This reference work provides accurate, up-to-date data on ship and aircraft specifications, performance, weapons and electronics, and analysis of current changes and trends in Soviet naval strategy, leadership, operations, and training. Considering the drastic changes in the Soviet naval forces in the midst of perestroika, this fifth edition is the most comprehensive review and analysis available of the modern Soviet fleet - its ships, aircraft, weapons, electronics, bases, shipyards, personnel, and leadership - and provides coverage of the fleet reductions made since 1988. It contains technical data on every combat and support ship of the Soviets including specialized merchant ships that support military activities. Award-winning author and military analyst, Norman Polmar, discusses the navy's force reductions in detail and shows that although the Soviet Navy has diminished in size, its capabilities in virtually all combat areas - antisurface, antisubmarine and antiair warfare, plus theatre tactical nuclear weapons, chemical operations, mine warfare, and intelligence collection - have actually been improved.
Essays on the Soviet Navy's missions, tactics operations, exercises, training, and fleet development explore the true impact of fleet reductions and policy adjustments not only on Soviet naval forces, but also on Warsaw Pact co-ordination. Among the subjects covered are the impact of the disappearance by 1989 of the remaining Sverdlovclass cruisers and the scrapping of 30 submarines. Descriptions of the two new 65,000-ton Thilisi-class aircraft carriers and the Ul'yanovsk, a 75,000-ton full-deck carrier, are provided, as are the improvements in Soviet submarines, reported to have "closed the gap" between Soviet and US undersea capabilities. Appendices include the Soviet navy's order of battle since 1945, naval leaders, and naval ship transfers to nations throughout the world. The author has also written "Submarines of the Russian and Soviet Navies" and "The Ships and Aircrafts of the US Fleet".