Russia confirms higher level of submarine activity

Karl Soper, Washington DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
23 March 2016
The Russian submarine force has significantly increased its operational tempo, according to local media reports marking Submariners' Day on 19 March.
Russian Northern Fleet nuclear-powered submarines were underway for 1,500 days last year, 50% more than in 2014, navy spokesmen reported.
These at-sea days included the initial combat patrol of the first Borey-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky and patrols by Delta IV-class SSBNs Karelia and Novomoskovsk , Oscar II-class nuclear-powered guided missile submarine (SSGN) Smolensk , Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Pantera , Victor III-class SSN Obninsk , Sierra II-class SSN Nizhny Novgorod , and others, according to Vice Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, the commander of the Northern Fleet's submarine force.
Adm Moiseyev also indicated that Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) Kaluga and Vladikavkaz conducted patrols, and that the fleet's SSKs were underway for 200 days in 2015.
Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, informed the media that Russia's submarines have almost doubled the time they spend conducting combat patrols and combat duty since the start of 2015. Submarines on combat duty remain in port, but are in a high state of readiness so they can put to sea on very short notice.