The Warsaw Pact

Soviet global power projection-Continued

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Figure 1-2.-NATO regions and Soviet theaters of opera- tions. NATO is divided into three areas of responsibilities: Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH), Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT), and Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) (fig. 1-2). The opposing Soviet forces are also divided into three areas of responsibility called theaters of operations (TVD). They are the Northwestern TVD, Western TVD, and Southern TVD. The Warsaw Pact Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has been, and plans to continue, making force cuts in anticipation of future arms control talks. Although the Soviets may increase future with- drawals of troops from the European theater, they still have an impressive reserve and mobilization capacity. The Soviets are reducing their total force numbers and using the best of their excess equip- ment to modernize their remaining forces. The Soviets have taken on a long-range strategic nuclear modernization program to comply with strategic arms reduction treaty constraints expected in the future. The Soviets are replacing their large, out-of-date missiles with newer, more efficient and accurate missile systems. The Soviets will continue to upgrade their land- and sea-based ballistic missiles and bombers. As a whole, the Soviet Union is the maritime power (refer to figure 1-3 for assignment of Soviet forces) of the Warsaw Pact countries. The U.S. Navy’s role in combating that threat is to limit the Soviet Northern and Black Sea Fleets in their ability to deploy. Surface ships and submarines stationed at Severodvinsk must transit the Barents Straits and one of three other choke points to enter the Atlantic Ocean. The Greenland-Iceland gap is the northern choke point, the Iceland- England gap is the middle choke point, and the Danish Strait is the southern choke point. These three choke points are the United States’ and NATO’s last line of containment for the Northern Fleet. The Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol will be much easier to contain in the event of hostilities. To enter the Atlantic Ocean, the Black Sea Fleet must transit the Turkish Straits. Turkey, a NATO member and ally of the United States, could contain the Black Sea Fleet by sinking a ship in the Turkish Straits. Soviet ships on station in the Mediterranean must transit either the Strait of Gibraltar or the Suez Canal to enter open water. U.S. allies bordering both choke points makes containment of Soviet ships in the Mediterranean Sea far less difficult than restricting the Northern Fleet. When evaluating the Soviet naval force and the challenge it presents, we would be wise to ask, What is the primary mission of the Soviet navy? Until 1953 we viewed support of land-based forces vice worldwide power projection as the primary mission of the Soviet Navy. Since 1953 the Soviets have been developing their navy into a force capable of worldwide power projection. The Soviets want the world to view their primary mission as worldwide power projection, when it is really the support of land-based forces. The Soviets have two basic problems in projecting that image. First, they have a shortage of maritime air 1-6

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