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Admiral Gorshkov: The Man Who Challenged the U.S. Navy
Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei G. Gorshkov was the product of a tradition unlike those of his Western contemporaries. He had a unique background of revolution, civil war, world wars, and the forceful implementation of an all-controlling communist dictatorship. Out of this background of violence and overwhelming transformation came a man with a clear understanding of the value of navies, but with his own unique ideas about the kind of navy that the Soviet Union required, and the role that navy should play in Soviet military and national strategy.
Western naval observers have often attempted to define Admiral Gorshkov in Western naval terms. Many of these observers have been baffled when they find that the man and his actions simply did not fit conventional narratives. This book lays out the tradition, background, experiences, and thinking of the man as they relate to the development of the Soviet Navy that Gorshkov commanded for almost three decades and that was able to directly challenge the maritime dominance of the United States--a traditional sea power. His influence persists to this day, as the Russian Navy that is at sea in the twenty-first century is, to a significant degree, based on the fleet that Admiral Gorshkov built.
Western naval observers have often attempted to define Admiral Gorshkov in Western naval terms. Many of these observers have been baffled when they find that the man and his actions simply did not fit conventional narratives. This book lays out the tradition, background, experiences, and thinking of the man as they relate to the development of the Soviet Navy that Gorshkov commanded for almost three decades and that was able to directly challenge the maritime dominance of the United States--a traditional sea power. His influence persists to this day, as the Russian Navy that is at sea in the twenty-first century is, to a significant degree, based on the fleet that Admiral Gorshkov built.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2019
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About the author
Norman Polmar
75 books21 followersNorman Polmar is an author specializing in the naval, aviation, and intelligence areas.
He has led major projects for the United States Department of Defense and the United States Navy, and foreign governments. His professional expertise has served three Secretaries of the U.S. Navy and two Chiefs of Naval Operations. He is credited with 50 published books, including nine previous editions of Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet and four editions of Guide to the Soviet Navy. Polmar writes a column for Proceedings and was editor of the United States and several other sections of the annual publications of Janes Fighting Ships.
In 2019, the Naval Historical Foundation awarded Polmar the Commodore Dudley W. Knox Naval History Lifetime Achievement Award.
He has led major projects for the United States Department of Defense and the United States Navy, and foreign governments. His professional expertise has served three Secretaries of the U.S. Navy and two Chiefs of Naval Operations. He is credited with 50 published books, including nine previous editions of Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet and four editions of Guide to the Soviet Navy. Polmar writes a column for Proceedings and was editor of the United States and several other sections of the annual publications of Janes Fighting Ships.
In 2019, the Naval Historical Foundation awarded Polmar the Commodore Dudley W. Knox Naval History Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 23, 2020
When I was a teenager in the 1980s, I remember hearing President Ronald Reagan's warning that our generation could be the one to face nuclear armageddon through war with the Soviet Union. I believed that could happen, and I knew, coming from a Navy family, that perhaps my own loved ones would be in harm's way if that were to occur. I also remember an argument that I had at the time with my older brother, who was in the Navy and serving onboard the USS Nimitz, about who would win in a war between the USSR and the United States. He surprised me by saying that the Soviet Union had an edge over us, particularly in anti-ship cruise missles. I scoffed, saying that our aircraft carriers' air wings would slaughter the Soviets from a safe distance.
Then I joined the US Navy myself, and arranged and lucked into serving onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt just in time to see the end and breakup of the Soviet Union. My war would turn out to be quite different.
That's a good thing, because my brother may well have been right. The Soviet Navy wasn't necessarily better than us, but their mission was certainly different than ours. Furthermore, I see now that at least in part we were geared up for the wrong war, planning for the necessity of protecting sea lanes from submarines and commerce raiders as if we were facing the Germans all over again. Perhaps the US would have prevailed in a total war with the USSR, but it would have been a hollow victory, and bought with most of our surface fleet and several aircraft carriers.
The man who was largely responsible for fashioning such a fearsome weapon was Admiral of the Fleet Sergei G. Gorshkov, who served with the Soviet Navy for most of its existence. He joined a navy wracked by revolution in 1927 at the age of 17. He would survive purges, changes in strategic philosophies, war and political infighting, steadily molding the Soviet Navy into a unique threat to the United States' control of the seas. When he finally retired in 1985, the Soviet Union itself had only a few more years to exist. Its ultimate dissolution would have little to do with the resources spent on the USSR's fleet, although it is undeniable that the Soviets did not have spare money to spend on aircraft carriers, ballistic and cruise missile submarines, and even the first battlecruiser sized warship (non-aircraft carrier) built since the end of World War Two. The world is fortunate that the United States and the Soviet Union never engaged in a fully involved conflict, and I am particularly grateful we never had to find out whether Gorshkov knew his opponent better than we knew ours.
Rest in peace, sir. Fair winds and following seas.
Then I joined the US Navy myself, and arranged and lucked into serving onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt just in time to see the end and breakup of the Soviet Union. My war would turn out to be quite different.
That's a good thing, because my brother may well have been right. The Soviet Navy wasn't necessarily better than us, but their mission was certainly different than ours. Furthermore, I see now that at least in part we were geared up for the wrong war, planning for the necessity of protecting sea lanes from submarines and commerce raiders as if we were facing the Germans all over again. Perhaps the US would have prevailed in a total war with the USSR, but it would have been a hollow victory, and bought with most of our surface fleet and several aircraft carriers.
The man who was largely responsible for fashioning such a fearsome weapon was Admiral of the Fleet Sergei G. Gorshkov, who served with the Soviet Navy for most of its existence. He joined a navy wracked by revolution in 1927 at the age of 17. He would survive purges, changes in strategic philosophies, war and political infighting, steadily molding the Soviet Navy into a unique threat to the United States' control of the seas. When he finally retired in 1985, the Soviet Union itself had only a few more years to exist. Its ultimate dissolution would have little to do with the resources spent on the USSR's fleet, although it is undeniable that the Soviets did not have spare money to spend on aircraft carriers, ballistic and cruise missile submarines, and even the first battlecruiser sized warship (non-aircraft carrier) built since the end of World War Two. The world is fortunate that the United States and the Soviet Union never engaged in a fully involved conflict, and I am particularly grateful we never had to find out whether Gorshkov knew his opponent better than we knew ours.
Rest in peace, sir. Fair winds and following seas.
October 23, 2023
This is an interesting book that provides insight into the progression of the Russian Navy during the Tsar's, then to the Soviet Navy, and back again to the Russian Navy after the collapse of the Soviet Union, while highlighting Admiral Gorshkov's naval career and rise through the ranks. The author's point out that although Gorshkov was a dedicated communist, he had the courage and backbone to stand up for his beliefs, even in the face of potentially being removed from his position.
In view of worldwide events, this book sheds light on the Russian mindset, including a brief snapshot of Vladimir Putin's approach to the modern Russian Navy and how he desires it to be employed around the globe.
In view of worldwide events, this book sheds light on the Russian mindset, including a brief snapshot of Vladimir Putin's approach to the modern Russian Navy and how he desires it to be employed around the globe.
June 15, 2023
Great insight wiew of expansion of the Red navy..superb job.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews