German heavy ships tied down British forces because a breakout could inflict severe losses on convoys. Soviet cruiser deployments could apply the same principle by threatening distant routes. Forces in the Indian Ocean and Far East could compel NATO to send ships away from other commitments or accept losses. Those losses could threaten access through an entire theater, so geographical distance from the main confrontation did not make the deployment irrelevant.
Notable Point · 3:25:43-3:26:56
Why Soviet cruisers operated far from NATO's main theater
Threats to distant sea routes could force NATO to disperse ships or accept losses, giving Soviet cruiser deployments a role in a wider conflict.