The Zhukov Briefing - читать бесплатно онлайн полную версию книги автора Antony Trew (PROLOGUE) #1

Antony Trew The Zhukov Briefing

‘There has been nothing in the past 20 years which has upset the balance of power so violently and so fundamentally as the emergence of the Soviet Union as the second largest naval power in the world, with a navy nearly twice as numerous as the combined navies of Britain, France, West Germany, Italy and Japan. This navy has become a force able to take part in any kind of war Russia desires, from an all-out nuclear conflict, to gun-running on behalf of local communist parties or their friends anywhere in the world.’

David Woodward in The Listener, 7th November, 1974

PROLOGUE

Entry in the movements log of the Flag Officer Commanding New Construction, USSR Baltic Fleet, Leningrad Naval Base:

1st October, 1974 — BMS Zhukov

20:35 Zhukov cleared submarine pens.

21:02 Zhukov completed passage Morskoy Kanal.

21:17 Forts Pavel and Pyotr report Zhukov crossing anti-submarine defence loop 47g.

22:15 ASD, sonar and radar stations at Karavalday and Flotskiy report Zhukov crossing anti-submarine defence loop 23e.

22:29 Guardship Tolstoi reports Zhukov clear of inner defences.

Note: Refer signal log for message C-in-C, Baltic Fleet, repeated C-in-C Northern Fleet, reporting departure of Zhukov on familiarization patrol en route to Polyarnyo to join Seventh BMS Squadron, Northern Fleet — ref. 21:30/10-1/BMS 7.

Office of the Commodore (Intelligence), Ministry of Defence (Navy), Whitehall:

Entry dated 4th October, 1974, in Top Secret file BMS/USSR/Delta Two/2713a: ‘Agent Clematis reports sailing of first operational Delta Two ballistic missile submarine Zhukov from Leningrad Naval Base during the night of October 1st. Believed bound Polyarnyo to join Seventh BMS Squadron, Northern Fleet. Clematis confirms structural and equipment defects revealed on summer sea trials now made good in Zhukov at Zhdanov Yard but work on Timoshenko unlikely to complete before end November. Principal defects in both apparently due technical problems welding new type alloys in pressure hull. Clematis regrets unable obtain information on structure abaft bridge fin, twin blisters forward of tailfin, and missile warheads as directed last briefing and considers success unlikely in view exceptionally high security classification.

C-in-C Fleet, Northwood, informed 09:17/4/- R/BMS/OPS.’