Article Posted on : - Sep 13, 2010

A file photo of Russian Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russian Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser has completed its tour-of-duty of six months and returned to its home base in northern Russia on Sunday, a media report said.

According to RIA Novosti, the cruiser sailed through the Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean and has covered almost 28000 nautical miles since March 30th, 2010. The warship has accomplished a wide range of tasks in line with a comprehensive programme of combat training and took part in the Vostok-2010 strategic drills in the Pacific from June-July.

Before returning to its home base in the Severomorsk, the Pyotr Veliky has also conducted a naval exercise ‘PASSEX’ with the Indian Talwar class missile frigate INS Trishul. The naval vessels practiced joint manoeuvring exercise and carried out several communications drills.

The warship also took part in the joint military exercise PASSEX with the French Navy on September 6.

The Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser is the most largest and powerful warship in Russian Navy.

The warship is 251 meters long and has a displacement of between 24000 and 26000 tonnes. The ship has the capability to sail with a speed of 31 knots (almost 57 km/hr) with more than 700 crew members onboard.

The ship's main weapons include 20 SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles, designed to engage large surface targets and air defence is provided by 12 SA-NX-20 Gargoyle launchers with 96 missiles and 2 SA-N-4 Gecko with 44 missiles.