Russia-U.S. Pacific naval exercise ends

VLADIVOSTOK, September 28 (RIA Novosti) - The joint Russian-U.S. naval exercise Pacific Eagle 2007, held in the Amur Gulf near Vladivostok, ended on Sunday, Russia's Pacific Fleet press office said.

The exercise included mine-sweeping and anti-submarine operations, the mock interception of a vessel trespassing in territorial waters and a sea-rescue operation, said a spokesman.

The USS Lassen (DDG 82), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and the USS Patriot (MCM 7), a minesweeper, participated in the drill.

Russia was represented by the Admiral Panteleyev, an Udaloy-class destroyer, a BT-100 minesweeper, a GS-84 survey vessel, and a RB-326 towboat.

The two-day exercise, which started on September 28, was followed by a memorial ceremony in honor of the crews of two submarines - the Soviet L-19 and the American Wahoo - sunk during WWII.

The naval exercise was the third meeting of American and Russian sailors this year.

Source : RIA Novosti


Russian naval exercises
The Black Sea Fleet - once a symbol of power but since 1991 a source of discord between Russia and Ukraine - was divided between the two countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union. And though large-scale joint military exercises have been staged, the Fleet is facing a troubled present and an uncertain future.