Strategic employment of the Soviet Navy in a nuclear war

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5856954

Tritten, J J

The use of the Soviet Navy for political gain in peacetime has been the subject of extensive previous analysis. In that analysis, the primacy of the nuclear war mission is acknowledged but rarely subjected to exhaustive scrutiny. The conclusions of previous studies on the employment of the Soviet Navy in a nuclear war have been primarily based upon opinion backed up by modest content and hardware analysis. This dissertation challenges these previous studies and either validates them or suggests alternate possibilities. To do so, two major techniques were employed. The first was formal content analysis of the speeches, articles, books, etc., of the head of the Soviet Navy, Admiral S.G. Gorshkov, and individuals who served as Minister of Defense or head of the Politburo. Themes relating to the aims of war and means of influencing their outcome were tracked from 1964 through 1983. The second methodology employed was general hardware analysis, supplemented by exercises and deployment behavior. The mobilization case, the existing case (Bolt from the Blue with forces on routine patrol), and a mid-range surge case were quantified and subject to sensitivity and contingency analysis.

• OSTI ID: 5856954
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
ASIA
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
MILITARY FACILITIES
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PROLIFERATION
USSR
WARFARE
WEAPONS