(2 of 9)
Washington estimates that Russia has anywhere from five to 60 atom bombs; a favorite guess is 20-25. (Estimates about the U.S. atom bomb stockpile run from several hundred to "a small four figures.") It is certain that Russia's uranium ores are low-grade. A half-dozen or so deposits were discovered in 1944 in the Tashkent area of central Asia. The other main Soviet uranium source is northeast of Lake Baikal, in Siberia.
Inferiority in atomic bombs continues to be the main short-range Russian weakness and probably the chief factor inhibiting the Kremlin from all-out war — to date. However, U.S. strategists do not view the atomic bomb as an "absolute weapon," capable by itself of achieving decisive victory. "Conventional" weapons and modes of war will have to be taken into account.
Land Power. Total Red army strength, including service troops, is 2,800,000. Of these 1,555,000 men are organized in 175 divisions, averaging 6,600 men in each; at full strength a Russian division has about 8,000 men. (The U.S. has 15 divisions in service, is organizing three more.) The Russians' 175 divisions break down into about 125 infantry divisions (including the airborne), and 50 mechanized divisions including armored outfits. U.S. Army Intelligence believes that Russia, which has long had a thoroughgoing system of compulsory military training, can mobilize 300 divisions within 60 days.
Historically and currently, Russians excel as artillerists. Their artillery weapons are generally excellent — their World War II 76-mm. cannon was one of the best in its class. Their tanks are equally good; their T-34 medium is a match for all but the newest U.S. tanks and their Joseph Stalin III may be the best in service any where.
Air Power. In World War II, the U.S.S.R. scoffed at strategic bombing, used its aircraft almost exclusively in close support of ground troops. Since the war, and especially since the atomic bomb, the U.S.S.R. has laid more stress on long-range bombers. Today Russia has about 500 TU-45 (its copy of the 6-29) which could bomb most U.S. cities in one-way missions. Russia also has several hundred old four-engined bombers, which might be used for strategic bombing against Europe and Britain, though they would be sitting ducks to modern fighters.
Russia has continued to concentrate on developing tactical air support for its infantry. Its total of operational aircraft is estimated at 14,000 planes, most of them fighters and light bombers.
Under the reorganization of the Soviet armed forces last February, the air force lost its relatively independent status, be came a part of the army. Soviet military aviation is now divided into three sections, the army air force (tactical ground support), the fighter arm of the Soviet air defense, and the strategic bomber group.
These sections are organized into air armies, each consisting of three corps, with three divisions to a corps, three regiments to a division, and three squadrons to a regiment. A squadron has 30 to 50 planes.
When the Russians captured German aircraft plants and technicians in World War II, they got busy working on jet planes. The first Soviet jets, the MIG9 and the YAK-15,* were unveiled in 1946.