East European Navies

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As in last year’s survey, the naval developments in the six East Euro­pean, communist-ruled countries will be described in some detail. The po­litical scene in 1982 in the Soviet-dom­inated part of East Europe was char­acterized by the still-unresolved crisis in Poland, and by the growing impact that worldwide recession has had (and continues to have) upon all these countries. Although the communist regimes generally subordinate all other interests to those of security, the se­rious economic problems experienced by East European countries neverthe­less have had some negative reper­cussions upon the size of military ex­penditures in the respective countries and the state of combat readiness of their armed forces. Hence, there was really no surprise that no new and dra­matic efforts were undertaken in 1982 aimed at expanding or modernizing any of the East European navies, beyond

the programs already under way or being planned.

The main features of the military- political situation in the Balkans were the warming of ties between Bucha­rest and Moscow, which have already led to somewhat improved military re­lations, and the continued state of un­rest among the Albanians in the prov­ince of Kosovo, with a consequently heightened concern in regard to Yu­goslavia’s internal stability. The Ko­sovo problem was one reason, al­though not the principal one, for the steady deterioration of political rela­tions between Belgrade and Tirana, accompanied by ever-intensifying propaganda campaigns on both sides. Yugoslav-Albanian relations have worsened in recent months, because Albania’s leadership has apparently conducted a widespread purge of real and suspected supporters of the for­mer close associates of Albania’s party

chief, 74-year-old Enver Hoxha, and the country's former prime minister Mehmet Shehu. The latter was also accused of being a long-time agent o Yugoslavia’s secret service. The most recent victim of Hoxha’s purges was Albania’s Defense Minister (Shehu s brother-in-law) Kadri Hasbia. who disappeared.                          .

Another noteworthy event in regam to Albania came in late November 1982, when Moscow’s new leadership publicly expressed its willingness to repair the country’s currently poor re­lations with Tirana. However, while Hoxha is in power, there is little it any prospect that the two countries wn start a rapprochement after 22 years of animosity. Yet. after Hoxha is gone- anything would be possible. It is we known that Moscow is eager to regain a foothold in the Albanian port of VI°^|C’ (Valona), from which the Soviets were expelled in I960.

The Baltic Sea

East Germany: By mid-1982, the East German Navy (Volksmarine) com­prised approximately 160 warships- largely coastal types, and about 7 auxiliary and miscellaneous vessels am craft. These totals include the Coast*¹ Frontier Brigade (GBK) which oper­ates some 30 patrol craft.

The largest ships the Volksincu'iiu currently has in service are two 2,001 - ton "Koni”-class frigates or “coasta defense ships’’ (KSSs), commis­sioned in 1978 and 1979 respectively; There are reports that more “Konis may follow. The remaining “Rig*¹ ” class frigate (Ernst Thaelmanri) has been used as a self-propelled barracks ship for some time. The construct¹¹¹ of the new 1.200-ton Parchim-cla^sS corvettes, intended apparently as re­placements for the older 400-ton H‘"' III-class, continues at the Peenewerft- Wolgast. Five Parchims, of 12 to b^L built, are already in service. In 19K¹' four Hai-IIIs were reportedly trans­ferred to the GBK: thus, eight ships of that class remain in service with the Volksmarine.

Apart from the Hai-IIIs, the Volk$\ /ju/W/te’s light forces include 15 “Osa-t -class guided missile patrol boats an 18 “Shershen”-class torpedo boats- all Soviet built. In addition, there are 31 domestically built 30-ton. 40-knoj Libelle-class “light torpedo boats

^(KTSs). The Libelles are apparently "tended for defense of naval bases ^a°d ports and their approaches. These ^Sr>iall craft can also be used for mining ^lln<J transport of frogman/commando ^leams. However, because of their small j*^IZe and correspondingly bad sca­lping qualities, the Libelles are suit- ^tlhle lor employment only under rel­atively good weather conditions.

