The battle-cruiser sailed out from the Northern fleet’s main base Severomorsk north of Murmansk on Tuesday, reports Vecherny Murmansk. Press officer Vadim Serga says to the newspaper the tour will last for several months and involve both patrolling and naval combat training.
The mission is a part of Russia’s plan to restore its naval presence in what for Russia is strategically important areas.
“Pyotr Veliky” the navy’s only nuclear powered surface vessel and the largest vessel armed with cruise missiles. Powered with two reactors, the vessel can make her way around the coast of Norway in up to 32 knots. The vessel has just returned from a mission along the Northern Sea Route east to the Laptev Sea and waters around the New Siberian Islands. On the return voyage several cruise missiles were test fired in the Barents Sea.
Last time “Pyotr Veliky” sailed along the coast of Norway was in 2010, then on her way back from a world ocean patrol, including a naval drill in the Indian Ocean.