Q&A · 1:24:21-1:25:17

Could Stalin's navy develop carrier doctrine?

A Pacific or Northern Fleet role gives a Soviet carrier a purpose, but rapid doctrinal development remains uncertain.

Question

Could the Soviet Union develop effective carrier doctrine quickly enough in the 1930s?

Short answer

The speed of doctrinal development remains uncertain. The navy would first need a carrier and a mission, most plausibly in the Pacific or Northern Fleet.

Notes

Developing doctrine depends first on obtaining a carrier and deciding what it is for. The strongest operational cases lie in the Pacific and Northern fleets, with a weaker case in the Black Sea and little need in the Baltic. A Soviet carrier is considered most likely to appear in the Far East. Whether effective doctrine could be developed quickly remains unanswered.