SOVIET SEA POWER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000100190009-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 2, 2002
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 27, 1970
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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During the past two decades, the USSR has become
the world's second maritime power, ranking only behind
the United States. When Admiral Gorshkov assumed com-
mand of the Soviet Navy in 1956, it was largely a
waterborne adjunct of the ground forces. Today, how-
ever, it is a well balanced, modern force which is
equally at home on the high seas as it is in coastal
waters. Increasingly large and varied deployments
since the mid-1960's have served notice to others that
the Soviet navy is on the move.
Soviet naval units now frequent waters which only
a few years ago were considered the private preserve
of western naval forces. In 1964 the Soviet navy be-
gan continous deployments in the Mediterranean. Since
the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967, a flotilla of nu-
clear submarines and missile-armed surface ships has
been operating there. The flotilla has reached as
many as 65 naval vessels, including submarines and
support ships. Today, Soviet naval forces constitute
a major political and military presence in the
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Mediterranean. Soviet ships also operate in the Indian
Ocean now and in the farthest reaches of the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans. Soviet-submarines and warships
have operated near or made port calls in a number of
countries from the Caribbean to Africa and Southeast
Asia.
The world-wide naval operation "Ocean" which
was conducted during April of this year was the most
extensive exercise ever conducted by the Soviet navy.
At the height of "Ocean" more than 200 ships and sub-
marines were taking part in the Atlantic, Pacific and
Mediterranean.. In addition to the naval units,
cl imen of the Sovi pt Ai- tnr- r~ _ fr y
participated in the operations. The announced theme
of the exercise was one of homeland defense and, as
staged, it provided valuable training against sub-
marines, simulated aircraft carrier groups, and in
amphibious landing operations.
The greatest Soviet naval strenghthis in its
,submarine force, the largest ever created. The fleet
presently has about 350 submarines, 80 of which are
nuclear-powered ..& new Soviet Polaris-type snhinarine
can fire 16 ballistic missiles to a range of about 1300
miles. About twelve units of this class are already
operational, and these units probably are being produced
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at the rate of about six to eight each year. At the
present rate of construction, the Soviet fleet of
Y-class ballistic missile submarines could outnumber
the US fleet of 41 Polaris submarines by 1974. About
40 older ballistic-missile submarines carry three
launchers each. Only nine of these submarines are
nuclear powered, and most of them are believed to be
targeted against European and Asian targets.
The Soviet navy has about 40 submarines equipped
with cruise missiles having ranges up to about 250
miles. These submarines probably are intended to
attack naval and merchant ships. Some 300 other
submarines are configured for torpedo-attack missions
against surface ships or other submarines.
The Soviets are developing three new classes of
attack submarines whose mission probably will be to
seek out and destroy other submarines. This large
and versatile submarine fleet serves as a triple threat:
to the continental US, to US naval task forces at sea,
and to our sea lines of communications.
Because of the Soviets large naval shipbuilding
program of the mid-1950's, only a small percentage of
Soviet warships are more than 20 years old. In
addition, all of the major surface ships built in the
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USSR since 1960 have been armed with surface-to-air
or surface-to-surface missiles.
The Soviet surface fleet now includes two helicopter
carriers, about 24 cruisers, 35 guided-missile des-
troyers, 50 gun-armed destroyers, more than 100
destroyer escorts, and some 2,500 smaller ships,
mine-sweepers, coastal escorts, support craft, and
intelligence collectors.
The sea-going navy is backed up by a land-based
air arm. The naval air force has increased in size in
the last few years and currently has about 500 bombers
and 370 other aircraft for reconnaissance, antisubmarine
warfare, and transport. The aircraft are based primarily
on the European coastline.of the Soviet Union. Many of
the bombers are equipped with air-to-surface missiles.
These constitute a formidable adjunct to the surface-to-
surface missiles carried by Soviet submarines and surface
ships.
The Soviets have developed effective antiship
missile systems. Such missiles permit Soviet aircraft
to launch attacks on surface ships beyond the range
of antiaircraft defenses. These air-launched missiles
have ranges from 100 to 150 miles. Shorter range
surface-to-surface missilesenable small torpedo boats
to duel with battleships and cruisers by outranging
the conventional naval artillery on these ships. One
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of these missiles, the Styx, was used to sink the
Israeli destroyer Eilat in 1967. The Soviet's new
Kresta and Kynda-class cruisers are armed with the
150 mile Shaddock missile. The Soviets are develop-
ing new missiles for their new ships.
Although cruise missile-equipped submarines,
surface ships, and aircraft have provided the
Soviets with a significant capability against
western naval surface forces, especially in water
adjacent to the European landmass, Soviet antisub-
marine capabilities in the open ocean remain limited.
Among all the branches of naval science and tactics,
tho
., vvv_L 5 idU lJUI11Z1C1 r he (IT11 tpN qi a pa mr,
submarine warfare. But the US technological lead is
shortening. The Soviets are working hard to develop
an effective counter to US submarine-launched
ballistic missiles. Soviet improvements in ASW are
reflected in the use of radar, sonar buoys, and air-
borne magnetic detection gear. Active sonar ranges
,probably are still short, but marked improvements can
be expected.
Observati-ems of recent Soviet naval activities
in the Mediterranean has revealed information on
Soviet ASW tactics, especially on the role of the
new helicopter carriers. The helicopter carrier
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Moskva spent nearly all of a recent six-week cruise
in the Mediterranean practicing ASW against Soviet
nuclear-powered and conventional submarines. The
Moskva is equipped with a variety of new submarine
detection systems including radar and sonar gear,
and her helicopters are equipped with "dunking" or
"dipping" sonar. The big question, however, appears
to be the long-range implications of the two Soviet
helicopter carriers. It remains to be seen whether
the Soviets' experience with these ships will lead
them to build a number of additional ones as the
nucleus of an ocean-going antisubmarine force.
arnphi hi r),lc. 1 -n ~- _~ .
operations became apparent in 1967 with the introduction
of tank landing ships, some of which have been deployed
to the Mediterranean since the June war in 1967. The
small force of Soviet marines is believed to number
only about 6,000 men, however.
In addition to Soviet naval power, the USSRs'
merchant marine is being expanded. Since 1958, the
Soviet Union has advanced from 21st to 5th place
among. the maritime nations of the world. This growth
in the USSR's merchant marine is another measure of
the Soviets' expanding maritime interests and, with
the Soviet navy, will be capable of exerting a strong
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maritime influence on world affairs for years to
In sum, the Soviet navy has changed from a
purely coastal defense force into a deepwater navy
capable of worldwide employment and possessing a
significant capability in its cruise missile arsenal.
This increased naval strength will enable the Soviets
to backup their diplomacy with a meaningful military
presence in many parts of the world whenever their
interests require it. It will also provide the Kremlin
with new options for intervention or pressure in crisis
areas and with significant combat capabilities should
those crises break into actual hostilities.
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