Military

Former Soviet Navy

The Allied Force and Former Soviet force are fairly equal, except in the naval division. The Allies are much better equipped with naval ships, subs, and weapons, and the Former Soviet force is little threat in a naval war between the two. Allies have a larger navy, cruisers, aircraft carriers, better missiles, and technologically advanced subs. Russia has few of their ships operational.

Aircraft Carrier: The Soviet army has only 1 TRUE aircraft carrier called the Kuznetsov. The first true aircraft carrier designed and built by the Soviet Union. Intended to operate navalized versions of several standard Soviet tactical aircraft, using a skijump instead of catapults. In addition to a heavy SSM battery she carries the largest self-defense SAM suite ever fitted in a ship. Other "carriers" were able to carry aircrafts, but not truly aircraft carrier.
Large Cruisers: Extremely large cruisers, often identified as battlecruisers. Intended to act as primary carrier escorts or independent offensive surface units. There are considerable variations in electronics and weaponry in these two units. The later units carry a particularly massive self-defense SAM and gun battery. Its missiles are no where near as good as the American tomahawk missile.
Cruiser: Armed with torpedos and missiles, the Russian cruisers are nowhere near as advanced as American cruisers. Their cruisers are not fully operational, and are smaller. These are back-ups to large ships of the fleet. They have anti-air and anti-ship defenses. This is a picture of the Moskva.
Destroyers: Most have SAMs on them for air defense and a hangar helicopter. They are usually equipped for attacking the ground and other ships. Destroyers are often grouped with cruisers, and the Kara class (like in the picture) are one of Russia's best anti-ship destroyers. Although good against enemy ships and grouped with cruisers, they still act as destroyers, and can bombard the land with missiles.
Frigates: Frigates maintain the majority of large warships in Russia, while smaller ships are sold. These have protection from air and sea enemies. Frigates are made for attacking ships. Russia is making many of these to rebuild their navy. Most Former Soviet navies' largest ships are frigates, and perform anti-ship, anti-air roles.
Patrol Combatants: They are equipped with guns and missiles and SAMs. Almost every country with a navy is equipped with these small, light gun ships. These ships defend the coast of a nation's water with anti-ship, anti-air, & anti-sub weapons. Their are many, many types of these as many countries make them themselves-type include corvettes, large missile boats, gun boats, and torpedo boats.
Amphibious Ships: A very large LST(tank landing ship)-type ship, equipped as a completely multifunctional amphibious assault ship. Capable of independently transporting, landing and supporting a full battalion of naval infantry. Can land troops and equipment by helicopter, landing craft or by beaching; large bombardment rocket launcher (RL) complex, and extensive command and control facilities. The picture is a good image of a tank being landed using a small landing ship.
Mine Warfare Vessells: Standard general-purpose oceangoing minesweeper; also intended as a coastal ASW escort in wartime. Production resumed in the 1990's, apparently mainly for export, but several of the new units were acquired by the Russian navy. Later units vary in weapons and electronics. This picture is called 'KAPUSTA' meaning cabbage referring to the giant dome on her forward superstructure.
Special Ops Ships: These ships vary from oilers, research, sub tenders, salvage ships, tugs, surveillence, logistics, ship tenders, munition and missile transports, rescue ships and fuel tankers. There are so many different operations, that include from transporting supplies until learning about types of enemy ships. Their names should pretty much explain their functions. To find a site that will give in depth info, go to my links page.

Ballistic Missile Submarines: These are equipped with torpedos for defense, and are also able to attack land targets (regular function) with great power. However most Ballistic Subs are not as advanced as the US's and are being sold. Most of these subs are expensive to maintain and are not operational.
Guided Missile Submarines: These are intended for attacking surfaces, but are equipped with torpedos for defenses. More of these are operational than the harder-to-maintain ballistic missiles. They were made to attack US surface ships (like carriers) and land targets.
Attack Submarines: These are almost all run by nuclear energy, and have torpedos for attacking ships and other ships. These are the only subs that have a majority that can compete with the U.S. ships and subs. This large picture is of the AKULA class which are effective and cheap (they make up most of Russia's modern attack subs). The new attack subs (like the AKULA class) are cruise missile capable.
Deisel-Electric Submarines: Classic subs that attack with torpedos. They are slow, compared to modern U.S. subs, but can gaurd the coasts of Russia well. Many are being exported, and the money gained will be used to make advanced submarines.
Special Mission Submarines: Search and recover missions, and discovery missions are performed by these subs. They do research of the ocean.