The           Volk smarine's amphibious

^vvartare component includes 12 mod- ^Crn 2,000-ton Frosch-I-class landing ^ships. These 16-knot ships externally ^resemble the much larger Soviet "Ro- PUcha” class. The Frosch-Is have a cargo-carrying capacity of some 400 tons. The Fi ■osch-ls can also be used ^,0r minelaying. An additional two ⁿⁱ°dified ships of the class, fitted with a five-ton crane amidships, but with- °^ut a ramp to main deck, and known as the Froscli-11 class, are currently ^used as cargo and ammunition trans­ports but are capable of beaching: they ^can also be used as minelayers.

I here are unconfirmed reports that ^a new training ship is being built for •he Volksmarine.

Poland: The composition of the Po- nsh Navy and its personnel strength ^were essentially the same last year as 'hey were in 1981. Besides the 30-me- |^er glass-reinforced plastic-hulled

Notec"-class coastal minesweeper launched in April 1981 (probably com­pleted). no new class of surface war­^ships has been reported as being under construction or acquired from Soviet A'lirces. The Polish Navy represents a rapidly aging force in urgent need of ^rePlacing its existing four "Whis- ^^ey"-class submarines, 13 “Osa-I"- class missile boats, ten Wisla-class 'orpedo boats, and also 23 Obluze, tPodified Obluze and Gdansk classes °l large patrol craft (17 of which are operated by the border guard), and 24

P-43” and Krogulec-class MSCs.

There are unconfirmed reports that a new class of torpedo boats is to be domestically built to replace the re­cent but unsuccessful Wislas. Also, in light (from Moscow’s viewpoint) of the somewhat improved internal situation in Poland after the imposition of mar­tial law and subsequent suppression of the Solidarity movement, there is a possibility that the Soviets may trans­fer some naval vessels to Poland.

The only additions to the Polish Navy were a few noncombatant ves­sels. Not reported in the last survey was the commissioning of a new res­cue ship, the Gniewko, on 29 August 1981, at the Dabrowziczacy Naval Yard. The third and apparently last 1.200-ton Fenik-class surveying ship named Planeta, was completed in late 1982 by the "Heroes of the Wester- platte” North Yard at Gdynia. The new 341-ton training sailing ship Is- kra-ll. with the capacity to accom­modate 40 cadets, was commissioned at Gdynia-Oksywie naval base on 11 August 1982.

The proof that the Polish Navy has experienced some problems in regard to morale and discipline, especially

The Rostock, above, is one of two “Koni”-class frigates operated by the East German Navy—the largest vessels in its inventory. There have been reports that more “Konis” will be coming from the Soviet Union. Outdated vessels like the Polish “Whiskey”-class submarine below, the Orzel, may stand a better chance of being replaced with more modern hulls, now that martial law has apparently succeeded in cooling the political situation in Poland.

within the lower ranks, came in Au­gust 1982, when it was reported that three seamen, apparently activists of the then-suspended Solidarity move­ment, were accused of committing criminal acts by printing and distrib­uting leaflets with "hostile charac­ters. ..." They summarily received jail sentences.

I'focitdings / March

I WO

43

Warsaw Pact Naval Cooperation: In the joint naval exercise held in the

“TR-40”-c!ass minesweepers.

Warsaw Pact Naval Cooperation: G m

of the largest combined maneuvers

the Warsaw Pact, Shchit-82 (Shie 82), was held in Bulgaria between September and 1 October 1982. Som 60,000 Soviet, Hungarian, Polish. a°^u Czech troops participated in these ma neuvers, while on the Romanian si <­only staff personnel were ^reP^r® sented. An undisclosed number or t Soviet Black Sea Fleet ships ^arrlV*7, at the Bulgarian ports on 17 Sept^e ber. The final phase of the                                                         _

included an amphibious assault. ¹ troops for this assault were trans ported by Soviet and Bulgarian ship • In the scenario which followed, ¹

Demonstrating Warsaw Pact naval cooperation, one Polish intelligence collection ship (Navigator, pictured), joined Soviet and East German AGIs for the first time to observe a major Western naval exercise—“Northern Wedding.”

