Russian Pacific Fleet marks 272nd anniversary

The Russian Pacific Fleet (TOF) marks its 272nd anniversary.

RIA Novosti was informed at the TOF press centre on Wednesday that on May 21st, 1731 the Russian Senate founded the Okhotsk military port to protect Russian sea trade routes and various businesses. Later, the sailing military flotilla was assigned to Okhotsk, the first Russian military sea outpost in the Far East.

At the moment, the TOF begins reviving after the decline of the 1990s, pointed out the press service and added that "exercises of combat ships in the open sea have again become usual in the Pacific Fleet." The TOF includes missile and anti-submarine ships, atomic power submarines, multipurpose marine aviation, and a marine infantry division. The press service also pointed out that in respect to the number of ships the TOF takes the second place among Russian fleets after the Northern Fleet.

Long-distance autonomous cruises in the world ocean are actively being revived. At present, the detachment of TOF ships takes an active part in the Russian-Indian military-sea exercises in the Indian Ocean.

The role of the Pacific Fleet in implementing international missions and strengthening good-neighbourly relations between Russia and the countries of the Asian Pacific region is growing. The TOF ships took part in fulfilling the UN mission in the Persian Gulf, and paid official visits to the USA, Japan, South Korea, China and other countries.