This publication is made available through the kind cooperation of Bolling Smith of the
Coast Defense Study Group
— thank you very much.
At the end of World War II, Russia had the largest land army in the world. Joseph Stalin
set about to make the Soviet Union the strongest country on earth and to dominate as much of
the world as he could. To do this he needed a strong, modern Army, Navy, and Air Force
— which he went about building, soon making the Soviet Union the world’s number
two power. The build-up of Soviet military strength during this period is remarkable, and
this 1991 US Navy publication documents it comprehensively.
Also available: silent archival film of Soviet
naval ships at sea, 1965–1975 — two videos totaling approximately 40
minutes, from the Naval Archives in Washington, DC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Section 1 — Purpose
- Section 2 — The Background of Soviet Development
Traces the growth of Soviet naval power from its origins in 1917 through Stalin’s
postwar buildup and the Cold War arms race that pushed the USSR to become the world’s
second superpower.
- Section 3 — The Soviet Navy Today
An assessment of Soviet naval strength as of 1991 — fleet composition, strategic
posture, and operational doctrine across all four fleets: Northern, Pacific, Black Sea,
and Baltic.
- Section 4 — Soviet Naval Hardware
Detailed coverage of Soviet warship classes: submarines (ballistic missile, cruise
missile, and attack), surface combatants, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, and
support vessels.
- Section 5 — Soviet Naval Personnel
Organization, manning, training, and the structure of the Soviet naval officer and
enlisted corps.
- Section 6 — Other Soviet Maritime Activities
Soviet merchant fleet, fishing fleet, oceanographic research vessels, and their
relationship to Soviet naval intelligence gathering.
- Section 7 — The Future of the Soviet Navy Under Gorbachev and Perestroika
Analysis of how glasnost and perestroika were affecting Soviet naval planning and
procurement at the time of publication in 1991 — just months before the
dissolution of the USSR.
- Appendix A — Soviet Navy Order of Battle
Complete order of battle listing all major Soviet naval vessels by class and
fleet assignment.
- Appendix B — Soviet Warship Descriptions
Class-by-class descriptions of Soviet surface warships and submarines, with
specifications and armament.
- Appendix C — Soviet Maritime Aircraft Descriptions
Descriptions and specifications of Soviet naval aviation assets, including
land-based maritime patrol aircraft and carrier-based aircraft.
- Appendix D — Soviet Missile Guide
Guide to Soviet naval missiles — anti-ship, anti-submarine, surface-to-air,
and ballistic — with range, warhead, and guidance data.
- Glossary
RELATED VIDEO
Soviet Naval Ships 1965–1975 (Silent Film)
— Two videos of silent archival footage from the Naval Archives in Washington, DC,
showing a variety of Soviet naval vessels at sea. Approximately 40 minutes total.
Archive reference: ARC 565967 / 330 DVIC-384. Also made available through the
Coast Defense Study Group.
