ABSTRACT
The Soviet Union does not appear to be interested in long transoceanic voyages at the end of which an assault landing is made upon a distant shore. The mission for which the Soviets have constructed, and are continuing to construct, their amphibious force can be seen clearly both from what they are building and from what they have done with amphibious forces in the past. By 1939 the Soviet Navy was without amphibious forces of any type, though in July of that year a brigade of naval infantry was formed in the Baltic. In the current state of non-war, the Soviets often have found their amphibious ships to be useful. The places in and near Europe where the Soviets might find their amphibious forces useful in wartime are examined. One fact to keep in mind about amphibious operations is that a successful landing on a hostile coast is not the end of the seaborne part of the venture.
