The Navy Vol_37_Part1 (Feb-Mar-Apr, May-June-July 1975)

By Rear Admiral R. W. Cousins, USN, Commander-in-Chief, US Atlantic Fleet.Highlights of the major changes in Soviet naval strengthwhich have occurred during the past few years reflect theshifting balance of power in the Atlantic. The maritimecapabilities of the Soviet Union, which grow day by day,present a strong, clear challenge to nations of the NATOalliance. — Soviets have spent the past 10 years building a"blue water" navy, capable of challenging the United Statesfor sea supremacy.• The national emphasis and theresources they have been willing toput into the effort have producedphenomenal success.• As a first order of business, theSoviet Union has created a navaldeterrent to counter-balance theUnited States ballistic missile submarine.• The USSR now has 33 ' Yankeeclass" nuclear powered ballisticmissile submarines in the water —most of them in their Northern Fleet,where they have direct access to theAtlantic, and are moving on intoproduction of the larger, morecapable "Delta class" submarine.Their production rate is six to eight"Deltas" per year.• The Soviets, if they maintaintheir current rate of production, willby the end of this decade haveenough "Yankees" and Deltas" togive them the full number oflaunchers and missiles allowed bythe interim SALT agreement — 62nuclear powered ballistic missilesubmarines and 950 missile tubes.• It now appear that they couldhave as many as 30 "Deltas" in thewater before the United States hasits first "Trident" submarine in thewater in 1978. The Soviet Union isbuilding submarines at the rate of10 per year.Additional facts concerning theSoviet concentration on submarinewarfare include:(1) Production ot the nuclearpowered attack submarine whichcan fire a tactical missile with eithera conventional or nuclear warheadfrom a surfaced or submergedmode.Page Sixteen THE NAVY February/MarctyAprll, 1975(2) The construction of diesel submarineshas not been terminated. Anew. particularly quiet diesel boatwas added to their fleet last year.(3) Both the Yankee" and "Deltamodel ballistic missile submarinesare fitted out with torpedo tubes(4) While retirement ot a few oftheir old diesel model submarinescontinues, it is estimated that theycould deploy more than 100 submarinesin the Atlantic at the outsetof any conflict or confrontation.Enlargement of Surface NavyThe Soviet's modernisation oftheir surface navy continues at asteady rateConstruction of their "Kiev class"aircraft carrier continues. A secondcarrier is under construction.Four new missile firing cruisersand destroyers became operationallast year.With respect to the Soviet Navy'slogistic support capability, theyhave supplemented their use of themerchant marine by building underwayreplenishment ships, givingtheir navy a capability for sustainedoperations farther and farther fromhome bases. The number of Sovietunits at sea. throughout the 52million square miles of the AtlanticCommand increase, week by week,month by month. In the Atlantic, thenumbers have increased by 50percent in recent years. At the sametime they are maintaining as manyas a dozen warships in the IndianOcean, a naval presence off thehump of Africa, and in the Caribbean.Their auxiliaries, and theirmerchantmen sail every ocean.Their fishing fleets and theirresearch ships operate throughoutthe AtlanticTheir "Yankees" are on station offthe East and West coasts of ourW. L. BASSETT & SONPTY LTDSuppliers of» Anchors (all types 4 sizes) e Short & Stud LinkChain (in all grades) e plus Accessories340 BOTANY ROADALEXANDRIA, 2015Telephone: 6991733The nuclear submarine USS ASPRO shoum underway in the Gul]o] Mexico.country. The Soviets have built anavy of far greater strength than anynation might need for purely defensivepurposes.Best Wishes trom .US/NATO ResponseThe United States and NATOresponse to the emergence of theSoviet Navy as a first rate seapowerBONDS OF FIGTREEChief Suppliers of Quality Fruit and Veges to"Albatross" and "Cresswell""Bonds Are Always Better"February/Ma rcty April. 1975 THE NAVY P®go Seventeen