Two Soviet cruisers are to be transferred to the United Arab Republic within the next three months, giving Egypt the strongest naval force in the Mediterranean area, it was reported here today by the Sunday Telegraph. The vessels, the paper said, will be either of the 11, 500-ton Chapayev class or the 8,000-ton Kirov class and will be equipped with heavy guns and torpedo tubes.
The paper reported that “it is probable” that Egyptian crews have been training in the Soviet Union “for some time” in preparation for taking over the ships which will carry crews of 700 to 800 men each. The paper doubted, however, whether the ships would be of any practical use to the Egyptians other than “for prestige purposes.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
