THE SOVIET NORTHERN FLEET

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00972A000100220005-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 1998
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: July 9, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

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9 July 1.968
THE SOVIET NORTHERN FLEET
The Northern Fleet, its units and operations,
is of prime intelligence interest. This fleet is
the Source of ballistic missile submarines which
pose an increasingly significant portion of the
Soviet strategic threat to NATO, including the
continental United States.
Northern Fleet long range attack and cruise
missile submarines provide the Soviets with a con-
eider~able capability agatn~;t Free World merchant
shipping and naval surface units in the Norwegian
Sea, Atlantic and Mediterranean. The Northern
Fleet provides most of the 6-10 submarines regularly
on patrol in the Mediterranean.
New Soviet submarine and surface units are
delivered early if not first to the Northern
Fleet. At least one unit each of a new type of
nuclear ballistic missile submarine and a nuclear
attack submarine are now operating from Northern
Fleet bases.
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About 150 operational submarines are assigned
to the Northern Fleet. Included in this total are
27 ballistic missile (Y, H, G, and Z class) sub-
marines, 27 cruise missile (E,J, and W class) sub-
marines and 14 nuclear-powered attack (N, C, and V
class) units. The N-class units are based at Litsa
Bay as are the nuclear-powered E-class cruise missile
submarines. Some H-class and G-class submarines
are based at Sayda Bay although the bulk of the
older ballistic missile submarines are assigned
to Olenya Bay. Medium range submarines are con-
centrated at Ura Bay while the F-class and Z-class
long range attack submarines are based at Poiyarnyy.
SUBMARINE BUILDING PROGRAMS
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At least three now submarine programs ir?e now
under way. Polaris-type submarines carrying 16
missiles are being built at the Severodvinsk ship-
yard in the White Sea. From 4 to 6 of these new
submar.ine --designated the Y-class--had been
launched as of mid-June. One of these units moved
to Sayda Bay late last year
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probably will soon leave the shipyard. The rate
of production may reach as many as six a year by
1970 and as many as 38 of the new units could be
operational by mid-1975, We expect the first unit
to go out on patrol in the Atlantic this summer.
Two new classes of nuclear-powered attack
submarines also are being built in the USSR. One
of these submarines--designated the C-class--is
built at the Gorkiy shipyard. The lead unit of
this class was moved to Severodvinsk for the final
outfitting last summer and then sent to the opera-
tional base in Litsa l3ay.
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There is some evidence
t:o irndica te that this Submarine r.ar~ ies a new type
weapons system, possibly a rocket ass is ted torpedo
such as the Subroc system.
A new V-class submat'iiiW. L being butIt .it
the Admiralty shipyard in Leningrad. These units
appear to be an improved version of the older N-
class units and may not be as advanced as the. C-
class. Leningrad has a limited production capacity,
and this building program may be intended to produce
on I.y :a 1 i m i tod numbe.c of
submra r Ln~~r .
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Three of the new Kresta-class guided missile
cruisers have been completed. One is assigned to
the Northern Fleet, and the other two are operating
in the Baltic. Two conventional cruisers are with
the Northern Fleet and four others are in the
Baltic.
The newer missile-equipped ships increasingly
are being used for the more distant deployments.
Of the guided missile destroyers, two of the
Kashin-class and one converted Kotlin are in the
Northern Fleet. The Baltic Fleet has two Kashins,
plus four Krupnyy-class and one Kildin-class,
equipped with surface-to-surface missiles. Eighteen
gun-armed destroyers and fifty-five escorts are
assigned to the Northern and Baltic Fleets.
All of the major warships built since 1960
have boon equipped with missiles. The largest units
now under construction are the two Moskva.-e lass
helicopter carriers in the Black Sea. The first
unit of this class is complete and opi'rnti.ng in
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the Crimean area. The second unit is near com-
pletion. The Moskva will probably be used primarily
as the nucleus of an anti-submarine warfare group,
but might also be used For such tasks as small-
scale, unopposed amphibious operations and air
defense for other units. These ships carry a new
surface-to-air missile and improved radars.
The Kresta-class cruisers armed with both
surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles are
being built in Leningrad. In addition to the three
units already completed at least eight others are
under construction. The Soviets consider these
ships large ASW ships, and they are equipped
wi.t:h .a han?;ar for helicopters.
'I'h++ only other ~i II Iaee eombotnnl!: euv'i?r~iil Iy
t-nclcr constrruelion are the snia1.1 Petya-class
escorts. Some older Kotl.in-class and Krupnyy-
class destroyers, however, arc being converted to
I' ire surface-to-ai.r missiles.
The Soviets are '-;lowly strce-igtheuing their
amphibious forces. Alligator-class landing ships
capable of transporting a naval infantry battalion
arcs being built in the Baltic. At least four of
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these units have entered operational service since
1967. Since last summer at least one of these
ships has been used for Mediterranean service.
Another Alligator is frequently assigned to the
Northern Fleet. The smaller Polnocny-class
units continue to be built in Poland.
NORTHERN FLEET BASES
Following is a description of Northern Fleet
naval bases and the order of battle at those bases:
Seyeromorsk
This is the Headquarters of the Red Banner
Northern Fleet and the hone port of the missile
armed major surface ships. It is also a storage
facility for both cruise and ballistic missiles.
