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Warsaw Pact Forces opposite NATO, NIE 11-14-79, Volume II, the Estimate, CIA/NFAC, 31 January 1979

Central Intelligence Agency · 201 pages · text from the file's own layer

This is Volume II of National Intelligence Estimate 11-14-79, Warsaw Pact Forces Opposite NATO, issued by the Director of Central Intelligence and dated January 1979. The National Foreign Intelligence Board concurred with it. It was the first comprehensive estimate of Pact forces facing NATO since 1971. It covers Pact doctrine, the ground, air, naval, nuclear and chemical forces, command and control, and campaign plans for war in Europe. It judges that Central Europe would be the decisive arena, and it lists Pact weaknesses in pilot training and antisubmarine warfare. The document contains no UFO material.

  • p. 25 …and subsidiary systems such as command and control, radioelectronic combat (REC), and reconnais- sance data link…
  • p. 31 …Some of these submarines might alternatively have missions of minelaying near NATO naval bases or patrolling…
  • p. 33 …The Soviet Union views control of its East Euro- preparerd for any mission, froni defending against…
  • p. 42 …The USSR attributes a littoral of Europe have significant capabilities in either broad range of missions…
  • p. 51 …Improved models of the radio-controlled The SA-9 and ZSU-23-4 are probably with…
  • p. 55 …All Pact countries have well-organized mobili- direct control of the VGK to tactical-level missions…
  • p. 58 …These have pervasive control over the soldier's activities and commanders are expected to be closely…
  • p. 59 …Frontal Aviation missions include counterair, ground attack, Warsaw Pact Fixed-Wing Tactical Aircraft reconnaissance, electronic warfare…
  • p. 62 …Pilot Training and Proficienc. 3Y US stand- facilities, hardening command and control facilities, and establishing pipeline…
  • p. 66 …control system which is designed to provide the coordination necessary to conduct close-in missions when…
  • p. 68 major ground formations is used by tactical controllers conventional weapons or to have an operational weap…
  • p. 71 …countries, are tailored primarily for control of guished by missions: antiship strike, reconnaissance those two seas…
  • p. 75 …missions of the Warsaw Pact's general purpose naval forces are to exercise sea control 110…
  • p. 84 …this mission. The combat radii of Soviet ASM-equipped naval Capabilities for Exercising Sea Control in…
  • p. 85 …signed missions; submarines would not neces-" The holders of the second view are the Director, Defense…
  • p. 87 …the Soviets, Poles, and East Germans other missions. Most bombers would be required for have the…
  • p. 118 …would be detached from national control. Re- - The Western TVD. This theater would include, sidual forces…
  • p. 122 …and control functions is central to Soviet control and integration of Pact military operations. Such groups…
  • p. 134 …against HEAT ammunition, the Soviets have incorpo- control and combat support communication links. rated composite or…
  • p. 135 …The Air Operation have been ascertained from classified missions assigned to the NSWP forces are intended…
  • p. 141 …Pact air forces to perform their primary missions in poor flying weather. ould be the preferred…
  • p. 143 …Others believe that no judgment with flying combat missions at low altitudes or over long any…
  • p. 158 …The establishment of control of the Norwegian drastically the likelihood of a major, preemptive at- and…
  • p. 163 …aircraft carrier probably would be unable secondary mission of antiship attack. The Kiev prob- to cope…
  • p. 175 …be building a mand and control and electronic warfare missions. force capable of siniultaneously lifting much…
  • p. 176 …The Pact's early warning network is scheduled current roles of sea control in limited areas…
  • p. 178 …We do not know how the Soviets assess the achieving sea control and in providing support…
  • p. 182 …subma- to control Pact forces once they are released from rines with peripheral missions declines, some…
  • p. 186 …Soviet sea control capabilities gravity to require an early Soviet counteraction. The against US carrier and…
lop eret
(ASW). Table 11-7 and figure I119 show the current Soviet Naval Forces Figure li-19
size, composition, and trends in Pact general purpose Opposite NATO, 1969 and 1979
naval forces.
Three Soviet Western Fleetsa
102. If the Soviets were not concerned with covert
deployment of their ships to sea, they could probably Cruise Missile and Torpedo Attack Submarines
get about half of theii force opposite NATO under
way with varying degrees of combat effectiveness 236 Nuclear
within 48 hours. Those remaining units not undergoing 13 SSN
major repairs or overhaul probably could put to sea in 178
about four days, but would do so with reduced Nuclear
effectiveness. Naval air units normally maintain a low Diesel 26 SSGN
level of peacetime activity; most could reach full 21 SSG
Table II-7 G
Warsaw Pact General Purpose Naval Forces SS
Opposite NATO a
January 1979 1969 1979
Soviet b NSWP Total Major Surface Combatants
.- --- 97 1 Aircraft Carrier
General Purpose Submarines - -- 2 Helicopter
Cruise Missile Units 43 - 43 77 2 Helicopter Cruisers
Torpedo Attack Units 135 8 143 / Cruisers Cruisers
Principal Surface Combatants Cruisers
Aircraft Carriers 1 c --
Helicopter Ships 2 - 2 Destroyers
Cruisers 26 - 26 Destroyers
Destroyers 49 1 50
Missile Frigates 19 - 19
Frigates 102 4 106
Selected Minor Surface 1969 1979
Combatants a 278 85 363 Tonnage of Major Surface Combatantsb
Amphibious Ships 66 34 100 614,500
Selected Support Ships c 85 4 89 ,. Aircraft Carriers
Naval Aircraft r Helicopter
Reconnaissance/EW Aircraft 84 10 94 442,500 Cruisers
Strike Aircraft 254 - 254 Helicopter Cruisers
Tankers 56 - 56
Fighters/Fighter,-Bormbers 71 52 123 Cruisers
ASW Fixed-Wing Aircraft 105 - 105
ASW/Reconnaissance
Helicopters 164 48 212 Destroyers
Destroyers
a The NSWP navies and the Soviet forces assigned to the North-
ern, Baltic, and Black Sea Fleets. Detailed order-of-battle data for
these and Soviet Pacific Fleet naval forces are contained in tables B- 1969 1979
4, B-5, and B-6 in annex B.
6 Figures exclude some 100 attack submarines and 30 principal
surface combatants kept in reserve status,
c A second Kiev-class aircraft carrier is operational in the Black vExcludes reserve units.
Sea, but we believe it will deploy to the Pacific Fleet. bCombatants over 3,000 tons, excluding reserve units.
d Patrol combatants, mine-warfare ships, and missile-equipped
coastal patrol craft.
e Oilers, replenishment oilers, missile tenders, repair ships, and 577630 1-79 CIA
submarine tenders.
Iin addition, these are about 120 transport aircraft and 105
transport helicopters which support Soviet Naval Aviation.
11-30
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FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 201 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.