Duffy explains why a barrier defence was more feasible for NATO than for Soviet submarines forced through northern choke points. Soviet attack boats could try to intercept NATO submarines, shield Soviet ballistic-missile submarines, attack surface forces, or interdict reinforcement shipping. The prospect of a long conventional war raised the importance of that last mission and forced NATO to allocate limited naval assets among simultaneous demands. Maritime patrol aircraft were vital because they could patrol the barriers, protect strike fleets, and cover convoys. Duffy's question about whether enough MPAs existed turns geography into a force-availability problem rather than treating choke points as a self-enforcing defence.
Chapter · 17:25-19:05
Choke points favor NATO ASW barriers but demand scarce patrol aircraft
Soviet submarines leaving northern bases must cross defensible choke points, but NATO needs enough aircraft and ships to cover several submarine missions at once.