ABSTRACT
Substantial Soviet naval operations in the Mediterranean were resumed in mid-1964 when Soviet naval ships moved southward through the Turkish straits to begin the second phase of the Soviet Mediterranean operations. The presence of the Soviet fleet meant that the Soviets no longer intended to stand by and allow the West in general and the United States in particular to enjoy complete strategic control of the Mediterranean. Soviet Mediterranean Fleet operations matured after the war. The success of Soviet naval operations in the Mediterranean resulted from the resolution of several critical problems. The Soviets maintained a heavy presence in the eastern Mediterranean, a moderate presence in the central Mediterranean, and a token presence in the western Mediterranean. The anchorages in the eastern Mediterranean most often used by the fleet were Kithira, an anchorage just east of Crete, one north of the Gulf of Solium, and one northeast of Cyprus.
