2 
true with indications that the United States and other industrialized 
nations are looking to the oceans for supplies of critical metals and 
secure routes of maritime commerce to assure the delivery of fuels 
and imported raw materials. 
The Soviet Union has structured the components of its ocean pro- 
gram to develop seapower based upon the integration of the military, 
fishing, commercial, and scientific functions in a multipurpose fleet. 
From the outset, the Soviet Union developed its ocean policy with 
the aim of integrating the functions of its merchant fleet, navy, distant 
water fishing fleet, and oceanographic research capabilities into an 
interlocking system which is the U.S.S.R.’s seapower. The Soviets 
conceive that each element of seapower must interact, complement, 
and reinforce the other. Each element is designed with a sensitivity 
to the effect of the functioning of one element on the performance 
of the others. Thus, while the merchant navy is designed to carry 
a growing Soviet overseas trade it was also designed to serve as 
an auxiliary naval force during war, to gather intelligence and monitor 
ship movements while at sea and contribute in other ways to the 
Soviet military mission. The distant water fishing fleet, since it operates 
in the coastal waters of many nations worldwide, has the opportunity 
to observe Western fleet movements and military exercises and track 
missiles. 
Soviet ocean policy is determined at the highest governing level 
of its Government 
The Soviet Communist Party dominates the politics of the U.S.S.R. 
Government. The monolithic governmental system of the Soviet Union 
enables it to corrdinate its ocean policy in pursuit of the goals and 
commitments established by the Communist Party. This is in contrast 
with the pluralistic representative government of the United States 
and many of the Western countries which pursue simultaneously a 
number of societal goals which are often in competition and sometimes 
in conflict. 
When reviewing the accomplishments of the Soviet Union relating 
to its well-coordinated ocean policy over the last 25 years, one must 
acknowledge the differences between the governmental philosophies 
of a free enterprise system of open government and the philosophies 
of a state-controlled system under the domination of a ruling political 
party. While this does not diminish the impressive gains made by 
the Soviet Union in marine affairs, it does not indicate that we should 
emulate them in goals and policy structure. It is important, however, 
that we be cognizant of the progress made in ocean capability by 
the Soviet Union, and where appropriate, benefit by the lessons it 
may provide. 
NAVAL POWER 
The Soviet Navy has developed a fleet capable of denying sea 
control and onshore power projection to the United States and its 
allies. 
Following the Second World War, the United States was the domi- 
nant ocean power. Our Navy was capable of controlling the seas 
and projecting U.S. power ashore anywhere on the globe. It is neces- 
sary that the United States be capable of maintaining the transportation 
