OSR Contribution to NIE 11-14-68, Soviet and East European General Purpose Forces, CIA/DI/OSR, October 1968.

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b. Surface Forces
-The-S c v et -avy -~hs i-a-&ctie-stat u-s-
more than 100 cruisers and destroyers, almost half
of which are modern units. About 35 of these units,
all equipped with missiles, have been built in the
past decade.
Construction of ocean-going combatants
--the Kresta-class guided-missile cruiser and the
Petya-class escort--is being sustained at the pace
of the past several years, while the second unit of
the Moskva-class helicopter carrier nears completion.
No additional helicopter carriers are under construction,
but a follow-on class would incorporate changes dic-
tated by experience with the Moskva class. (See Table
5, opposite page.)
There are indications that two or more
Sverdlov-class cruisers may be converted to carry a
new long-range SAM system. of the type we believe to
be fitted in the Moskva-class ships. In addition,
several units of the Kotlin and Krupnyy classes of
destroyers are being converted to carry the SA-N-1
SAM system.
Production of the Kynda-class guided-
missile cruiser (eight surface-to-surface missile
launch tubes and one twin SAM launcher) has been
terminated and superseded by the Kresta-class guided-
missile cruiser (four SSM launch tubes and two twin
SAM launchers). The current Krupnyy class conversions
involve removal of the SSM launchers and replacement.
by a SAM system.
The Soviets continue to build other
surface ships--escorts, patrol craft, guided-missile
patrol boats, minecraft, naval auxiliaries, and amphib-
ious ships at about the same rate as in the past years.
Several classes of ships such as the Petya escort,
and the Poti, the SO-l, and possibly the Stenka patrol
craft continue to improve Soviet short-range ASW de-
fense. The new Alesha class, introduced into service
in 1966, may have an ASW function, such as-placing
and retrieving sonobuoys, in addition to its probable
role as minelayer.
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