Soviet naval potential could justify serious Western preparation, although the fleet's actual capability was somewhat smaller. The distinction prevents an inventory or ambitious design programme from being treated as identical to operational capability. It also avoids the opposite mistake of dismissing the underlying threat as wholly invented.
Notable Point · 1:00:05-1:00:15
Separating Soviet naval potential from realised capability
The possible Soviet naval threat was genuinely large, but the force that could be realised and employed was somewhat less formidable than its maximum potential suggested.