British Navy gives Russian Baltic Fleet sloop as 300th anniversary present

The Royal Navy has presented the Russian Baltic Fleet with a sloop called the Adventurer as a 300th anniversary gift. In a letter to the commander of the Baltic Fleet, Admiral Sir Alan West, the First Sea Lord, said that the gift was a token of the good traditions and historic ties that were established between Peter the Great and the English navy.

According to the Baltic Fleet's headquarters, the Adventurer will officially be presented to Russia during Prince Charles' visit to St. Petersburg at the end of July, when the Baltic Fleet will be celebrating its anniversary. The British frigate St. Alban will also visit St. Petersburg to take part in the celebrations.

The Adventurer is an ocean-going training sloop with two masts. The Baltic Fleet does not currently have any vessels of this kind. It will be used to give cadets basic sea and sailing training. Yesterday, the Adventurer took to water for the first time with a joint crew in a display watched by the Baltic Fleet's flagship Neustrashimy (Fearless).