If Cold War did not end, what would US and Soviet navies look like?

F40Racer

New Member
If Cold War did not end, what would US and Soviet navies look like today?

And what would the other major navies around the world be like today?

My guess would be:

US Navy:
12 to 15 supercarriers in service by keeping the older ones in service.
Seawolf-class SSN built in large numbers.
Zumwalt-class DDG starts to enter service with many more planned.
More advanced carrier aircrafts, something like navy version of F-22.

Soviet navy:
4 Kiev-class, 2 Kuznetsov-class, 1 to 3 Ulyanovsk-class in service
New SSN and SSBN (something like Borei-class and Graney-class) built in large numbers
Large surface combatants (Sovremenny, Slava, Kirov) built in large numbers.
Advanced carrier aircrafts, something like navy version of MiG 1.44.

Chinese navy:
Number of surface combatants (destroyers, frigates) would be roughly the same as it is nowdays.
Instead of buying Sovremennys, PLAN would acquire more 052Cs and maybe buy western frigates/destroyers.
More Type-022 fast missile boat would be built. The Number of Type-022s might be in the 3-digit range.
More nuclear submarines and more JH-7 aircrafts would be built.
The first light helicopter carrier under construction.

European navies:
UK would continue to built light carriers for anti-submarine operations.
Instead of building the full-size Queen Elizabeth-class, UK would build more modern versions of the Invincible.
France would accelerate its program for the second full-size carrier to supplement Charles De Gaulle.

Got any opinions or guesses, post them here please.
 
Last edited:

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
US Navy:
12 to 15 supercarriers in service by keeping the older ones in service.
Seawolf-class SSN built in large numbers.
Zumwalt-class DDG built in significant numbers

When I retired from the USN they had 15 carriers. So I imagine that number would hold. Plus all Tico CGs would still be in service along with all Spruance class DDs equipped with Mk 41 VLS. Those numbers would be needed to complete Carrier Strike Groups(CSG).

USN CSG would still be deploying to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf region.

We could even see the four Iowa class still operational and fully re-fit with probably Mk 41 VLS. One Iowa may be forward deployed in the Pacific. Possibly Yokosuka or Hawaii.

In addition the Naval Station at Subic Bay would be open to keep with ships operating their to keep an eye on the Soviets and Chinese in the Pacific..Not to mention the logistic support available at Subic Bay.

The USN would still be deploying P-3s to Guam, Diego Garcia and Iceland.

In Germany the US would have US Army & USAF forces still peaking in strength around 225,000.

The USAF would still have Tactical aircraft stationed in the Philippines and still than today aircraft in Hawaii, Guam & Japan.

Yes in my opinion the situation would be a lot different.
 

F40Racer

New Member
We could even see the four Iowa class still operational and fully re-fit with probably Mk 41 VLS. One Iowa may be forward deployed in the Pacific. Possibly Yokosuka or Hawaii.
About the Iowa-class, where would the VLS be fitted? Those big guns would be kept in place, right? Big guns are needed for shore bombardments (like during the first Iraq war).
 
Last edited:

Finn McCool

Captain
Registered Member
We could even see the four Iowa class still operational and fully re-fit with probably Mk 41 VLS. One Iowa may be forward deployed in the Pacific. Possibly Yokosuka or Hawaii.


In Germany the US would have US Army & USAF forces still peaking in strength around 225,000.

Yes in my opinion the situation would be a lot different.

I don't know about the Iowa...I think in the age of modern missle technology ships like that just aren't useful, and those things would be about 60 years old so I personally think they would have been retired regardless.

This is a little off topic, but what would the NATO-Warsaw Pact face-off in Europe look like?
 

Propagandalass

New Member
Germany would have more and maybe varieties of these cute little Trabants <3

----(゚∀゚)----!!!!!

I wonder if they would make WAR TRABANTS XD
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
----(゚∀゚)----!!!!!

I wonder if they would make WAR TRABANTS XD

Do not use these text message or IM symbols.

Originally Posted by Gollevainen View Post
Due recent unclearness A another thing needs to clarifying...

Do not use slang or any other intentional misspelling of normal English grammar.
(This from directly DF rules: )[Its hrd 2 reed whn peple tipe poorly, its also trashy! This will make posts much nicer, neat and easy to read for fellow participants. This isn't done on most forums, its time you get use to it here.

