This classic Cold War film shows a U.S. analysis of Soviet capabilities, and draws heavily on a Library of Congress report, most likely the 1977 “Collins Report on American and Soviet Armed Services, Strengths Compared 1970-76” for much of its data. The film may or may not have been seen by Ronald Reagan when he was running for President, but many of the ideas presented within it — that the USA is falling dangerously behind its principle adversary — were repeated by Reagan during his election campaign against Jimmy Carter.
Description:
Made during the Brezhnev Era (probably 1979?), this U.S. Air Force film takes a hard look at the Soviet Union’s growing military capabilities. It uses a wide variety of footage culled from various Soviet propaganda films, some of which you can also find in the Periscope Film archive. The film examines the USSR’s military build-up and its quest to achieve superiority over the West. As the film indicates from 1970 onward the Soviets outspent the USA in defense. The film contains a great deal of footage of Red Square parades and military infrastructure. At 2:20, a look inside a Soviet ICBM launch facility is shown, and the film goes on to show some of the new ICBMs developed by the USSR including MIRV capable ballistic missile systems. At 3:30, land mobile IRBMs are shown with MIRV payloads.
At 3:50, Soviet ballistic missile submarines are shown. At 4:30, some of the Russian Tupelov long-range Bear bombers and Bison (jet powered) bombers are shown. Drawings of the Backfire bomber, a Soviet equivalent of the B-1, is also shown. At 5:50, Soviet strategic defense including air defense is shown including ground early warning and air interceptor sites. the Mach 3 Foxbat aircraft is shown at 6:30, as well as the Flogger at 6:40. At 7:00, Soviet SAM surface to air missiles are shown dedicated to anti-aircraft service, including road transportable systems.
At 7:30, Soviet aircraft are seen being equipped with missiles, and at 8:00 tank maneuvers are seen, including at 8:20 a tank equipped with a snorkel and at 8:30, mobile artillery and rocket launchers as well as tactical missiles and rockets. At 9:00, Soviet SSM systems are seen including the SA-4 designed to intercept incoming aircraft and the SA-7 shoulder-launched system.
At 9:50, the Soviet fleet is shown on exercise, launching surface-to-air and surface-to-surface anti-ship weapons. The Moskva helicopter carrying cruiser is seen, and a drawing of the Kiev class carrier is seen at 10:30. A Soviet VSTOL aircraft, equivalent to a Harrier, is seen at 10:45.
Tactical aviation is seen at 11:00 including the Su-24 Fencer, and Blinder and Badger bombers. At 12:00, a Soviet nuclear test is seen. This is apparently the atomic bomb test at Zone A, Guba Chernaya, Novaya Zemlya on September 21, 1955. a 3.5 kt underwater burst of the “Joe” series (probably Joe-17). Only one ship was sunk by the explosion, a destroyer less than 984 feet from the explosion.)
At 12:30, Soviet transport aircraft including the IL-76 are shown carrying mobile missiles and tanks. At 13:40, the film shows Russian troops operating in chemical warfare suits and discusses the capabilities of the Army to undertake operations in a chemical warfare environment. The film concludes by indicating that the Soviet Union’s forces quantitatively outnumber the USA’s forces but that qualitatively, it is difficult to say whether they are indeed superior. At 15:00, Soviet design and engineering programs are seen, as the USSR works to improve its capabilities for the future.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
