HC Deb 22 February 1954 vol 524 c6W
65. Captain Duncan

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if he can now give an estimate of the approximate size of the Soviet Navy in ships similar to the estimate provided by the Minister of Defence in justification of the rearmament programme started in 1951; and an approximate estimate of the number of Soviet tanks and aircraft.

Mr. Birch

The Soviet Navy has between 20 and 25 modern cruisers, over 100 -modern destroyers, about 350 submarines, approximately half of which are small coastal types, and 2,000 minor vessels. There are about 20,000 aircraft in the Soviet Air Force and, in addition, 3,000 naval aircraft. The Soviet Army has over 30,000 tanks with the Armed Forces and about 25,000 in reserve.

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