RUSSIA: MURMANSK: RUSSIAN SUBMARINE BASE

(10 May 1995) Russian/Nat

U-S officials are hoping for an agreement on closer ties between Russia and NATO when Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin meet in Moscow Wednesday.

Russia strongly objects to NATO expanding up to its borders and its defence minister has even threatened retaliation if the Western alliance moves further east.

But APTV, during an exclusive visit to Russia's Northern Fleet at Murmansk, discovered that some of the country's key forces would be ill-prepared to carry out such a retaliation.

On a peninsula to the north of Murmansk lie the berths of Russia's main atomic submarine base.

Just 80 kilometres away across the water is Norway - a country which joined NATO for fear of a Soviet invasion.

Despite détente, the submarines still put to sea in preparation for future conflicts.

But following the break-up of the U-S-S-R and Russia's economic decline, the fleet, once the pride of the Soviet navy, has fallen onto hard times.

Scarce funds have forced down the number of hours submarines are at sea, thus affecting the preparedness of the Russian fleet.

SOUNDBITE: (In Russian)
\"The navy is in a state of collapse. There is no money to build new vessels and those that are afloat have become obsolete because of lack of funding.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Soroka - First Officer

Officers used to be tempted to the arctic port by big bonuses as compensation for the harsh climate and living months in cramp conditions underwater.

But military cutbacks have put a stop to such payments.

Now the commander of a sub carrying up to 24 atomic warheads receives only 240 U-S dollars a month - his men less than half this amount.

Last year, sailors refused to go to sea for two months because the government was unable to pay their wages.

Morale is low even among the most loyal and long-serving of officers.

SOUNDBITE: (In Russian)
\"I wasn't going to quit the navy but I have been driven to it. I'm prepared to serve until the end of my contract but then I'm giving
it all up.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Soroka - First Officer

The reduction in the number of voyages has already had an impact on the 200 mile neutral zone in the Barents Sea, where NATO vessels formerly feared to enter.

Now there are constant forays by their ships, submarines,
helicopters and planes based in Norway.

The Russian navy believes that not only NATO but nations in the Pacific are eyeing up Russia's arctic trade and fishing route.

SOUNDBITE: (In Russian)
\"There's been no change in military policy. Maybe the Partnership for Peace seems a good political statement to the laymen. But not for the professional who knows the capabilities of our potential advisory.\"

SUPER CAPTION: Mikhail Motsen - Commander of the first flotilla of the Northern Fleet

These submarines were once the spearhead of a superpower.

But now they stand idly at the moorings, their capabilities blunted as state funding dries up.

Many officers acknowledge that things cannot get any worse and that the sun may have set on Russia's future as a global naval force.

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