Soviet deployments and the cost of diverting NATO forces

Invincible, Illustrious and Ark Royal entered construction and service during the same broad period as the Soviet Navy's larger ocean-going ships. Invincible was laid down in 1973 and commissioned in 1980, followed into service by Illustrious in 1982 and Ark Royal in 1985. Kirovs and Kievs would probably serve primarily around Soviet naval bastions, but their ability to operate elsewhere still required a response. An attack submarine could pursue one, at the cost of removing that submarine from the North Atlantic campaign. Diverting an American carrier battle group would create a similar absence in the North Atlantic or North Pacific. A deployment in the Indian Ocean could therefore affect the balance in the main theatres.