Soviet bastion doctrine seeks protected waters where ballistic-missile submarines can operate and NATO carriers can be kept away from the homeland. The safest way to defend those waters is to prevent NATO from concentrating all of its strength against them. Cruisers and other visible surface forces can create distant problems that draw attention and ships away from the bastions. That diversion mission requires vessels with the endurance and presence that the crowded Kashins lack. Soviet power projection abroad therefore serves defensive security close to home.
Chapter · 44:00-46:09
Bastion defense requires global diversion
Protected submarine bastions become safer when visible Soviet ships create distant problems that prevent NATO from concentrating all of its force against them.