The current format of the US Navy fleet results from decisions taken in the mid-70s and early 80s to deal with the growing Soviet naval threat in 3 areas: the arrival of new units heavy seas, such as the cruisers Kirov and Slava supported by modern destroyers Sovreimeniye and Udaloy, the strengthening of the fleet of long-range bombers with the entry into service Tu-22M Backfire, and the submarine threat with the entry into service of very efficient attack submarines like the Alpha and Akula, and discreet submarines like the Victor II/III and the first Kilo.
For the US Navy, it was essential to maintain air and naval superiority over the North Atlantic in the face of these threats, which required having large aircraft carriers capable of implementing heavy interceptors like the F14 in sufficient numbers. , destroyers and cruisers equipped with the AEGIS anti-aircraft and anti-missile system capable of dealing with saturation attacks, anti-submarine frigates and efficient attack submarines capable of keeping Russian submersibles at bay . Added to this is the need to transport personnel and equipment, and to conduct amphibious assault operations with the Marine Corps.
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