SEVEROMORSK. Feb 27 (Interfax0-AVN) - The Russian Severomorsk warship and the Italian San Marco helicopter carrier have completed international anti-piracy exercises in the Gulf of Aden, North Fleet spokesman Capt. 1st Class Vadim Serga told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.
"The Severomorsk and the San Marco acted as civilian ships by turn. The Italian ship was the first to simulate a sea pirate attack on a civilian vessel. It sent the May Day signal to the Russian ship claiming that a group of armed extremists traveling by small-size speedboats had boarded it. A Kamov Ka-27 helicopter brought two North Fleet marine groups to the San Marco. The marines "freed" the San Marco from armed extremists and examined the ship," Serga said.
"The Severomorsk posed as a ship illegally carrying weapons in the second training episode. An Italian inspection team arrived by an AB-212 helicopter and found 'the illicit cargo'," Serga said.
The Russian and Italian sailors practiced communication, ship questioning in open international radio frequencies and joint maneuvering under unified command, Serga said.