The Soviet Navy Strengths And Liabilities

Since Admiral Sergei G. Gorshkov was appointed to the office of commander in chief of the Soviet Navy in 1956, the Soviet Union has made a massive investment in naval construction, training, and operations. As a result, the Soviet Navy has grown from a coastal defense force to one of the world's two strongest navies. This book offers a detailed assessment of every major aspect of the Soviet Navy, from fleet structure and training facilities to command and control procedures and warfare and intelligence collection capabilities.

Preface -- The Tradition, the Service, and the People -- Soviet Naval Tradition -- The Soviet Naval High Command -- Soviet Naval Personnel and Schools -- The Naval Infantry -- Equipment -- Submarines -- Aircraft Carriers and Large Surface Combatants -- Amphibious Ships, Mine Warfare Ships, Corvettes, and Missile, Patrol, and Torpedo Craft -- The Soviet Naval Auxiliary Force -- Soviet Naval Aircraft -- Operational Capabilities -- Command and Control -- Antisubmarine Warfare -- Anticarrier Warfare -- Antiair Warfare -- Soviet Electronic Warfare and Ocean Surveillance Capabilities -- Soviet SLOC Interdiction -- Soviet Naval Intelligence -- Operations -- Geographic Problems -- The Northern Fleet and North Atlantic Naval Operations -- The Baltic Fleet -- The West African Naval Contingent -- Caribbean Naval Activity -- The Black Sea Fleet and Mediterranean Naval Operations -- The Pacific Fleet -- The Indian Ocean Squadron -- Soviet Naval Air Operations -- Soviet Naval Responses to Crises -- Port Visits -- Soviet Access to Port Facilities -- The Future -- Looking Toward the Future

Bruce W. Watson is director of publications at the Defense Intelligence College and is the author of numerous military books, including Red Navy at Sea: Soviet Naval Operations on the High Seas, 1956-1980 (Westview, 1982). Susan M. Watson received her education at Trinity College and Georgetown University and is currently a free-lance editor and consultant.