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The Soviet Navy |
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The Soviet Navy |
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Changing Priorities - The move to a modern efficient force
In the late 1980's the Soviet Union was faced with severe economic problems. Fleet Admiral V.N. Chernavin was faced with the task of making the Soviet navy a leaner more efficient force. This would be accomplished by concentrating on fewer, but more advanced warships. The fleet would also reduce its overseas presence in accordance with the new Soviet 'defensive doctrine'. Naval troop strength would also be reduced by 85,000 personnel.
| Retiring many of
the fleet's older ships was the first step. Up to 450 ships built
before the 1970's were slated for retirement. This was significant
in that it included 45 submarines.
The scrapping program was a benefit to the Soviet economy as it kept many workers employed. It also reduced Western threat perceptions. Naval ship construction would continue at a reduced rate during this period, and would focus on only the most modern designs. |
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Another factor that would impact the fleet was the independence of the Baltic republics. This affected the basing of the Baltic fleet which maintained a presence in Talinn, Estonia and Riga, Lativa. The Soviet Union began negotiations for the continued use of the facilities, but began drafting plans to work around the republics if necessary.
This issue would also underscore the vulnerability of the Baltic fleet to political as well as military events. Strategic emphasis continued to be on the Northern and Pacific fleets where the Soviet ballistic missile bastions were located.
The Soviet Carrier Program
The most noticeable of all the Soviet construction projects of the era were its three modern aircraft carriers. The ships were the first native design that allowed conventional take offs and landings. The first of the Admiral Kuznetsov (formerly Tiblisi) class began sea trials in 1989. The second example, the Varyag (formerly Riga), was in an advanced state of completion and was expecting to put to sea soon. Even with these two ships coming into service, they were to be augmented by a modern 70,000 ton carrier design known as the Ulyanovsk class. Construction of the Ulyanovsk began in the late 1980's. All of these ships were expected to operate navalized versions of the new Su-27or MiG-29 fighters.
Surface Combatants
Production of cruisers continued with the launch of the fourth Kirov class cruiser. A fifth example was initially planned, but was ultimately cancelled as the needs of the fleet could be met with only four. Other cruiser programs were also slowed or stopped. The last Slava was launched in 1990, and the last Sovremenny was completed in 1991. Construction of all Soviet cruisers stopped in 1991. When this occurred, it was the first time in 30 years that the Soviet navy construction yards would be empty of cruisers and shifted instead to civilian business.
The massive destroyer procurement plan of the early 1980's was severely curtailed. Udaloy construction was slowed. Frigate and small combatants continued to be built in quantity and the new Neustrashimyy class was also introduced in 1991. Several frigate designs (the Grisha and Krivak) were even modified for service with the KGB Border Patrol service.
The Submarine Fleet
Soviet naval doctrine has relied heavily on submarines since the days of Nikita Khrushchev. The submarine force was the largest in the world in the late 1980's. For this reason the fleet escaped many of the budget cuts that affected the surface fleet. The submarine fleet instead concentrated on retiring many of its older boats, while continuing to build more modern designs at a slow rate. The navy launched its third Akula from Severodvinsk in March 1991.
Soviet naval aviation underwent several changes as the fleet began moving away from the traditional land-based bomber-centered force of earlier times to a force that was based on fighters and fighter-bombers operating both on land and at sea. It would also follow the greater trend away from quantity to higher quality aircraft. This would allow the naval air force to perform its usual role of providing air power to ships operating close to shore, while also having the ability to confront NATO forces anywhere in the world if required.
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The intermediate range strike forces operating aircraft like the Tu-22M Backfire and Tu-16 Badger were reduced in number to reflect this policy. The aircraft that were not eliminated would be put through modernization programs (usually affecting radar and electronic warfare systems). Long range maritime reconnaissance would be conducted by further deliveries of Badger and Tu-142 'Bear' platforms. The old Il-38 'May' and Be-12 'Mail' were also scheduled for replacement by new type of aircraft. |
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Carrier based aviation also underwent several changes as it attempted to choose an aircraft for the Kuznetsov and Ulyanovsk class carriers. The MiG-29 and Su-27 were the most likely choices for this role, but none would be ready before the fall of the Soviet Union in late 1991. There were also plans to withdraw the aging VTOL Yak-36 'Forger' from service, in favor of the supersonic Yak-141 'Freestyle' fighter that was in development at that time.
Naval aviation forces in the European theater of operations would undergo expand dramatically in 1989-1990 when a large number of tactical aircraft were transferred from air force to navy control. Nine new tactical air regiments were created with the new Su-17 'Fitter', 24 'Fencer', Su-25 'Frogfoot', Mig-23/27 'Flogger', and Mig-29 'Fulcrum' that they had acquired from the air force.
The Naval Infantry and Coastal Defense Forces
The Costal Defense force (established in 1986) was comprised of the Naval Infantry and the Costal Missile Artillery force. This was done in response to the new defensive doctrine and budget reductions of the late 1980's. It was primarily administrative and had little effect on force structure, as each fleet still maintained its Naval Infantry motor rifle division (the largest numbered 7,000 men and served in Vladivostok). Total troop strength was only 17,000 men.
| Amphibious lift capability continued to increase as a third Ivan Rogov class ship was constructed and more Pomornik hovercraft were slowly being added to the fleet. The amphibious assault elements changed little as the naval infantry still relied on the PT-76 tank, BTR-series, and BMP-series armored personnel vehicles. |
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The troops of the naval infantry received training similar to the troops of the airborne forces, and also learned skills required for their amphibious assault role. The men of the naval infantry continued to use the camouflage uniforms first issued in the early 1980's, along with several new versions (pink sand color and several new woodland patterns).
Officers of the naval infantry were usually volunteers selected from other military academies who received an additional year of specialist training before joining their unit. The naval infantry did not have an academy of its own.
