carrying highlypotent weapon systems ofadvanced technology. Suchforcesareto anextentalsoavailable tocertain otherStatesalthough notinthesamestrength andcomposition. Thedeployments ofnavalvessels andthedutiessuchvessels are called upontoperform aremanyandvaried. Although onlyafewStatespossess extensive navalcapabilities, mostnavies cancarryoutsomeofthesefunctions evenifonlytoalimited extent. B.Strategic nuclear deterrence 140.Withintheoverall sttategic nuclear policies oftheStatespossessing such weapons, themission ofstrateqic nuclear deterrence isofprimeimportance among modernnavaltasks. Asindicated inparagtaph 102above,thismission iscartied outbytheSSBNsofthenaViesofonlyfiveStates, andthestrategic nuclear forcesavailable totheUnitedStatesandtheSoviet Unionatesignificantly greater thanthoseavailable totheotherthree. Operating inthenorthern hemisphere, thedevelopment ofmissiles withincreased accuracy andgreater range ispermitting thesesubmarines toremainclosertotheirhomebases, wheretheycan begivengreater protection, thanusedtobethecase. 141.Mucheffortismadetoensuretheinvulnerability ofSSBNsonpatrol andto avoidanychanceoftheirbeingdetected andtrailed. Atthesametime,etfotts areconstantly madetolocatetheSSBNforcesofthepotential adversary; knownas strategic ASW,theextentoftheresearch anddevelopment, unceasing surveillance andoperational attention expended onthisissueclearly indicate itssensitiVity andsignificance tothecountries concerned. Atechnical breakthrough inthisarea byonesideortheother,thereby reSUlting inamajoradvantage, wouldhavehighly destabilizing effects. C.PowerprOjection I...142.Powerptojection bynavies wasdescribed briefly inparagraph 65aboveand possible natureofamphibious operations inparagraphs 122to124.Power projection onalargescaleinsuPPOtt offorces onshoteisgenerally arole available toonlyaverysmallnumberofnavies, owinqtothespecialized nature thevessels andequipment needed. Although commetcial shipscanbeusedas hospital shipsandtrooptransports, "roll-on!roll-offl'ferries cantransport vehicles, andcontainer ships, withsomemodifications, canserveas helicopter-carriers orevenasdecksforvertical take-off andlanding (VTOL) aitcraft, suchshipshavetobeptesent inthemerchant fleetsoftheState Ithe ofA/40/535 English Page45 concerned. Thisrequisite therefore demands thattheStatewishing toexercise powerprojection willalready heaStatethatpossesses theattributes andnaval assetsofamaritime country. 143.However, onamuchsmaller scaleitispossible forcoastal naviestomount limited power-projection operations. Forexample, suchoperations maybevery appropriate incountries whereoverland communication isdifficult andwheresea andriverroutes maybethebestwaystodeliver military forcewhereitisneeded. o.Seacontrol andseadenial 144.Intheeventofawidespread navalconflict between thenaviesofthe twoalliances, NATOandWTO,manyoftheirresources wouldbedevoted tothe functions ofseacontrol andseadenial. Owingtogeopolitical features, the members ofNATOareverydependent ontheirsealinesofcommunication and, similarly, thePacific Oceanisofmajorimportance tolinksbetween theUnited States andSt~tes onthewestern rimofthatocean. TheSoviet Union, ontheother hand,acontinental State, doesnothaveopenaccesstotheworld's oceansexcept t1,rough comparatively restricted "choke-points·, particularly fromtheBaltic Sea irttotheNorthAtlantic, fromtheBlackSeaintotheMediterranean andfromthe Se,asofOkhotsk andJapanintothePacific. 145.Whereas untilafewyearsagothesuperiority ofthenaviesoftheUnited States anditsallies wasclear,theexpansion oftheSovietNavy'sability to carryoutothertasksandthedevelopment ofnewclasses ofvessel andaircraft enabling ittoconduct fullfleetoperations onaworld-wide basishavebeenseen bytheUnitedStatesasadirectchallenge. TheUnitedStateshasrecently embarked onasignificant warship construction programme aimedatachieving a 600-ship navy"of15carrier battlegroups; fourbattleship surface-action groups; 100nuclear-powered, multimission attacksubmarines; 10underway-replenishment groups; andincreased amphibious lift". 211 146.Forallnavies, thetasksofcoastal protection intimeofwarareofgreat importance andinclude suChdutiesasprotection against attacks oncoastal shipping, guarding against covertoropenincursions against shoretargets and anti-mining andminesweeping operations. Stateswithoverseas territorial responsibilities havealsototakeintoaccount theneedtoofferthoseterritories thesamelevelofprotection asthehomeland intheeventofathreattotheir
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the role of navies and naval forces in modern warfare, highlighting their capabilities, strategies, and challenges. It touches on topics such as naval deterrence, power projection, sea control, and coastal protection, indicating a strong focus on military and defense-related issues.

**Category**
Transport and communication, Science and technology