SOVIET NAVAL DEPLOYMENT IN DISTANT AREAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R001900090031-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 21, 2006
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: August 3, 1978
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2006/11/21 CIA-RDP81M00980R001900090031-9
3 August 1978
SUBJECT: Soviet Naval Deployment in Distant Areas
1. The Soviet Navy normally maintains groups of
combatant vessels in three areas away from the USSR.
On a typical day, the following force levels may be
present in:
1-2 cruisers
2-4 destroyers
3 frigates
2 minesweepers
2 amphibious ships
8-9 submarines
0-1 cruiser
1-2 destroyers
2 frigates
2 minesweepers
1 amphibious ship
1 submarine
1-2 destroyers
1 minesweeper
1 amphibious ship
1 submarine
v1 ..I!C
Approved For Release 2006/11,VT. l -RDP81 M00980R001900090031-9
 Approved For Release 2006/11/21 CIA-RDP81M00980R001900090031-9
2. Soviet naval force levels might rise during
periods of crisis, as they did, for example, over a
several-week period in the Mediterranean Sea during
and after the 1973 Middle East war and off the coast
of East Africa in 1977 at the height of the conflict
between Ethiopia and Somalia. In addition, occasional.
exercises or task force deployments temporarily raise
the numbers of Soviet vessels in particular distant
areas. A small contingent--usually two warships and
sometimes a submarine--visits Cuba about twice a year
for several weeks. A pair of surface combatants has
deployed to the Philippine Sea for ASII exercises in
three of the last four years, and occasionally, task
groups of Soviet warships operate further into the
central and eastern Pacific Ocean, generally staying
no longer than 1-2 weeks. Finally, about ten
intelligence collection trawlers are deployed around
the world at any given time.
SR M 78-10147
Approved For Release 2006/11/IW1RDP81M00980R001900090031-9