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and new 130-mm dual-purpose, twin-gun mount;
and the Udaloy’s SA-NX-9 SAM.
Presently, the Soviet navy includes about 185
surface combatant ships and craft carrying
surface-to-surface missiles. In addition, nearly 70
of the navy’s submarines carry subsurface-to-
surface missiles. The Kirov and Slava cruisers
(introduced in 1982) and the Sovremennyy DDG’s
have greatly increased cruise-missile firepower.
They carry antiship missiles with performance
characteristics that make offensive tactics increas-
ingly difficult.
Also entering the fleet during 1980 were two
general-purpose submarines classes, the Oscar I
(fig. 1-5) and the Kilo. Those in the Oscar I class
are nuclear-powered, cruise-missile attack sub-
marines (SSGN). They have slightly over three
times the displacement of their functional
predecessors, the Charlie II-class SSGNs, and can
carry 24 ASCMs. In wartime, the Oscar I-class
submerged-launch SS-N-19 ASCMs will be
targeted primarily against NATO carrier battle
groups. In contrast, the Kilo-class diesel-electric
attack submarines (SS) are relatively small (about
3,000 metric tons). These submarines rely on
antisurface or ASW torpedoes and were designed
for operations primarily in sea areas near the
Soviet Union.
The Oscar I and Kilo classes of attack sub-
marines are noteworthy in that they typify recent
Soviet naval construction trends. Specifically, the
Soviets have continued building naval platforms
capable of operating in the open ocean. They have
built these vessels without sacrificing those
designed to perform the Soviet navy’s traditional
coastal
defense
mission.
These
vessels
demonstrate marked improvements in submarine
quieting. This feature reduces their noise level
under
certain
operating
conditions,
while
improving their effectiveness against opposing
submarines.
Improvements of existing ASW aircraft evolved
into the production of the Helix A and the Helix B
ship-based helicopter and the long-range Bear F
Mod 4. Similar improvements in ships designed
primarily for ASW have also been observed. Even
the largest modern Soviet combatants, including
the Kiev-class carriers and the Kirov-class Cans,
carry sensor and weapons suites (a group of
systems). These suites include powerful low
frequency sonorous; ASW rockets, missiles, and
torpedoes; and ASW helicopters.
The Soviets have expended considerable
resources in recent years on developing ASW
platforms and systems, particularly nuclear-
powered attack submarines. However, they have
not yet resolved the problem of locating Western
submarines in the open ocean.
All things considered, the Soviets are a
formidable naval power. They can be expected to
increase their emphasis on making general-
purpose naval forces more capable. They can also
be expected to continue challenging the West’s
traditional dominance of the open oceans.
SOVIET NAVY PERSONNEL
Soviet navy personnel occupy a respected
position within the Soviet society. Military service
in the Soviet Union is regarded as a special form
of service to the state. It is rewarded by
134.4
Figure 1-5.-Soviet OSCAR-I submarine.
1-17
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