ABSTRACT
Soviet naval operations on the West Coast of Africa, which began in 1970, were the second component of a two-pronged naval advance along the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts of the continent. Influence in West Africa has been of great value to the Soviet Union. The navy also supported the pro-Soviet Guinean government, conducted port visits along the West African littoral, and assisted Communist insurgent factions during the Angolan Civil War. The importance of Guinea to Soviet West African operations is reflected in port visits to Guinea's primary port of Conakry, the most frequently visited Atlantic Ocean port from 1956 through 1980. The Soviet naval presence in West Africa provided a foothold for other operations in the region. Increasing the size of the West African naval force has allowed the Soviets to continue an active port visit program. The Minsk's visit also was probably calculated to indicate resolute Soviet support for Angola in its struggle with the South African government.
