Duffy begins with the maritime scale of NATO: most members depended on Atlantic trade, oil, and reinforcement moving through a sea command area containing thousands of ships. The Soviet Northern Fleet concentrated submarines, ballistic-missile boats, missile-armed surface forces, amphibious capability, and long-range naval aviation near the Kola Peninsula. He nevertheless warns against an alarmist reading of raw numbers. Soviet power projection still suffered from weak sea-based air cover, limited replenishment and repair, restricted endurance, few overseas bases, and geographically constrained exits. The passage models a threat assessment that recognizes offensive growth while asking what missions the force could actually sustain.
Chapter · 22:14-26:48
Measuring the Soviet Northern Fleet without alarmism
Duffy balances the Northern Fleet's submarines, missile ships, and Backfire aircraft against Soviet weaknesses in air cover, replenishment, repair, endurance, and access to the Atlantic.