Total Manpower Strength 46,000

DESCRIPTION

The early Soviet surface ships of the post-World War II period largely utilized the Tamir-5 series of high-frequency, hull-mounted sonars. They were succeeded from the mid-1950s by the Pegas-2 series sonars and then, after the late 1950s, by the Herkules series.

Subsequently, various improved sonars were developed for the Soviet warships that began joining the fleet in the 1960s. By the 1960s, as the Soviet navy became more concerned with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and submarine detection, there was an effort to reduce frequencies.

For at least the next two decades, the frequencies were reduced from the 20-30 kHz range to about 2-15 kHz. Bow-mounted sonars were mounted in some later surface classes, providing the optimum hull-mounted sonar position (i.e., away from machinery and propeller noises), while also providing some "d ampening" effect in rough sea operations.

In addition, active bistatic detection became possible with the installation of variable depth sonar (VDS) in several surface combatants, beginning with the MOSKVA-class helicopter ships (operational in 1967).

Towed sonar arrays have been sighted on Russian ships in the development and evaluation stage, but no deployment has been confirmed.

Early post-World War II submarines with "new" sonar installations were primarily equipped with the Tamir-5L set. Submarines were subsequently fitted with active-passive Herkules and passive Feniks sonars.

Beginning with the VICTOR III class** attack submarine (operational in 1978), the Soviets and Russians have deployed towed passive sonar arrays. Such systems seemed to have narrow-band processors, greatly enhancing their capability. Other submarine classes were fitted with similar towed arrays, inc luding the SIERRA-class,** AKULA-class ** and YANKEE-class** ballistic missile submarines converted to an attack submarine configuration.

A Shark Gill ** low-frequency sonar was identified in newer submarine classes, including the MIKE**, SIERRA** and possibly OSCAR** classes.

Soviet fixed-wing ASW aircraft and helicopters carried air-dropped, expendable sonobouys that could provide active or passive submarine detection. These dipping sonars were adopted for smaller surface combatants (see below).