Confusion over refuelling requests for Russian warships

 

 

MADRID: -- Russia has denied making a refuelling request to Spain for a fleet of its warships which has been sailing for the past week en route for Syria.

 

Russia’s defence ministry has said no request had been sent for the main vessel, aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, to be refuelled in Ceuta.

 

Earlier reports had said Moscow had originally asked for permission to dock at the Spanish port but had later withdrawn the request.

 

Spain has been under pressure from NATO allies who have been following the flottila, not to allow the stop over. However NATO’s chief said it was a matter for the Spanish government.

 

Led by Russia’s only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the naval group includes a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two anti-submarine warships and four support vessels, probably escorted by submarines.

 

The battle group carries dozens of fighter bombers and helicopters and is expected to join about 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast.

 

There is concern among the alliance members that the deployment of the ships and the aircraft they are carrying could lead to an increase in air assaults in Syria, notably in the besieged city of Aleppo.

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-10-27

Both sides should have pulled out or better yet never got involved with massive amounts of troops and support in that area of the world in the first place. Assad should just have been assassinated right away. There may have been a chance for a lot less death but who knows maybe the war-mongers just want deaths of anyone who could be an enemy someday. Anyways, getting rid of the source of the problem by eliminating the leaders and those around them is far better for the common man in my view. Yes, other leaders would potentially be threatened but that might make those who seek to lead nations a bit more willing to die for their nation rather than as it is now where these leaders are happy to send troops to die in their place.

It's difficult to understand why ships that sailed from the Russian port of Severomorsk  between the 12 and 15 October would require fuel or provisions 2 weeks later.

2 hours ago, johna said:

It's difficult to understand why ships that sailed from the Russian port of Severomorsk  between the 12 and 15 October would require fuel or provisions 2 weeks later.

They are not nuclear powered (insane range on one fuel stock...Nimitz class carriers can be at sea for 25 years). I think the Russian single carrier has a few 1000 miles range.

Leave em floating with no fuel...that'll teach em to play fast and loose.

7 hours ago, Alive said:

Both sides should have pulled out or better yet never got involved with massive amounts of troops and support in that area of the world in the first place. Assad should just have been assassinated right away. There may have been a chance for a lot less death but who knows maybe the war-mongers just want deaths of anyone who could be an enemy someday. Anyways, getting rid of the source of the problem by eliminating the leaders and those around them is far better for the common man in my view. Yes, other leaders would potentially be threatened but that might make those who seek to lead nations a bit more willing to die for their nation rather than as it is now where these leaders are happy to send troops to die in their place.

 

You think the murder of Assad would have been a solution ?  Did the murder of Libyan leader Qaddafi bring a solution or total and endless chaos?

If you think that the Russians are out there running out of fuel you are the idiot.

1 hour ago, fvw53 said:

 

You think the murder of Assad would have been a solution ?  Did the murder of Libyan leader Qaddafi bring a solution or total and endless chaos?

It brought end to possible dinar currency. Cha-ching. Like Sadam. Cha ching (oil, resources, pipleline, central bank-cha ching).

They probably supply Spain with gas and oil anyway....................

2 hours ago, fvw53 said:

 

You think the murder of Assad would have been a solution ?  Did the murder of Libyan leader Qaddafi bring a solution or total and endless chaos?

or Iraq? some people think you can fix a chickens problems by chopping off its head.

19 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

or Iraq? some people think you can fix a chickens problems by chopping off its head.

 

Well, you certainly fix that particular chicken's problems

I would imagine Putin was just testing the waters by requesting refueling facilities in Spain. He doesn't need them since Russia signed an agreement last year with Cyprus to allow its naval vessels to use Cypriot ports to refuel and re-supply.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31632259

 

I wonder of the Russians have to deal with the same in port corruption the Americans  did  in s.e. asia ?

Spain didn't refuse the fuel, just told the carrier captain, "no cards just cash, oh and in US dollars please".

4 hours ago, khundon said:

Spain didn't refuse the fuel, just told the carrier captain, "no cards just cash, oh and in US dollars please".

Lol, maybe.  But Russia probably has more spare petroleum of its own lying around than it knows what to do with.  A fleet tanker or two - surprised that wasn't one of the support ships in the first place - would solve the problem nicely, if there even is one (and I don't think than can necessarily be inferred simply from a reported request to Spain).  Maybe all they really wanted was to take on some decent food stores.

 

If the transit from their homeports was high-speed, or they sortied less than full for whatever reason, then they possibly did burn through much of their onboard fuel supply (except for Kuznetsov), but Kuznetsov could always continue on its own to the oparea unescorted (I really don't think anybody's going to torpedo it...) with the rest catching up when they can.  It's all mainly just a "big stick" show anyway.

16 hours ago, fvw53 said:

 

You think the murder of Assad would have been a solution ?  Did the murder of Libyan leader Qaddafi bring a solution or total and endless chaos?

 

Which country has more chaos Libya or Syria? Which country has had more death and destruction? Which country has wasted more of my nation's wealth and lives? I guess you would have been against assassinating Hitler too.

1 hour ago, Alive said:

 

Which country has more chaos Libya or Syria? Which country has had more death and destruction? Which country has wasted more of my nation's wealth and lives? I guess you would have been against assassinating Hitler too.

Getting rid of Assad might not have made things better, but sadly,  Libya is better off. Syria is a humanitarian disaster due to Assad.