The Kola Peninsula: The Strongest Soviet Naval Base (Kola-Halbinsel: Staerkste Flottenbasis der Sowjetunion).

摘要

Of the four Soviet fleets, the Northern Fleet is the most powerful. Admiral of the Fleet, G. M. Yegorov, the CinC, has at his disposal more than 230 surface units (not counting auxiliary ships), about 170 submarines (of which almost 100 are nuclear-powered), and 320 aircraft and helicopters. Overall, this force represents 15.6% of all available Soviet surface ships, 43.5% of the submarine fleet, and 22.5% of naval air forces. Also among the surface naval forces is the ASW carrier KIEV; although the 45 YANKEE and DELTA class nuclear powered submarines with their long-range ballistic missiles stationed there are far more important. These units represent two-thirds of the Soviet SSBN potential; the remaining third is with the Pacific Fleet. Thus, the Northern Fleet is the most powerful of all four Soviet fleets. This is quite understandable, since it is only from this area that operations against the vital sea lanes between the United States and Europe are possible.