SINCE early in 1970, U.S. intelligence experts have been particularly interested in satellite photos of a ship with an exceptionally long keel being constructed at the big Soviet naval shipyard in the Black Sea port of Nikolayev. In recent months, as the hull began to take shape, the photos disclosed a number of significant detailslarge shafts for elevators, huge fuel tanks, a flattop deck. Last week some Defense Department experts were finally willing to make a striking prediction: the Soviet navy, which for years scorned U.S. attack carriers as "floating coffins" and...
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