On 20 June the Russian Slava-class guided-missile cruiser Varyag arrived in San Francisco on a historic visit. The Varyag, flagship of Russia's Pacific Fleet, is the first surface warship from that nation to visit San Francisco since 1863. The voyage coincided with the first official visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the United States the same week. The cruiser departed Vladivostok en route to the United States on 4 June along with the replenishment oiler Boris Butoma and the salvage tug Fotiy Krylov. Displacing more than 11,000 tons fully loaded, the 186-meter guided-missile cruiser was commissioned in late 1989, just after the fall of the Berlin Wall. She is equipped with 64 vertically launched SA-N-6 surface-to-air missiles that can be fired from rotary launchers, and she also carries 16 SS-N-12 "Sandbox" long-range antiship missiles as well as a number of other weapons. The Varyag appeared to be in pristine condition as she hosted numerous dignitaries, members of the public, and Sailors from the cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), which had arrived in the city for a port visit along with the Russian warship.
Another rare visit took place this June in Seattle, as the frigate Te Kaha arrived from New Zealand. This marks the first time a ship from the Royal New Zealand Navy has docked in the continental United States since 1985. Warship visits between the two nations remain an extremely rare occurrence since New Zealand requires all vessels entering its waters to announce if they are carrying nuclear weapons, in compliance with their nuclear-free zone legislation. It is U.S. Navy policy, however, to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons on board its vessels, thus a reciprocal visit to New Zealand by a U.S. Navy warship is unlikely to occur in the near future without a policy change from either side. The Te Kaha was commissioned in 1997 and is one of two ANZAC (MEKO 200 ANZ)-class frigates serving in New Zealand's navy. The warship displaces some 3,500 tons (full load) and is armed with Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles, a 5-inch gun, and the Phalanx close-in-weapons system. She carries a single Seasprite multi-purpose helicopter.
This spring the German Navy announced the retirement of its six remaining Type 206A submarines from operational service due to budget cuts. The remaining boats of the class are all due to be decommissioned by the end of 2010 and are being replaced by the newer and more advanced Type 212A submarines fitted with air-independent propulsion. Built during the 1970s, the Type 206A submarines displace 520 tons submerged and typically carry a crew of 4 officers and 18 enlisted personnel. Units to be stricken include U 15 (pictured here), U 16, U 17, U 18, U 23, and U 24. At least some of the submarines may be sold abroad, although no transfer plans have yet been announced.