OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 107 



Research vessels 



The research fleet of the U.S.S.R. probably numbers between 50 

 and 75 nonmilitary vessels with lengths greater than 50 feet. None 

 of these vessels, mcluding the new Mikhail Lomonosov, was designed 

 and constructed for oceanographic research. Kather, they are modi- 

 fied sailmg, fishing, icebreaker, and cargo types. The most modern 

 and capable Soviet vessels are the Vityaz and Mikhail Lomonosov. 

 These together with the Ob' and Lena give the U.S.S.R. at least one 

 vessel of greater than 5,000 ton displacement in the Atlantic Ocean, 

 Pacific Ocean, Ai'ctic and Antarctic waters, respectively. The first 

 submarine in the world to be used solely for oceanographic research, 

 Severyanka, is now operating and adds another unique feature to the 

 Soviet research fleet. 



The larger vessels are capable of engaging in all phases of modern 

 deep-sea oceanographic research. They have numerous laboratories 

 and can accommodate scientific parties of more than 25 persons. 

 The Vityaz and Mikhail Lomonosov can accommodate from 60 to 70 

 persons for research. Several of the larger offshore vessels, however, 

 are used for other duties in addition to scientific research, such as 

 training cadets and serving as logistic supply ships. Including these, 

 the offshore fleet has at least 12 vessels with lengths greater than 200 

 feet and also at least 5 vessels capable of operating in moderate ice 

 conditions. 



The coastal research fleet of vessels under 125 feet in length is 

 comprised mostly of converted fishing boats. This group of vessels 

 can also be supplemented by a group of converted medium-class 

 fishing trawlers and three-masted sailmg vessels from the oft'shore 



fleet. "^ 



A separate appraisal by the U.S. Navy was recently offered to the 

 House Science and Astronautics Committee: " 



The U.S. oceanographic capability can be measured in number of ships, scien- 

 tists, and dollar support. At the present we operate about 52 ships and have 

 about 500 to 600 professional oceanographers. The fiscal year 1961 budget for 

 oceanography exclusive of ship construction is $36.6 million. By 1970 we expect 

 to have increased the number of our oceanographic ships to about 85 or 90 and to 

 have engaged about 1,100 or 1,200 competent scientists in oceanography. It can 

 be expected that the costs for conduct of oceanographic research and surveys by 

 1970 will level off at approximately $85 million annually. 



Although receiving greater emphasis since World War II, oceanography has 

 undergone a marked expansion in the Soviet Union since 1955, following the 

 announcement of its plans to participate in the oceanography program of the 

 International Geophysical Year (1957-58). Therefore, Soviet oceanographic 

 research was limited mostly to the regions bordering upon the U.S.S.R., and scien- 

 tific relations with foreign scientists were essentially nonexistent. Since 1955, the 

 U.S.S.R. has displayed a large modern research fleet second to none, has announced 

 the construction of new research facilities, has operated its research fleet through- 

 out the oceans of the world, and has organized a sizable manpower force to conduct 

 oceanographic research. The period from 1955 to 1960 definitely has been one of 

 acquiring facilities, manpower, and scientific data. 



The Soviet oceanography program has been a survey effort to collect oceano- 

 graphic observations of all types over broad geographic areas. * * * The pres- 

 ent research fleet of the Soviet Union to support this type of effort is comprised 

 of a large number and variety of ship types ranging from small fishing vessels to 

 the Mikhail Lomonosov (5,960 tons). It also includes the research submarine 

 Severyanka. New vessels have been acquired almost annually for this fleet. 

 Since 1957, the Mikhail Lomonosov, 5,960 tons; the Severyanka, 1,050 tons; the 



» The preceding material was extracted from tmpublislied information compiled by NASCO in 1957-58 

 That following was furnished by Secretary James T. Wakelin, "Frontiers in Oceanic Research," op. cit., 

 pp. 53-54. 



