An exercise of the Pacific Fleet (PF) holding the Order of the Red Banner has begun in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday. More than 20 ships and support vessels take part in them, Itar-Tass reported. As ITAR-TASS learnt at the PF information and public relations service, a special part at this exercise is assigned to missile carriers. According to the exercise plan, striking groups consisting of the missile carrier Varyag, the destroyer Bystry, as well as crews of a squadron of torpedo boats are to detect a supposed landing of troops. Big antisubmarine ships, which are to secretly come up to our shores, will play their role, patrol aviation will prevent them from doing this. During the exercise, about 20 different individual and group combat exercises are to be fulfilled. Ship crews will hold individual and group firings on ground, surface and air targets with the use of artillery of universal caliber. Anti-sabotage actions of crews will be drilled, and mine-sweeping ships are to carry out different kinds of training sweeping. Group firing of Varyag and Bystry at air targets with the use of anti-aircraft missile complexes will be the culmination of this exercise.