Munitions, POL, torpedoes, and general stores
are available in this port. There are some 25
surface ships and a dozen submarines tied up here
on a regular basis. Units present usually include
a coup tt ba 11 i s tic miss i le suhmair i ntoti , a Ii and.I U l
of diesel units, a Lama-class missile support ship,
and a number of yard and service craft. The nuclear
icebreaker Lenin normally based here is now under-
I o1ng ropai.rs-; Ut Severodvinsk.
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Sayda Bay
This is one of the major submarine bases in
the Kola Inlet. It is used principally by 11-class
and G-class ballistic missile submarines and will
probably become the major base for the new Y-class
units. There are usually present some of the older
destroyers, as well. The mothballed reserve fleet
is also located at this base, which provides
ballistic missiles, torpedoes, munitions, and general
stores to the units which call here.
Pala Bay
This is primarily a submarine repair yard.
There are usually present 3-5 ballistic missile
submarines, several E-11-class cruise missile sub-
marines, and half a dozen attack submarines, in-
cluding N-class nuclear units. This is also the
port. used by rno:st of the amplri.bious units in the
Northern Fleet. Units present include one Alligator,
5-6 Polnocny, and 3-4 of the smaller landing ships.
A couple escort types are also usually in port.
Litsa Bay
This submarine base is located we,,t 01 the
Kola Inlet. It is used principally by nuclear
units, including E-II-class cruise missil,n units,
N-class attack submarines, and will. probably he
the base used by the new C-class and V-class
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attack units. An Ugra-class submarine tender is
usually present to supplement the shore facilities.
The J-class cruise missile units usually operate
from Litsa Bay.
Ole ny a Bay
There are usually a half dozen submarines,
including G-class ballistic missile units, at
this submarine base in the Kola area. There are
no extensive shore facilities, but the base pro-
vides for a dispersal of first-line submarines
and alleviates congestion at the major bases.
Polyarnyy Naval Complex
The l'il.f"o Polyarnyy rr;tval complex 1 H In eatid
near the entrance to the Kola Inlet. I t hers a
major submarine training center, as well as facil-
ities to store munitions, POL, torpedoes, general
stores, and missiles. Some twenty long range
attack submarines are usually tied up at these
piers. In addition, there are about twenty
escorts and mine war Fare ships in the harbor.
Numci'ous service and yard craft, includiratg a
small tender, servo the port.
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Pechenga Bay
This is the most western of the Northern Fleet
naval bases. It is used primarily by W-class sub-
marines and an assortment of patrol craft and
mine warfare ships. One small submarine tender
supplements the shore facilities. General stores,
torpedoes, and POL are available in limited
quantities.
Murmansk
There is a naval base and repair facility at
Rosta. There are ample pier space, crane capacity,
and storage facilities here to support over twenty
ships. However, the base appears to be used primarily
for the repair of submarines and small surface ships.
The shipyard at Rosta is the largest in the Kola
Gulf, but most major repairs are done at S(-vcrodvi.nsk
to the White Sea. A few minor surf ace combatants
are usually stationed at Murmansk.
Soverodvtusk
The site of the world's largest submarine
construction yard, Severodvinsk has the only
nuclear support facility in the Northern Fleet.
It also has facilities for gencraL stores, train-
ing POL, and repairs. The USSR's new 16-missile
Y-class submarine is under Cons truetion tlWrce.
I'll add i t ican to uucjoar submarl1105 1)0i.iig
(1 I-V
a t the nttc Lear support f ac i1 ity, t hero usua Lly arc
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a few dicIse l.-powered it ttack Lill iis at SCvurodvinsk.
anti one or two cruI se inissil.e. -iubinarinus. About
two du,H troyur.? esco-.ts and it dozen miuet;wuepcL5 attcl
survey ships are usually a.iso presuitt there.
Iokauga
Iokanga is a major submarine base with ship
repair facilities. About tell torpedo attack sub-
marines are usually presulit there, inc .ludlug One
or two nuclear-powered units. Surface ships might
include a guided missile frigate, three destroyer.'
escorts, and a couple of small escort vessels.
Arkhangel
This is a minor port facility near the Severod-
vinsk shipyard. Limited general stores, POL, and
munitions are available. The port is used primarily
by small patrol craft. There is also a naval train-
ing center at Arkhangel.
Ura Bay
There is a medium-sized submarine base in Ura
Bay west of the Kola Inlet. The port is used
by some twenty attack submarines and a few research
ships. A submarine tender is frequently present.
'T'here are two small naval bases used primarily
by coastal defense forces near the Ura Bay sub-
marine base. The Ara Bay base and Port Vladimir
base have limited support facilities.
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hawc~, 1'~_~ribcrka, is 1UCUtcd 40 utilcs card Ol:
they Kola Inlet. There arc limited storage facilities
for munitions and goueral. stores.
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A n:tv..tl mittsile test cu,iiLe ? is IOcat(;d west of
the Sevorodvinsk shipyard. This facility is used
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UHC.I t. () I 1 , t g ; I I t tC st th(' iiiLS~;i.L.( toor tI[(' Y._
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