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Mike Plunkett

@mikeplunkett.bsky.social
360 followers 90 following 380 posts

Senior Naval Platforms Analyst with Janes and contributor to Janes Fighting Ships. Russian and Chinese warships are my speciality, but I also cover the Koreas. All opinions expressed here are mine alone. RT/Like ≠ endorsement

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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 2h
The checkered pattern makes it stand out nicely against the surrounding water...
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 15h
RF Navy Baltic Fleet Sviyazhsk-class missile patrol ship Serpukhov underway in the southern Baltic Sea --- somewhere between Klintholm Havn (Denmark) and Zingst (Germany) --- on 8 October www.shipspotting.com/photos/big/9... [corrected post]
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 16h
Some additional detail: ADMIRAL USHAKOV is a Sovremenny I-class destroyer (a dying breed these days). Across the pier from IVAN GREN is one of the Northern Fleet's Udaloy I-class destroyers.
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 16h
Yes. A guy hanging out of the door with a good camera and a long lens will get much better images than that little EO/IR sensor.
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
RF Navy Deployed Days in 2026 (as of 10 October) = 9,209 - ships/subs currently deployed (on 10 October): 29 - daily average of ships/subs deployed (1 January-10 October): 33 - daily number of ships/subs deployed (1 January-10 October): lowest = 22 / highest = 37
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 16h
RF Coast Guard Sobol-class patrol craft - before (May 2026) and after (later in 2026)
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I would be very surprised if one of them didn't.
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Looks like they've put some kind of cope cage over the SAM VLS which is going make using it interesting...
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vesselspotter.eurosky.social @vesselspotter.eurosky.social · 09/10/2026
...and what is this? @mrfrantarelli.bsky.social @spectrecrouton.bsky.social @pmakela.bsky.social @volberg.bsky.social
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The Dane's *always* get this close. In my previous life I used to get the shots from these flights come across my desk and they are absolutely amazing.
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Nice shots of the PACFLT AGIs neatly lined up.
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Photos from 8 October show Voyevoda berthed at Far East Ship Repair Center, across the bay from RF Navy Pacific Fleet intelligence collection ships Kareliya (SSV-535), Kurily (SSV-208), and Pribaltika (SSV-80) static.vl.ru/news/1791454... static.vl.ru/news/1791454... static.vl.ru/news/1791454...
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
RF Project 23700 special-purpose vessel Voyevoda transferred from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy to Vladivostok (Bukhta Zolotoy Rog) on 26 September-3 October, based on AIS reporting. www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/detai...
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Steregushchiy-class corvette Sovershennyy departed Vladivostok during afternoon hours on 7 October then conducted an eastbound transit of the La Perouse Strait on 9 October www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
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Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
static.klipy.com
Kerbal's Panic Flight in KSP Cockpit
ALT: Kerbal's Panic Flight in KSP Cockpit
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Simon Kuestenmacher @simongerman600.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
A brilliant map of Nova Scotia’s lighthouses, showing each coastal light flashing in its real-world rhythm and pattern. A beautiful piece of cartography that turns navigational infrastructure into something almost hypnotic. Source: buff.ly/16Ye3IN
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saturnax1.bsky.social @saturnax1.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
#SubWednesday #Submarines 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery training with a German Navy Type 212A-class Batch II diesel-electric/AIP attack submarine of the coast of Scotland. Source: www.instagram.com/p/DeJ2_criPKp/
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
...Neustrashimyy continues operating in the southern North Sea, east of the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm, today (6 October) x.com/pegge49/stat...
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
...Neustrashimyy continues operating in the southern North Sea today (2 October) x.com/pegge49/stat...
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
...Neustrashimyy continues operating in the southern North Sea today (13 September) x.com/pegge49/stat...
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
...Neustrashimyy operating east of the Galloper Offshore Wind Farm in the southern North Sea on 12 September x.com/pegge49/stat...
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
...Vasiliy Tatishchev and Neustrashimyy operating just east of the Galloper Offshore Wind Farm in the southern North Sea today --- before or after a likely resupply event x.com/pegge49/stat...
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
static.klipy.com
April Fools Joke: 'It's Fine' Meme
ALT: April Fools Joke: 'It's Fine' Meme
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
RF Navy Baltic Fleet Amur-class repair ship PM-82 possibly departed Baltiysk during the evening hours on 5 October [based on metadata analysis] - PM-82 could be en route to the North Sea to resupply Neustrashimyy
Archive image, April 2017
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I'm sorry, but a full spread of torpedoes is easily going to fill the width of a canal. That boat's doomed with or without dazzle camouflage.
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Future RF Navy Pacific Fleet Uragan-class missile patrol ship Udomlya departed Amur Shipyard (under tow) on 30 September en route to Vladivostok for outfitting and sea trials
