HC Deb 10 May 1954 vol 527 cc830-2
15. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give details of the increases in Soviet military strength and that of its satellites, as stated in the communiqué issued after the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ministerial meeting on 23rd April.

Mr. Nutting

As the answer to this Question is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Henderson

Can the Minister give the House an indication of the major increases? May I ask him, also, whether we are to have any information about the development of the hydrogen bomb by the Soviet Union, as suggested in a recent publication of theirs, the "Red Star"?

Mr. Nutting

I have no information which I can give to the House at present about the development of the hydrogen bomb in the Soviet Union. As regards conventional weapons and conventional forces, I may say that so far as ground forces are concerned there has been a great increase in the mechanisation with modern equipment of the forces of the Soviet Union. The tank force is up by about 20 per cent, since 1951.

As to the satellites, the number of divisions is almost double the number in 1947. Manpower has gone up from 140,000 to well over one million. The Soviet Union Air Force is steadily replacing piston-engined fighters and light bombers by jets. Nearly 100 per cent, of the Soviet fighter force is now jet aircraft and well over 66 per cent, of the light bombers.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Was not the whole idea of our rearmament programme that we should be able to negotiate from strength in 1954? Do not these figures show that we are not so much better off than we were before we started?

Mr. Nutting

No, Sir. If the hon. Gentleman would like to put a Question about the relative N.A.T.O. strength he would receive what I hope would be an encouraging answer.

Following is the answer: Naval Forces Soviet Union: Manpower has increased from 600,000 in 1951 to 750,000. The number of vessels has also grown and there has been a marked increase in the number of submarines. There are now about 350 compared with 300 in 1951 and 215 at the end of the war. About half the submarines are of the large or medium ocean-going type. More of the large type are being built under the present construction programme. The Soviet Navy is also capable of a considerable air and naval minelaying effort. Satellites and East Germany: The naval forces of these countries are negligible. Ground Forces Soviet Union: Manpower has remained at about 3,200,000 and the number of divisions at about 175. But there has been an increase in mechanisation with modern equipment, and mobility and fire power have steadily improved. The Soviet Army now has over 30,000 tanks, an increase of 20 per cent, since 1951. The rifle divisions have been given motorised equipment and additional artillery. Satellites and East Germany: Manpower has increased by some 140,000 since 1951 to about 1,210,000. There are now about 80 divisions, almost double the number in 1947. Air Forces Soviet Union: Manpower has remained at about 800,000 and the number of aircraft at 19–20,000. But there has been a steady replacement of piston-engined fighters and light bombers with jets:

Percentage of Jet Aircraft
1951 1954
Per cent Per cent
Fighters 20 nearly 100
Light bombers Nil well over 66⅔

The number of TU-4 medium bombers in operational units has doubled since 1951.

Satellites and East Germany: Manpower has increased from 50,000 in 1951 to nearly 90,000. The total aircraft strength, which is about 2,000, has almost doubled. About half the aircraft are jet fighters.