In this assessment, the Baltic Fleet had little chance of breaking out to join wider operations against NATO. Control of much of the Baltic coast did not remove that geographic constraint. The Black Sea Fleet faced a similar problem: even a conflict between Greece and Turkey would not necessarily open an escape route. The Northern and Pacific fleets therefore supplied the main forces available for distant operations. Their infrastructure could not accommodate most of the navy, and the ships based there would face larger NATO forces with limited support from land-based aircraft.
Chapter · 3:03:36-3:06:41
Cold War geography traps the Baltic and Black Sea fleets
Restricted exits limited the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, leaving the Northern and Pacific fleets to handle distant operations despite weaker infrastructure and larger NATO opposition.