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I was about to say, this is the middle of the crisis and the only way is down.
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
And they think that will *improve* the capabilities of those fleets?!
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
So...Nakhimov has been fitted with Top Plate, but that's not it (the Top Plate is on the aft mast). The Top Pair replacement is MR-650 Podberezovik-ET2, which does have a NATO reporting name but for the life of me I can never remember what it is!
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Hopefully there will be a satellite pass over Severomorsk (and favourable weather!) soon, although I've learned not to hold my breath.
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
RF Navy Northern Fleet Slava-class cruiser Marshal Ustinov departed port midday on 29 September and remains underway through today - ship has amassed at least 68 underway days since 23 February 2026
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Crappy/lazy RUS>ENG translation on this display [more coherent translation of the upper portion included]: - some system names translated (Оникс > Onyx), some not (Кинжал > ???) - some abbreviations translated (БПЛА > UAV), some not (ГАК > ???) - Зенитная артиллерия > Artillery Flak (really???)
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Juliet, Juliet...
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Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
When foreign invaders occupy part of your country and turn your children, in their own schools, into soldiers trained to come back and kill the rest of you once they grow up, it’s… it’s just unspeakable evil. It is unfathomable tragedy for Ukraine.
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Looking at some of the other views on Copernicus there is something large on the south side of that pier, which is possibly Nakhimov. The most recent imagery of Severomorsk on Vantor is a couple of weeks old but has Nakhimov in that location.
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The Slides @theslides.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
"US Navy 35mm presentation slides," slide 9 of 20 [gallery]
[no alt text added yet! reply with yours!] id:360 db:ec67f
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Massimo Frantarelli @mrfrantarelli.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The Udaloy-class destroyer "Admiral Levchenko" has entered the Baltic Sea and is heading toward Baltiysk. Photo by Frank Behling (Oct 2)
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Alison @alisonbee.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Have a lovely weekend 🐑🐏
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Following a brief in-port period, RF Navy Northern Fleet Yantar-class special-purpose auxiliary vessel Yantar departed port by midday on 30 September and remains underway through today previous underway: 31 August-27 September
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
RF Navy Northern Fleet Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship Viktor Leonov (SSV-175) departed port on 22 September and remains underway through today (2 October) - previous underway: 1 April 2025-11 June 2026 (intelligence collection mission + repairs) bsky.app/profile/spec...
Archive image, May 2025
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
And after a bit of additional thought, since "Supremacy at Sea" only goes up to the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Mark E Stille's "Leyte Gulf" is a useful companion to it.
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 27 September and remains underway through today (1 October) - previous underway: 30 August-24 September (patrol) bsky.app/profile/spec...
Archive image
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
RF Navy Northern Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 24 September and remains underway through today (1 October) - previous underway: 17-20 September (local training) bsky.app/profile/spec...
Archive image, undated
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Japan-U.S. joint Exercise KEEN SWORD 27 to be held 19-29 October - Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Philippines to join - approx. 45,000 personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 vessels, 260 aircraft ** anticipate RF military surveillance ** www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
For the fourth time in 2026, President Putin has ordered an increase in Armed Forces military service member end strength - total end strength increased by 15,500 troops; civilian end strength unchanged - in 2026, total end strength has increased by 52,500 troops: 50,500 troops + 2,000 civilians)
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
RF Navy deployment stats: ships deployed at least one day in 2026 + total days deployed through 30 September 2026
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spectre crouton @spectrecrouton.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port during afternoon hours on 31 August and remains underway through today - this may be the same submarine that deployed 20 April-28 June bsky.app/profile/spec...
Archive image, undated
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Mike Plunkett @mikeplunkett.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"Supremacy At Sea" by Evan Mawdsley.
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🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 @specialkhersoncat.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A rare glimpse inside a Ukrainian FPV farm. Operators feed their flock a balanced diet of grain and lithium batteries. A few more weeks and they’ll be ready to leave the coop and hunt Russian equipment.
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saturnax1.bsky.social @saturnax1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#SubSaturday #Submarines German Navy Type 212A-class Batch II diesel-electric/AIP attack submarine U-36 (S-186) coming into Leith, September 24, 2026. Photos by Dave Cullen. @sarahkirchberger.bsky.social @rstirn.bsky.social @covertshores.bsky.social @mikeplunkett.bsky.social @johannu96.bsky.social
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