Russian Carrier Joining Mediterranean Fleet in Gesture of Support to Egypt

A new gesture of Soviet support of Egypt was seen here by intelligence circles in the disclosure that the new Soviet aircraft carrier, Moskva, has passed through the Bosphorus bound for Egypt. Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, confirmed the movement of the Soviet ship which was accompanied by a screen of fast destroyers. The ship carries Soviet amphibious marines and special commando units. It is known to accommodate at least 36 troop-carrying helicopters and helicopter gun ships useful for desert and coastal action.

(The Christian Science Monitor reported that with the earlier passage of a Soviet cruiser and two destroyers through the Turkish straits, the Soviet Mediterranean fleet now comprised more than 50 ships.)

The movement of the Moskva into the Middle East provides the Soviet Union with a new capability and a psychological factor that both the Arabs and Israelis will take into account as the disclosure of the Moskva’s movement coincided with a strong new warning by the Soviet Foreign Ministry aimed at forcing Israeli withdrawal.

Military sources speculated today on possible deployment of Russian “black beret” marine battalions on the Egyptian side of the Suez Canal cease-fire line in the event of a Soviet decision to dredge and open the canal at Egypt’s request. Soviet intervention, if it occurs, could be modelled after the United States marine landing in Lebanon in 1958, the sources reasoned. The troops could provide a barrier from behind which Egyptian raiders could sally forth and Israel could not strike back without a direct confrontation with the Russians, they said. The “black berets” have been trained in seizing and holding landing zones at strategic points, covered by helicopter gunships.

In addition to the Moskva’s potential, a number of Soviet LST’s (landing ship transports), containing special naval troops, are reportedly in the vicinity of Egypt. Russian destroyers and cruisers, equipped with anti-aircraft missiles and surface-to-surface missiles, are in Egyptian waters. Russian pilots have arrived in force at Egyptian airfields and are flying the latest Soviet supersonic jets bearing Egyptian insignias, it was reported. One estimate put the number of Russian pilots at between 100 and 200 – enough to man several squadrons.

(The Beirut newspaper Al Nahar reported this week that a proposal to reopen the Suez Canal under international supervision will be made during current United Nations General Assembly. According to the report, the canal could be reopened under supervision of Britain. France and Holland. Egypt and Israel would also be invited to participate.)