First Mistral class LHD for Russia, Vladivostok, started sea trials with 200 sailors on board

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Naval Force News - Russia
 
 
 
First Mistral class LHD for Russia, Vladivostok, started sea trials with 200 sailors on board
 
Vladivostok, the first French-built Mistral-class LHD built for Russia left STX shipyard in St Nazaire this morning to start a series of sea trials with 200 Russian sailors on board. Under the contract, the first amphibious assault ship is to be delivered to Russia by the end of the year, while the second ship, the Sevastopol, is due to arrive next year. Earlier this month, an official statement made by the French presidency explained the delivery of Vadivostok is on hold until November.
     
Vladivostok, the first French-built Mistral-class LHD built for Russia left STX shipyard in St Nazaire this morning to start a serie of sea trials with 200 Russian sailors on board. Under the contract, the first amphibious assault ship is to be delivered to Russia by the end of the year, while the second ship, the Sevastopol, is due to arrive next year. Earlier this month, an official statement made by the French presidency explained the delivery of Vadivostok is on hold until November.
The Mistral-class LHD Vladivostok, carrying some 200 Russian sailors leavin Saint-Nazaire on Saturday morning to start a series of trials at sea
     
The Vladivostok had left docks at 3:30 a.m. local time (1:30 GMT), but was forced to wait until the tide thus eventually sailing out to sea at 7:20 a.m. (5:20 GMT) accompanied by two tugboats, Agence France-Presse reported.

This is the first time the ship goes to sea since its arrival to Saint-Nazaire in June where two crews of Russian sailors, a total of 400 crew members, have been awaiting sea trials.
     
According to an official statement made by the French presidency on September 3rd, the delivery of the first Mistral-class LHD, built for Russia is now on hold until November. Russia and France signed a contract for two Mistral-class LHDs for $1.6 billion in June 2011. Under the contract, the first French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, the Vladivostok, is to be delivered to Russia by the end of the year, while the second ship, the Sevastopol, is due to arrive next year.
Russian Navy Mistral class LHD Vladivostok
     
The ships are capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing craft, 70 armored vehicles and 450 soldiers, and are expected to be deployed with Russia’s Pacific Fleet.

Check out our technical datasheet to learn more about the Mistral class