573 
TABLE 2.—Comparison of United States and Soviet submarines, February 1976 
United 
Soviets States 
Submarine type: 
Ballistic missile: 
INUclGai = seen eee ee 5 a he at eRe LR aia Ne cen Be eli 155 41 
INGOT RUG EATEN) SET Sar, WOT SUG wets Ser eas tae 20 0 
Attack: 
INIGYO ER. 358 Ble ee Vs at palate! SNR eile ~ et eepal rd 10 65 
INONNUCGARE SE S-te eet nea ke eect eee | eee ee eae 150 10 
Cruise missile: 
INT Gear ye serprinss xy ert ee Fie eo ee A ween a ENG ge anes wed eel ey 40 0 
INOMMUGIO RMT SMe tn eg ee eg ge ge 25 0 
Total: 
Nucleaig (tiatte eee 2 BA Ae et Eo. Fe RE RENEE U0 135 106 
INCU Ee a ee oe ne eee 195 10 
Grand totale 2 Y Ae ee ee Se Pee ee Le eS 330 116 
1 Includes 34 Yankee- and |1 Delta-class modern ballistic-missile submarines. 
Comparison of United States and Soviet active surface ships, February 1976 
United 
Soviets States 
Major combatants: 
PNITCKAvt Callers: Meee FN eh aR TY SOREN PRED ARENA Lane Wout bet. f 1 aS 
ASW helicoptericammiers; $e 4. gyri tet pe) per eres ep eee. yee Lee 2 0 
(CORTE TS oe, a ogee Se egg oe eee ane a ARREST reiag ts eR pean 32 26 
CSINOVENS) 45225 ee bf pa gio gh ER ag. a Net tin Mh need Slate oem 87 269 
dSatests psok Ae, A RP 09 I EES EW . These 107 64 
SUDO fale tates came KM Nee Dore Mees te we oi ees ee ee 229 172 
Minor combatants: 
Mis silenpathelacrafit prt yasph ee SS of oe 2 ge chee t Yet Dg Ba ee! 135 0 
@iherpatroltcratt eer ee ee ee CU RS ae tee eee ete os 540 8 
PNM PMIOLOUSES AIDS te ee Aen ee he PRO ee wR ER LEER BIAS SELL SSeS! 80 61 
Mine warfare ships __________________ 2). See Re tes . teres. [ie 260 3 
PADIS ATIC Soe: ob St gh! ake 1 OO eB NE kes fe eo 755 117 
Subtotal: 126 7s eeda ase evil sh dete hE) SS Ge 1,770 189 
BC ball peg ee ea ape a ae ae gig! Poe eS o Sng eS ae RE 1,999 361 
1 This total does not include the Oriskany, an Essex-class carrier scheduled to be taken out of service at the end of 
fiscal year 1976. 
2 With the exception of two Spruance-class destroyers, all of these destroyers are 15 to 31 years old. 
Source: Congressional Record, Apr. 8, 1976, p. H3081. 
The Soviet Union also has an overwhelming lead in minor combat- 
ants, such as patrol boats and mine warfare ships and auxiliaries. 
It is quite possible, however, that auxiliaries include river dredges, 
barges, and so forth, which are not listed in any tabulation of U.S. 
forces. On the other hand, the United States has almost five times 
as many tactical naval aircraft: 3,543 for the United States versus 
768 for the Soviet Union.6 Soviet naval long-range aircraft are 
equipped with ASM’s; U.S. aircraft are not. 
Some observers contend that any U.S.-U.S.S.R. comparison should 
include NATO ships. Several NATO members do have a blue-water 
6U.S. Senate, Committee on Armed Services. United States-Soviet Military Balance; A Framework 
for Congress. Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1976, p. 6. 
