Page 345 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

RUSSIA AND THE SOVIET UNION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 331

objectives in the Soviet Union with ballistic missiles from submariners and attack
planes with A-bomb remain quite real. And conditions for launching missiles from
submarines were even better in the Mediterranean than on ocean combat stations,
more fa vorable weather, support of the Alli ed n a val forces, better conditions of
fixing ship's position for the launch.
This situation could not remain without responsive measures by the Soviet
government. And at the end of the 60th Soviet ships began systematic combat ser-
vice in the Mediterranean. In 1967 it was decided to forma strong multipurpose
task-force - the Mediterranean squadron (MS) or the 5th operating squadron. lt
was subordinated directly to the Cin CH of the Soviet Navy. The composition of
the MS changed from rime to time depending on the situation. In summer 1968
it included one cruiser, two light cruisers (in Russian classification - large antisub-
marine ship- BPK) with long-range cruise missile, five destroyers, five frigates and
corvettes, three amphibious shi ps, several boats with cruise missiles, submarine
tender, several auxilary ships and about lO submarines (half of them nuclear with
ballistic or cruise missiles). Surface ships were sent from the Black Sea Fleet, sub-
marines mosdy from the Nothern fleet. Periodically one of the two helicopter crui-
sers Moskva and Leningrad (in Russian classification - antisubmarines cruisers)
participated in the operation of the MS. Naval aviation was represented by one
mixed airsquadron of reconaissance and antisubmarine planes based a t the airfield
Cairo-W est.
The main obstacle to overcome was the problem of basing, ships which had
to serve in the MS about 6 mounth.
The solution of che problem was found in the combination of a system of the
so called "points" and the use of some kind of a "fleet train system of supply ships
at sea" developed by Americans during the war. Along the shores out of the territo-
rial waters there were chosen about 60 of the "points". The depth of the sea at
"points" allowed to stay at anchor orto be chained to a special solid buoys fixed
to the bottom at greater depth. "Poi n t N° 5" at the island of Kitira was the princi-
pal point for ships coming from the Black Sea, "Point N° 52" for ships and sub-
marines coming through Gibraltar. Naturally sue h conditions of operations of the
ships of the MS represented a heavy burden on their crews and machinery. Some
relief in that situation were given by so-called "business visits" into ports of Egypt
- Alexandria, Port- Said, Mersa- Matruch; Syria- Latakia, Tartus; Algeria- Anna-
ba; Yugoslavia - Split, Kotor; Tunis - Bizerta. Staying there 2 - 3 days ships could
replenish fresh water, buy vegetables and fruits and get some rese for the sailors.
In case of necessity ships could be repaired in Alexandria and Tartus by repair
ships. Commander of the MS and his staff rotated every 2 years and had their flag
mostly o n board of a cruiser, or sometimes o n board of a submarine tender.
The main generai task of the MS was keeping watch on the ships of the 6th
fleet. Each American aircraft carrier was followed by at least one Soviet ship. Die-
sel submarines checked the passage of aircraft carriers and other ships through the