Russian Navy "On Verge of Collapse"

Weird I recall Stalin nationalized all the foreign companies in the late 1920´s. Is that the beating you mention here? And pretty much all the foreign communists who went to the USSR disappeared. That is dictatorship, not comaradeship. Why would a communist kill his fellow comrades in numbers. And Lenin´s last wish was that Stalin should not have any leading party position, we know now why and even in the 1930´s they knew already. And was trostsky such a threat in Mexico it was necessary to get him killed?

 

During the whole of Soviet history it was the First (or later – General) Secretary who always had the crucial vote on key issues in the development of the country. Lenin tried hard to hold his grip on the Politburo until he became seriously ill. Under Joseph Stalin – from 1924 to 1953 - the power of the General Secretary became almost absolute. All that was left to the members of the Politburo was to yield to all the ideas of the “top man”. Any kind of opposition meant an end to their career.

http://russiapedia.rt.com/of-russian-origin/politburo/

 

You forgot to mention that Stalin did not allow proper resupply of the 6th army. He should allowed a humanitarian corridor to prevent deaths of many Axis soldiers. Etc, etc, but obviously I went a bit of topic, just like you did too.

 

If an off topic post raises an issue due to especially due to being inaccurate or one sided it rather bets a reply. Off topic absurdities on the other hand add little or nothing to the conversation and are hardly called for.

 

Thanks for good advice.

 

Here's an article on Russian flight ops over various oceans and seas:
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20150818.aspx
Looks like they are feeling a bit of strain there as well.

 

What about the Russian Army, are they in any better shape?

 

Here's something that actually has something to do with this thread: the Russian Navy.

https://www.thevintagenews.com/2015/07/04/monster-subs-of-the-russian-pacific-fleet/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=postplanner&utm_source=facebook.com

Whether it's on the verge of collapse cannot be determined here. Just some neat pix that's all.

 

Here's another related article. Reading between the lines a bit not really making a case for them being ready to collapse but clearly having some problems:
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20151107.aspx

 

I remember and agree with your assessment. Iraq destroyed US credibility in the region and world according to many scholars. You would think that lessons would be learned instead Lybia was next... Now it's Syria. Just amazing.

 

Not from what I've seen. Most of those who maintained this had already lost or never had in faith or willingness to give credit to the US. The invasion in Iraq however certainly lead to Al Quada discrediting themselves. Our actions in Lybia were more tentative and argueably less successful those in Syria even more so.

 

Libya...

 

Another article that directly addresses the issue raised in the title:
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20151229.aspx

 

I never realized that the Virginia class submerged displacement was 1,000 tons heavier that the original 688 boats'.

Learn something new everyday.

 

I think what's catching the West by surprise aren't particularly the ships but as the weapons they possess. The missiles in particular...

 

Maybe someone else shared this:

http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-naval-capabilities-2015-12

 

I have lived long enough to see a number of these reports come out of the Defense department proclaiming a gap of this or that or some new and revolutionary Russian whiz bang, that if not countered yesterday, will spell doom.

Hasn't always worked that way now has it.

 

But when reading the report, the Russian Navy has to:

Control the Baltic Sea

Control the Black Sea

I think the report says they can or will soon be able to do that.

 

In some ways that is like saying the US could control the Gulf of Mexico or the Great Lakes, which is pretty much a 'well duh' moment. During the height of the Cold War the Soviet navy had this capacity, only to lose it during the collapse of Communism. What it probably doesn't point out is that the new Russia faces the same problem the old Russia does, their navy can easily get bottled up in these waters because of constricted outlets and neighboring countries who are US allies or at least not great friends of the new bear.

To create this new navy they need mucho dinero, at a time when their principal cash cow, oil and gas, are at historic lows.

There is always the potential, but for me the jury is still out.

 

Agreed, but likely that is all they really need to do to carry a club that others are reluctant to fully mess with. The Russian's are masters at pulling people into traps.

Keep in mind that Russia is basically a mafia. Never underestimate what they can pull off to protect their interests. Their true interests are not global. Their game is oil. Protect the Black Sea and Baltic and they have it. Imagine a US where our vital interests were in fact limited to the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes.

I think that is what is not said but implied in the report.