We have members from all parts of the world and some of us (like the author) will make unintentional misspelling and some of us have even difficulties to understand clearly written English so lets not make it harder by those who speaks English as native language intentionally writing it wrong.

Also it would avoid giving this forum an image of play ground for kids BS that unfortuanetly plagues many other forums in internet.

bd popeye super moderator

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

About the Iowa-class, where would the VLS be fitted? Those big guns would be kept in place, right? Big guns are needed for shore bombardments (like during the first Iraq war).

There was a study to remove the aft 16 inch gun mounts and replace it with VLS cells..But honestly the feasibility studies showed that an Iowa would probably be un-sea worthy and some sort of extra ballast would need be added to stabilize . It would be a very expensive re-fit.
 
Last edited:
And lets guess what Chinese navy would be like:
Surface combatants would be roughly the same as it is nowdays.
More nuclear submarines and JH-7 aircrafts would be built.
The first light helicopter carrier under construction.

On another note- If the USSR did not collapse, the arms embargo would most likely be lifted and there would have been more TOT between China and the West. On the other hand, it would be very unlikely to see Russian/Soviet tech/weapons in the PLA. China would have received Western assistance on J-10 and FC-1, and those aircrafts would be relying on GE engines. In fact, if the Super-7 program went through the FC-1 might never have even been conceived. With a lack of heavy multirole fighters, expect to see higher numbers of J-8 and JH-7, both with possibly western powerplants. Also, the lack of Kilos in the PLAN would most likely have impacted the development of China's diesel sub fleet (Yuan, Song) negatively. Instead of Sovs and the 052C/051C, China might have AEGIS ships. On the whole, the Russian flavor of the PLA would have been replaced with a more Western favor. Furthermore, Chinese indigenous weapons development would be behind where it is today, but reverse-engineered weapons systems would be more prevalent. China would probably not have WS-10 or any type of domestic advanced turbofan.
 
Last edited:

Finn McCool

Captain
Registered Member
On another note- If the USSR did not collapse, the arms embargo would most likely be lifted and there would have been more TOT between China and the West. On the other hand, it would be very unlikely to see Russian/Soviet tech/weapons in the PLA. China would have received Western assistance on J-10 and FC-1, and those aircrafts would be relying on GE engines. In fact, if the Super-7 program went through the FC-1 might never have even been conceived. With a lack of heavy multirole fighters, expect to see higher numbers of J-8 and JH-7, both with possibly western powerplants. Also, the lack of Kilos in the PLAN would most likely have impacted the development of China's diesel sub fleet (Yuan, Song) negatively. Instead of Sovs and the 052C/051C, China might have AEGIS ships. On the whole, the Russian flavor of the PLA would have been replaced with a more Western favor. Furthermore, Chinese indigenous weapons development would be behind where it is today, but reverse-engineered weapons systems would be more prevalent. China would probably not have WS-10 or any type of domestic advanced turbofan.


A continued Cold War would probably have prevented a lot of the phenomenal economic prosperity China is experiencing today, so we have to factor that into the equation. I think that this would have prevented a lot of rapid modernization that we are seeing today.
 

cmb=1968

Junior Member
I know with the Iowa class battleships their were studies about removing one or more of the 16 inch batteries and installing a nuclear reactor to give it extended range and reduce its fuel consumption. I believe the Russians had a similar scheme with the Nuclear heavy cruiser's were a nuclear reactor would preheat the water being feed to the boilers.

Their were also plans to install a hanger and improved flight deck.

A attribute that the Iowa's had was their massive armor which made them essentially immune to all but the most massive anti ship missiles.

Chinese indigenous weapons development would be behind where it is today, but reverse-engineered weapons systems would be more prevalent. China would probably not have WS-10 or any type of domestic advanced turbofan.

China might have been allowed to buy manufacturing licenses for many American or European get engines and allowed to import sophisticated manufacturing technology that today are restricted as dual use technology.

Sorry I double posted.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
China would have received Western assistance on J-10 and FC-1, and those aircrafts would be relying on GE engines. In fact, if the Super-7 program went through the FC-1 might never have even been conceived. With a lack of heavy multirole fighters, expect to see higher numbers of J-8 and JH-7, both with possibly western powerplants.

That's quite a statement. What do you base this on? And just how friendly would have the PRC become(Military wise) with the USA if the Cold war continued?

I'm not really sure.
 
Top