"Russian Navy In Big Trouble" Topic

Will not be showing up in many Ultra-Modern scenarios, looks like.

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Yes, this is why I find it strange that everyone thinks the Russian hordes are going to roll through Europe on their way to the Atlantic. Russia's military is quickly turning into a self defense force, with barely enough planes, ships, and armored forces to deter any attack on them, which isn't going to materialize except for maybe China. All you have to do is look at where their forces are positioned and how far they would have to travel to any potential hotspot to know that they are way understrength.

That is excellent news (other than for ultramodern naval wargamers), though the Russians didn't need a navy to conquer Crimea, or to continue to currently occupy Eastern Ukraine.

They've moved in nukes to protect their "annexed" territory in Crimea, and they've violated the IRBM treaty and have lots of them in Eastern Europe too – specifically in Kaliningrad.

This issue has been in the news today, as the US and NATO are calling Russia out for violating the INF treaty again:

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They also don't need a navy to take over the Baltic states either, and no doubt will move nukes in there to protect "their territory" should they choose to invade and take over there. Military wargames have shown there's nothing the US and/or NATO could do to stop them, and that they'd succeed in 24 – 72 hours, depending upon which scenario you choose to believe.

About the only major nations that should be heartened by this news are Australia and New Zealand, which seem to be safe from near future Russian naval invasion.

Of course, there's always the Chinese to worry about instead.

Well, crummy they may be but it's still Russia. They are illegally stopping shipping into Donbas, etc. They can still push around civilian ships.

Keep in mind this is about their navy. Russia is a land-based naval power, and any war they're involved in would be against their land neighbors. Their strategic requirements do not really include power projection.

You have to ask yourself, what are Russia's strategic goals? They don't need much of a navy to accomplish them.

Remember, Hitler did a whole lot of damage with a VERY limited naval capability.

I agree with what's been stated above, but all one needs to do is look at where all of the Russian combat brigades are located at. With most of their armor in tank parks/storage, it's going to take quite some time to assemble forces and move them somewhere for an operation. Any targeted area is going to get weeks if not months of warning. They may not choose to do anything with that time, but this isn't the 80s where numerous Warsaw Pact forces could strike from barracks within 24 hours.

The Russians need a good navy, at least a very capable anti-ship setup, to keep the Americans from being able to play Arsenal of Democracy a third time.

I would do that with submarines and aircraft. You really only need major surface combatants to distract the carrier groups from the subs.

"Any targeted area is going to get weeks if not months of warning".

The invasion of Afghanistan, and recent very large, air drop exercises would seem to prove that point to be incorrect.

Paratrooper drops and airborne landings work quite well when conducted with surprise, and virtually no opposition.

Russia is better suited to be a land power than a naval power with blue water force projection capability. A navy is more expensive to build than an army or air force, and with an economy as weak as Italy's, Russia simply can't afford it.

All weapon acquisition is now planned over time and subject to reduction in Russia.

And once the paratroopers land, can they be supplied?

The old adage of logistics being what professionals worry about is doubly important with a country the size of Russia. And their infrastructure is as poor as ever.

They historically do OK only when pushed back towards their base.

Of course, by land, sea, or air.

Kaliningrad is well placed to ensure supply/resupply/support to the smaller Baltic nations, should Russia decide to invade them. Leningrad (or St. Petersburg if you prefer) isn't far away either.

A lot of stuff can be quickly moved by rail as well, as has been shown in their "snap exercises".