me right now, because they don't have the parts I need, they just occasionally have military fuel canisters for sale.
There's Rampart International, who sell a lot of Scepter stuff - but not the small parts. So, they're off the list despite being Ottawa-local.
...then there's DS Tactical in British Colombia who's got everything, online, and ready to order! YOU DS Tactical get my business because you're better than the rest of the Scepter dealers in Canada. Thank you for making business easier!
The order has been placed, and hopefully I'll get the parts by the end of the week.
Update: Within an hour of the parts arriving, all MFC cans were repaired (although in hindsight I could have used one more flange and another seal...). The net cost of all of them is still a fraction of MSRP, even with the pricey parts from DS Tactical. Worth it, IMHO.
I signed up for MarineTraffic.com's notification service to tell me when ships of (my) interest come and go from Port. I'd sort of forgotten I'd done so, as I hadn't received a notice from any of my alerts lately. AIS transponders on military ships get turned off when they're being stealthy; but a ship that wears more than one hat might choose not turn off their transponder, else it would be suspicious. One such ship, that I strongly believe serves multiple roles, is the Fotiy Krylov (СБ-135 Фотий Крылов IMO:8613346 MMSI:273441150). The Fotiy Krylov is the twin of the Nikolay Chiker (СБ-131 Николай Чикер IMO:8613334 MMSI:273543910), but serves the Pacific fleet, sailing out of the home of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet,Vladivostok (Владивосто́к) from what roughly translates to Golden Horn Bay, or Zolotoy Rog Bay (Золотой Рог) .
Photo Credit: Unknown | Location: Port of Limassol
Both ships have very unique capabilities; underwater cameras, specialized gear, and a moon pool allowing un-monitored underwater operations. The ships are officially ocean going tugs, but I believe they are used for much more.
The Krylov left Vladivostok, executed some very interesting maneuvers at sea, and returned to harbour back at Vladivostok... all in 6 hours. From the pattern, what do you think they were doing? That's more than a casual shake-down or idle cruise.
It looks to me like they were steering in large sweeping patterns listening for something, found something, and returned to the military side of the port. Whatever it was, they didn't have an exact location of it, but circled in when they found what they were looking for.
The question is, what did they retrieve?
Я бы очень хотел недавний снимок корабля Фотий Крылов в золотой рог!
From my previous post, I aggregated as much open source information as I could, and compiled the following specifications for the Fotiy Krylov (and Nikolay Chiker, its twin). These are the largest and strongest ocean going tugs in the world.
"Both ships constructed by Hollming, Rauma, Finland. Laid down in 1987 and entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1989. Under ownership of Russian company Sovfracht, operated by Greek company Tsavliris during the 1990s before returning to Russian naval service in about 2006. Both tugs are probably still available for commercial use. Equipped with three water cannons." -Jane's Fighting Ships
"Built by Hollming (Rauma), Helsinki and completed 12 April 1989. A second of class A Krylov SB 135 completed 30 June 1989 but was sold illegally to Greece in March 1993 and for a short time renamed Tsavliris Giant. These are the largest salvage tugs in the world with a 250 ton bollard pull on each of two towing winches with a third 60 ton winch. The crew includes two divers and there are two decompression chambers. Four firefighting foam/water guns are fitted on the bridge/mast. Designed to operate in extreme temperatures. SB 131 is in the Northern Fleet." -Jane's Fighting Ships
"Rescue tug "Nikoli Chiker" was built in 1989 in Finland, commissioned by the Navy of the USSR. It was intended to be used primarily for towing large ships, ie, aircraft carriers, and conduct rescue operations. The construction of these two vessels, this one and the class leader the "Foty Krilov", cost the navy $ 50 million. Immediately after construction during the tests, type "Fory Krylov" was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the vessel which can create the most powerful traction when towing. Power plant is 25, 000 horsepower. These characteristics, as well as design features allow it to tow vessels of up to 250 thousand tons at a rough sea at eight points at a speed of four knots. Performance still unrivaled. Although by designation it is just a tug boat, even the most powerful in the world, this hides its other capabilities. This is a rescue complex. Installed on it is diving equipment which allows for complex deep-water work. It is equipped with a pressure chamber, dry suits, underwater cameras, the means to blur the ground, underwater welding and cutting, metal detectors. In addition to all tug capable apply for ships in distress flame retardant liquid, using their own equipment to extinguish fires. Helipad supports all-weather 24-hour operation of the helicopter with refueling. Fully equipped operating room and three wards." -Warfare.ru, Wikimapia
"The moored lifting power of these tugs is 230 tons. Each is equipped with diving equipment for depths of up to 60 meters (nearly 197 feet). The tugs are also equipped with two 8-ton capacity cranes. They are also equipped with water cannon. Additional equipment includes a 3-ton capacity crane; two 32-ton salvage winches; two 10-ton salvage winches; two 150-ton towing winches; one 60-ton towing winch; two 400-ton cable/chain stoppers; a 250-ton bollard pull and a 441-pound transfer system for dry cargo and personnel. HULL: These ships have a burly profile. The raked bow has a large-radius nose rimmed with a bulwark, a forecastle extending well aft, tall superstructure topped by a bridge with 360-deg visibility, paired stacks on the after corners of the superstructure and a low-freeboard stern with curved counter. The helicopter platform is forward of the bridge and can accept a medium helicopter. The ships began service in the Soviet navy. Both were named in 1991. FOTIY KRYLOV was leased to a Greek commercial company in 1992 and renamed M/V GIANT, then renamed again as TSAVLIRIS GIANT. NICOLAY CHIKER also was leased to a Greek company. In 1995, both were returned for further service in the Russian navy." -MilitaryPeriscope.com
Credit: Lloyd's Register - Fairplay's Internet Ships Register Jane's Fighting Ships MilitaryPeriscope.com warfare.ru Wikipedia Last recorded position:
