The U.S. and Soviet Navies: Missions and Forces

Abstract

The United States Navy is structured to carry out its most demanding potential assignment: confrontation with the Soviet navy in waters near the Soviet Union. The result is an emphasis on battle groups centered around large aircraft carriers, including sophisticated systems for fleet defense. The Soviet navy is increasingly capable of extended operations far from home waters, in support of growing Soviet interests worldwide. Nevertheless, it does not yet match the U.S. Navy in offensive or defensive capabilities, and in time of war is most likely to pull back into waters nearer the Soviet Union to defend the homeland. These trends are likely to continue into the next century, barring the intervention of political or technological developments.