The Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet training ship Smolny has returned to Cape Town, nearly a year after its last visit to South African shores. The vessel is currently on a training cruise that includes several African and Asian ports of call.
By Jarryd Sinovich
The Smolny set sail from Kronstadt at the end of June, carrying around 400 personnel—including 200 naval cadets and military students from Russia’s partner countries. The deployment is part of a hands-on training programme for future naval officers.
This year’s voyage has already seen the Smolny make port calls in Equatorial Guinea (20 July) and São Tomé and Príncipe (23 July), where it opened its decks to local armed forces, police, students, and members of the Russian diaspora. Visitors toured the ship’s training areas, navigation equipment, and defensive systems, while interacting with both crew and cadets.
The ship then arrived in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo, on 27 July. While docked, Russian and Congolese officials reportedly held talks focused on growing naval ties. Smolny departed Pointe-Noire on 30 July and docked in Cape Town on 5 August.
The next stops on the itinerary include Tanzania and Vietnam, with the voyage expected to conclude in Vladivostok towards the end of September. Notably, 15 Tanzanian cadets are also on board as part of the international training initiative.
During its 2024 deployment, Smolny visited a wide range of ports across Africa and Latin America, including Cameroon, Benin, Namibia, Angola, Venezuela, and Cuba. The current cruise continues Russia’s pattern of using naval deployments for training and diplomatic outreach.
Commissioned in 1976, the Smolny is the lead ship of its class. Measuring 138 metres in length, it displaces 6,120 tons and can travel up to 9,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots. Its top speed is 20 knots. The ship is armed with four 76 mm naval guns and two twin 30 mm anti-aircraft mounts. Over the last five decades, Smolny has trained an estimated 45,000 naval cadets and continues to serve as one of Russia’s primary seagoing training platforms.