Baltic in July 1981 (described in some detail in last year’s regional survey), it has been subsequently learned that the exercise was commanded by a Volksmarine admiral. Such exercises had been previously conducted under an overall Soviet command. The 15- ship force was divided into two “com­bat groups” and a logistic group. The main themes of the exercise were of­ficially described as antisubmarine warfare (ASW), antiair warfare (AAW), and replenishment at sea. An­other joint Warsaw Pact naval exer­cise was held in the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea in 1982. The surface ship task force consisted of the Soviet guided missile destroyers Ohraztso- vyy and Prozorlivyy, and the Volks- marine's “Koni”-class frigate Ros­tock. Initially, at the beginning of June, these ships apparently carried out an ASW exercise in which the enemy side was played by the two Polish “Whis- key”-class submarines. Afterward, the surface ship task force maneuvered in the proximity of Trondheim, Norway, where AAW exercises were con­ducted in concert with air-to-surface missile-carrying Tu-16 “Badger” strike bombers from the Soviet Northern Fleet. Subsequently, the Soviet-East German ships were deployed in the area off the Shetland Islands before returning to their home bases in the Baltic.

The Black Sea

Bulgaria: By mid-1982, the Bulgar­ian Navy consisted of about 60 war­ships and 20 auxiliary sea and mis­cellaneous craft. The submarine arm comprises the two “Romeos." The two ex-Soviet 1,320-ton “Riga”-class frig­ates, transferred in 1957-58, were ex­tensively refitted in 1980-81. The na­vy’s ASW component also currently includes the three 500-ton "Poti"-class corvettes and six obsolescent 215-ton “SO-I”-class patrol vessels, and eight Mi-2/-4 helicopters.

The backbone of the navy’s offen­sive strength in the coastal waters is made up of four “Osa I-IIs” and six “Shershens.” The four remaining “P-4"-class torpedo boats reportedly have been scrapped. Five ex-Soviet 50-ton “Zhuk”-class coastal patrol craft were reportedly transferred to the navy in 1980-81.

The navy’s mine warfare forces consist of two obsolescent steel-hulled “T-43”-class ocean minesweepers, four “Vanya-class” coastal mine­sweepers, and one or more Yevgenya- class inshore minesweepers. Remain­ing in service are perhaps only four domestically built “PO-2”-class mine­sweeping boats out of an original two dozen such craft.

The Bulgarian Navy, with its 19 ex­Soviet 600-ton “Vydra”-class LCUs and nine older "MFP D-3”-class LCTs, which were domestically built from a German design, possesses consider­able local amphibious lift capability.

Romania: In 1982, the Romanian Navy had in service approximately 90 warships, and 30 or so auxiliary ves­sels and craft. The Danube River flo­tilla comprised some 40 patrol craft. Despite the country’s bleak economic situation, the Romanian Navy appar­ently continued with a modest pro­gram of expansion and moderniza­tion. Although three “Potis” and Kron­shtadt's currently in service are of little combat value, their replacements do not seem to be in sight. The construc­tion of the “Shanghai”-class gunboats continued at the Mangalia shipyard, with about two completed per year. Currently in service are 20 “Shan­ghais,” built in three versions. The latest is intended for search and res­cue duties. Also being built under the continuing program are 39-ton Chinese- designed “Huchuan”-class hydrofoil torpedo boats. The “Huchuans” are built locally at a rate of about two per year, and about 20 of them are already in service. Some of these craft have had their foils and torpedo tubes re moved and are used for search an rescue duties. The most signified¹ program is the construction of the

ton “Epitrop”-class torpedo boats. UP

to ten of these 36-knot craft are re­portedly in service. The “Epitrop class apparently is fitted with the same engines as the Soviet “Osa-Is an “Shershens,” and carries the same torpedo and gunnery armament as t “Shershens.” This program wou seem to indicate closer Soviet-K manian naval cooperation than nJ hitherto occurred.

The navy’s mine warfare forces cur rently consist of the new 1,500-to Co.v«r-class minelayer/mine counter measure support ships, four recen > modernized and reengined De»u>o“ tia-class (ex-German “M-40”-cla^sS minesweepers, ten “T-301 ’’-class m shore minesweepers (gradually ^^el.^rT disposed of), and eight old ex-P°'^ls minesweepers and Soviet mine coun­termeasure helicopters cleared the area m front of the landing beaches. Af­terward. the amphibious landing was supported by Soviet gunship helicop­ters (probably Mi-24 "Hinds”) and air- te-surface missile-armed strike-bomb­^ers and fighter-bombers.

