Namely, the nuclear-powered heavy missile cruiser, Peter the Great, as well as the Admiral Chabanenko (an Anti-Submarine Warship) will be directly involved in the exercises.

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The compass was also invented in China, and records exist of how a great fleet was sent under the command of Admiral Zheng He in the early 15th century to show the Chinese imperial flag in the ports of the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, a fleet said to be the largest seen in the world up to that time.

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"The great majority of the people say enough, " said Admiral Leighton Smith of the NATO Southern Command, who was finally able to land when the fog lifted temporarily.

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But within individual member countries, the admiral said, "there's a great deal of discussion" about lethal support to Syria, no-fly zones, arms embargoes and more.

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Admiral MIKE MULLEN (U.S. Navy): We get great questions, great engagement, and some of those things come back and have a significant impact on Navy policy.

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