Foreign Warship On Bosphorus in 2016 (Part 19)

Ropucha class landing ship Tsezar Kunikov returned from her Syrian deployment after 10 days. Note the two guards laying down at the bow of the ship.

According to news reports after two years of absence, North Fleet landing ship Georgiy Pobedonesets passed through Turkish Straits to join the other ships in Syrian Express deployments. Photo: Karar

Alexander Otrakovski making a southbound passage through Istanbul. Photo: Yörük Işık.

Minsk, making a southbound passage through Istanbul. Photo: via Yörük Işık.

Natya class mine sweeper Kovrovets returned to her home port. She was deployed in Syria since February 2016. Photo: Yörük Işık.

Krivak class frigate Pytlivy made a southbound passage through Istanbul with her new pennant number. Note the two guards laying down, one at the bow the other at aft.

Turkish Coast Guard boat TCSG-93 was unusual close to the Russian frigate during a part of the transit. Pytlivy is joining Ladny, Smetlivy and Serpukhov which are already in the Mediterranean Sea.

French warship D-615 FS Jean Bart left the Black Sea after spending 6 days.

Thick smoke coming from Jean Bart‘s funnel indicates her old age. She will be replaced by a FREMM class warship in a 7 years.