1 he Adriatic Sea

Yugoslavia: In mid-1982, the Yu­goslav Navy’s overall strength was still ^r°ughly the same as it had been a year ^ago: about 120 warships and 40 aux- !liary vessels and miscellaneous craft. However, there were some changes in navy's composition. The second %4-ton Sava-class submarine Drava ^was apparently commissioned. There ^were unconfirmed reports that the third and last submarine of the same class ^to be built might have been completed ^s°metime in 1982. The Savas and five °ther remaining submarines (three Heiqjs and two Sntjeskas) are armed ^with the Soviet 21-inch gas/steam- Powered antishipping torpedoes with Passive-homing heads and are fitted ^VV|th Soviet electronic equipment. In te'cent years, a few two-man Mala- ^class submarines, used by frogman/ commando teams, have been built. The -•420-pound Malas are built of light uluminum alloy and are powered by a

The navy’s ASW component cur­rently includes two Mornar- and one Le Foiigeux-c\ass corvettes, and eight or nine Kraljevica-class large patrol craft. These ships are 20-25 years old and are approaching the ends of their useful lives. The Kraljevicas will be gradually phased out. The corvettes are also aging, but will probably be retained in service until their replace­ments have been built or acquired. The ASW force also includes about 15-20 ex-Soviet Ka-25 “Hormone,” and Mi-8 “Hip” helicopters reportedly fit­ted with U. S. AN/AQS-4 dipping so­nars and armed with Mk-44 antisub­marine torpedoes.

The mainstay of the navy’s offen­sive strength in coastal waters com­prises six Rude Koncdr-class and ten “Osa-I”-class missile boats and 14 “Shershen”-class torpedo boats. The construction program for the Rade Koncdr class ended in 1979, with the first squadron becoming fully opera­tional in early 1981, although it had previously been reported that ten boats were to be built. A new and improved “Kobra” class of missile boats, also designed by the Shipping Institute (Brodarski Institut) in Zagreb, is re­portedly being built and will use en­gines ordered in France in 1972. Al-

The number of 130-ton “Type-131” patrol craft serving with the Maritime Border Brigade was decreased from ten to eight on 31 March 1982, when two "Type-131s” (Durmitor and Or) were officially turned over to the Maltese Government. Two 120-ton Mima-class patrol craft, commis­sioned in 1982, apparently are in­tended as replacements for the "Type- 131s.” The new class of patrol craft, of which an additional four are cur­rently under construction, is built at “Tito Shipyard,” Kraljevica.

The Yugoslav Navy’s mine coun­termeasure component currently comprises four Vitkov Klanac-c\ass (ex-French Sirius) coastal mine­sweepers, and six “M-l 17"- and four “Ham”- (ex-British) class inshore minesweepers. The former began con­versions to become minehunters in 1980-81 and are being fitted with Ples- sey “Type-193M” sonars. The in­shore minesweepers are old. and their replacement is needed. The Nest in­class river minesweepers are built un­der a continuing program both for the Yugoslav Navy's “River War Flo­tilla" and for export. Currently, seven Nestins are in Yugoslav service. Be­sides the previously reported three Nestins transferred to the Iraqi Navy,

4-6 kw electric motor, which enables ⁽hem to attain a speed of eight knots. I he normal operating depth of this craft ^ls reportedly some 180 feet, while its Maximum diving depth is 300 feet.

In December, Yugoslavia took de­livery from the Soviet Union of its Second “Koni”-class frigate, the Ko- Per. These two ships are the navy's largest surface combatants and are ^classified as destroyers.

though, in the spring of 1981, the Yugoslavs expressed interest in pur­chasing the Norwegian Penguin sur­face-to-surface missile, an improved version of the Soviet “Styx” might be selected instead. The previously re­ported scrapping of the remaining six “Type-158” gunboats was apparently premature, since in 1982 at least four of these craft were observed to be still in service.

