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5th Operational Squadron

{{Expand Russian|topic=mil|date=April 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}

{{infobox military unit

| unit_name = Fifth Eskadra
пятая эскадра

| image = Mediterranean 5th Sqn.PNG

| caption = Fifth Squadron bases in 1973.

| dates = 1963–1992

| country = {{flag|Soviet Union}}

| allegiance = {{armed forces|Soviet Union}}

| branch = {{navy|Soviet Union}}

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| role = Naval warfare
Amphibious warfare

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| garrison_label = Headquarters

| nickname = 5th Squadron

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| battles = Cold War

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The 5th Squadron (Russian: пятая эскадра, translit. pyataya eskadra, was a squadron of the Soviet Navy.

The squadron was first established in 1963–64 during the Cold War. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) generally referred to it as the Soviet Mediterranean Fleet (Russian: Средиземноморский флот), as it was the primary adversary to the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet. Attached to the Russian Navy after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the 5th Squadron was deactivated amid the downsizing of the Russian Armed Forces on 31 December 1992.Дубягин, П. Р. На Средиземноморской эскадре. – М.: Андреевский флаг, 2006. – 344 с. – {{ISBN|5-9553-0053-8}}, 337.

Since 2013, the Russian Ministry of Defence has operated the permanent Mediterranean Sea Task Force of the Russian Navy.[http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12124338@egNews Operational formation of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea will receive the Smetlivy guard ship of the Black Sea Fleet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001215052/http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12124338@egNews |date=1 October 2017 }} Russian MoD, 22 May 2017.

History

The Soviet Navy in the first half of the 1960s had not yet been able to create a force that could effectively cripple the Sixth Fleet. The Black Sea Fleet force deployed in the Mediterranean, did not have the required strength, and the attention of the Soviet Navy's leaders was drawn to the potential of first diesel electric, and then nuclear submarines to stealthily track and, with nuclear weapons, subsequently destroy aircraft carriers.Касатонов, И. В. (2009). Сорок лет 30-й дивизии Черноморского флота: через все эпохи и потрясения. М.: Вагриус. p 49

Up to May 1965, the Soviet Navy attempted to carry out its task in the Mediterranean Sea by creating a so-called mixed subdivisions formed from ships of the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet under the command of Captain 1st Rank E.I. Volobuyev and O.P. Grumbkov. This force included submarines, destroyers and supply vessels. In May 1965, the first mixed squadron was formed from the hydrographic, support vessels, attack cruisers and submarines of the Black Sea Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, under the command of 20th Water Region Division Captain 1st Rank Igor N. Molodtsov.Монаков М. С. (2008). Главком (Жизнь и деятельность Адмирала флота Советского Союза С. Г. Горшкова). Библиотека клуба адмиралов. М.: Кучково поле. p. 535. {{ISBN|978-5-9950-0008-2}}.

The question of creating staff and a temporary operational squadron in the Mediterranean was raised repeatedly by Admiral Sergei Gorshkov, Chief of the Navy. However, the General Staff did not approve the idea. Contrary to custom, Gorshkov continued to harass the Ministry of Defence with persistent requests for the creation of "... the organization that can hardly be found", not bothered by the fact that it caused irritation to the Chief of the General Staff. The Commander used to do that every suitable occasion, but "up to a certain time the requests of the Commander for the establishment of regular Mediterranean squadron to officers of the General Staff met with failure, or silence."Монаков М. С. (2008). Главком (Жизнь и деятельность Адмирала флота Советского Союза С. Г. Горшкова). Библиотека клуба адмиралов. М.: Кучково поле. p. 535, 536. {{ISBN|978-5-9950-0008-2}}.

The Six-Day War of 1967 was a factor in accelerating the creation of the Mediterranean squadron. In June 1967, the Politburo decided to create a Mediterranean squadron. In accordance with this decision, the establishment of the squadron was ordered by the Order of the Navy Commander No. 0195, dated 14 June 1967.{{cite web|author=Zaborsky V.|date=13 October 2006|url=http://nvo.ng.ru/history/2006-10-13///5_eskadra.html|title=Soviet Mediterranean Squadron|publisher=Independent Military|access-date=5 April 2013|archive-date=6 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406063301/http://nvo.ng.ru/history/2006-10-13/5_eskadra.html|url-status=live}} Rear Admiral Boris Petrov took command, and took over command of all the forces that were present on 14 July 1967 in the Mediterranean.

Attached to the Russian Navy after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the 5th Squadron was deactivated amid the downsizing of the Russian Armed Forces on 31 December 1992.Дубягин, П. Р. На Средиземноморской эскадре. – М.: Андреевский флаг, 2006. – 344 с. – {{ISBN|5-9553-0053-8}}, 337.

Commanders

References

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External links

  • {{cite web |author=Валентин Селиванов |date=1 January 2004 |url=http://www.zavtra.ru/cgi/veil/data/zavtra/04/528/61.html |title=Пятая эскадра |publisher=www.zavtra.ru |access-date=6 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020203633/http://zavtra.ru/cgi//veil//data/zavtra/04/528/61.html |archive-date=20 October 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
  • {{cite web|author=Заборский В. В. |date=13 October 2006 |url=http://nvo.ng.ru/history/2006-10-13///5_eskadra.html |title=Советская Средиземноморская эскадра |publisher=Independent Military Review/Независимое военное обозрение |access-date=6 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406063301/http://nvo.ng.ru/history/2006-10-13/5_eskadra.html |archive-date=6 April 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}
  • Michael Holm, [http://www.ww2.dk/new/navy/5opesc.htm 5th Operational Squadron], accessed January 2013

Category:Naval units and formations of the Soviet Union

Category:Military units and formations established in 1967

Category:1967 establishments in the Soviet Union

Category:Soviet Union–Syria relations

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1992

Category:1992 disestablishments in Russia