Public offensive doctrine and force-allocation logic point in different directions. With only one Akula and seven Alfas available, Soviet commanders would hesitate to spend these scarce boats on distant merchant convoys. Their speed and combat value fit attacks on NATO's forward carriers or defense against Los Angeles-class submarines approaching the bastions. Commanders would therefore likely keep them in the Barents and Norwegian seas while assigning the more numerous Victors to the Atlantic battle. A platform's advertised mission need not determine where it is risked in a particular campaign.
Notable Point · 1:08:24-1:12:14
Why the newest Soviet submarines might stay near the bastions
Scarce Akula and Alfa boats were more valuable defending SSBNs or attacking forward carriers than hunting convoys deep in the Atlantic.