Like many other East European navies, the Bulgarian Navy has been hurt by its country’s failing economy. The navy’s training ship Nikola Vaptzarov did, however, venture to Antwerp in 1982.

at least one of these craft was pur­chased by Hungary. The obsolescent “M-301”-class river minesweepers are continuing to be put out of service; only six remain in service.

The navy’s amphibious lift capabil­ity rests upon a dozen aging “Type- DTM-211” tank landing craft, and about two dozen of the new 32-ton fiberglass-hulled “Type-601” landing craft. The latter were built in 1976-77 and are also offered for export.

Albania: No significant events took place in regard to the Albanian Navy in 1982. The remaining three “Whis- key”-class submarines are based at Vlore, but none of them is apparently operational. The largest surface com­batants are still three obsolescent ex­Soviet 330-ton Kronshtadt-class ASW corvettes, but it is doubtful whether they are maintained in serviceable sta­tus. Similarly, six former Chinese “Shanghai-II”-class gunboats may not all be operational. The backbone of the navy’s strength is made up of some 35 relatively modern ex-Chinese “Hu- chuan”-class hydrofoil torpedo boats. The previously listed 12 “P-4”-class torpedo boats are reportedly nonoperational.

The navy's mine countermeasure forces include two ex-Soviet “T-43”- class ocean minesweepers, and per­haps six “T-301” inshore minesweep­ers. However, it appears doubtful that many of these ships are maintained in fully operational status.

The navies of the six countries sur­veyed are being affected adversely by the deepening global recession. How­ever, the Volksmarine and the R°" manian and Yugoslav navies seem to be able to proceed with modernization programs which are both modest and carried out primarily or entirely with their own resources.

A graduate of the Yugoslav Naval Academy- P^r- Vego served 12 years in the Yugoslav Navy an^ attained the rank of lieutenant commander before coming to the United States. He has been pm¹' lished widely in the Western press on nava matters.

Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian Navies

By William L. Dowdy 111

While small, fast, missile-armed boats remain the backbone of most navies of the Middle East, North Af­rica, and South Asia, a significant number of larger combatants are being acquired. Nearly half of the navies surveyed in this article have recently obtained or have on order frigate-sized ships. Apparent explanations vary, but versatility (more surface-to-air mis­siles [SAMs], more antisubmarine warfare [ASW] weapons, more em­barked helos), endurance, and pres­tige seem to be the most salient. If the slump in oil prices continues, this trend toward acquisition of more expensive ships may be short-lived.

The one aircraft carrier in the area, India’s Vikrant, was recommissioned in 1982, after a three-year refit. For the first time, two navies acquired submarines and one ordered them. And more hovercraft appeared in naval inventories.

Meanwhile, the Iraq-Iran War reached new levels of intensity before lapsing again into a stalemate, but there were few naval lessons to be learned. Israel mounted major amphibious landings and numerous naval com­mando raids during the 1982 war in Lebanon. Egypt regained the Sinai and a naval base at Sharm el-Sheikh. The Gulf Cooperation Council began to look more like a defense alliance, and the United States signed security agree­ments with Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Persian Gulf/Arabian Peninsula

Saudi Arabia: As final units built un­der the U.S.-designed Saudi Naval

Expansion Program (SNEP) were nearing delivery, the first two ol f°^l,[ French-built frigates for the Saudi Navy were being launched. The final four o nine “PGG-l”-class missile boats were delivered by Peterson Builders ⁰ Wisconsin during 1982. Those nine boats, plus four missile corvettes, constitute the principal combatants ordered under SNEP and are the p^r>ⁿ' cipal combatants now operational ¹¹¹ the Saudi Navy.

The first French-designed 2,000-tun frigate under construction at the Lor- ient yard of DTCN is scheduled to en­ter service in 1984. Her three sister ships will be built by CN1M, La Seyne- and should be delivered in 1985-8"- The heavily armed frigates will mount Otomat surface-to-surface missile^s (SSMs), Crotale SAMs, torpedo tubes.