Soviet Navy now fully long-range — Gorshkov

Press, 9 February 1978, Page 6

Soviet Navy now fully long-range — Gorshkov

NZPA-Reuter Moscow, The Soviet Navy has be-) come a fully long-range! force for the first time in the country’s history, according to its commander-in-chief. Admiral Sergei Gorshkov. In an article in the Defence Ministry daily, “Red) Star.” Admiral Gorshkov.) gave an optimistic assess-1 ment of the state of Soviet! naval might, particularly the; submarine forces. “Our country today has a! strong ocean-going navy! which can reliably safeguard! State interests on the high; seas," he wrote. The greatest change was; in the submarine forces,,

•! which had benefited from ■t the introduction of atomic ■.! energy, radio-eiectronic and ■ computer technology, mis- , siles, and other sorts of ■ weapons, he wrote. i Soviet submarines were now capable of answering i the demands of modern war, I “capable of accomplishing a . I wide range of tasks in any | part of the world’s oceans,” [Admiral Gorshkov added. The surface ships were! ; equipped with the latest) ilweapons, and could “effect-; 'lively combat enemy surface' I [ships, submarines and air-. ;jcraft,” he said. | “For the first time in the; ;| history of the country our! [navy, emerging on to the!

t oceans of the world, has be-) : come a long-range armed! I force in the full meaning of) ■ the word,” he said. " [ ! Admiral Gorshkov has; been widely credited in the i West with building the So- ; viet Navy up to its present , size. It is estimated to be i the world’s largest. ' In 1976 he wrote that Soviet naval might “expressed! the real capability of the! (State to use the world ocean' J effectively in the interests of! [building communism.” I Last year, the commander; iof the Northern Fleet, Vice-) ' Admiral Vladimir Chernavin.j (said the Soviet Navy was i designed for defence and had) (no “aggressive designs.” I