MANILA — Members of Naval Task Force (NTF) 87, who are now on a six-day port visit to Vladivostok, Russia, had a chance to see firsthand a Russian diesel-electric submarine, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur, on Wednesday.
NTF head Capt. Florante Gagua, in a statement, said this was made possible through the invitation of the Russian Pacific Fleet based in the said locality.
He added that the submarine was positioned near the location where the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) is currently docked.
The PN port visit started on Oct. 1 and will end on Saturday, October 6.
Some PN personnel were able to witness how the Komsomolsk-on-Amur was able to maneuver and approach the Filipino strategic sealift vessel.
“Together with the selected and privileged members of the PN contingent are the media personnel from the Philippines who were also allowed to visit the submarine. The event started around 2 o’clock and ended at 4 o’clock in the afternoon (local time). A total of 24 personnel (16 military and eight civilian) benefited the said tour,” Gagua said.
Lt. Cmdr. Aleksey Lanskikh, the submarine’s commanding officer, conducted a briefing prior to the tour.
The PN contingent was toured in different places of the submarine and the last place that was visited was the officers’ dining area or the wardroom.
Refreshments were served and exchanges of mementoes between NTF-87 head and the commanding officer of the submarine took place during the end of the tour, Gagua said. (/PNA)
