A Guide to Russia's Naval Weapon Systems. (Book Shelf).

The third volume of "Russia's Arms and Technologies--the XXI Century Encyclopedia"--has just become available, close onto Volume II ("Rocket and Artillery Armament of the Ground Forces"). It is truly a product of outstanding art and information.

Gone are the days when these genres of publications provided small, black and white photographs and a paragraph or two of technical information. Instead, this work is replete with frill-color images, overlaid in some cases with artist's renderings of weapons systems that provide a unique perspective of the subject.

For example, the rendition of the "R-29 ballistic missile of the D-9 system" (pages 4758) features a cut-away of the missile, followed by a large-scale, full-color shot of the submarine that houses the missile, overlaid by an artist's drawing of the full complement of missiles being loaded into their silos. On the following pages, there is a side and overhead cut-away of the sub, indicating the silo layout and then several frill-color alternate angles and additional shots of the sub--again with renderings of the missile overlaid on the photo.

Each succeeding volume of the encyclopedia seems to be breaking the mold of what we have come to expect from such technical publications, setting a new level of excellence for competitors, if any exist. The standard of quality for printing, full-color pictures, technical diagrams, charts and illustrations are outstanding. Yet, the price for this 631-page tome has remained the same ($495, plus $15 for shipping and handling in the United States).

Certainly, this Russian-produced publication from TommaX Inc., in association with the Arms & Technologies Publishing House, has attained a unique niche with this series. The dual-language format does not detract from the information or presentation. On the contrary, it provides you with a unique language dictionary of Russian military-technical terminology.

Contributors to this volume are listed by name, rank and position in the Russian naval ministry, and each section is provided with an introduction by the head of that specific military section. An introduction by Vladimir Kuroedov, commander in chief of the Russian Federation Navy, discusses the development and deployment goals of his service, and the director general of the Russian ship-building agency--Vladimir Pospelov--addresses future policy of "naval activity" through 2010.

Russian industry has taken a page from U.S. public relations methodology with a vengeance. A perfect example is the use of such terms as "extending warranty-covered service life" of weapons systems.

Included are appendices, which provide complete details for contacting the enterprises and organizations, listed. An explanation of abbreviations is supplied to help you bridge the gap between Western and Russian military-nomenclature. A reminder to the reader: Much of the material was declassified recently and offers numerous Russian weapons-system references hitherto known in the West only by NATO designations.

Like its predecessors, this volume tantalizes both the military historian and Intelligence specialist with its coverage of naval weapon systems, their specifications and missions. Coverage includes:

* Sub-launched ballistic missiles

* Missile weapons

* Air-defense missile weapons

* Gun armament

* Rocket weapons

* Torpedoes

* Mines

* Anti-mine weapons

* Anti-sub weapons-control systems

* Anti-saboteur weapons

* Electronic warfare 

* Sonar equipment

* Electronic equipment

* Radio communications

* CBR protection

This volume demonstrates once again the trend set by the French and British defense industries--banding together into a national enterprise coop to market their government's exports.

We are introduced to the weapon-system manufacturers and developers, their nomenclature, and most interestingly, their capabilities and potential--glasnost (openness) on a new level.

There were several unusual items that caught our attention: VZLET Remotely piloted Drone (Class 1550), the VULCANKASHTAN Air-Defense Missile Gun (30 mm), the Turbine Engine Torpedo from State Unitary Enterprise-Gidropribor Central Research Institute, with a speed of 80 meters per second (approximately 180 mph), and a miniature submarine.

Is there an operational miniature sub similar to the British X-Craft of WW II? Also, the SIRENA-UME self-propelled, self-contained vehicle is a two-diver transportation torpedo, similar to the World War II Italian "PIG."

We were intrigued by the SPP-1 Special Underwater Pistol, the APS Underwater Assault Rifle and a section designated "Anti-Saboteur Weapons" that included such items as DP-61 and DP-64 Hand-Held Rocket Grenade Launcher.

Volume IV of this series, "Space and Missile Systems," will be available shortly. At this time, 10 volumes are scheduled through 2002, including: Volume V, "Military Aviation;" VI, "Armored Fighting Vehicles;" VII, "Naval Ships & Aviation;" VIII, "Air Force Armament & Material;" IX, "Air Defense Systems," and X, "Ammunition."

Russia's Arms and Technologies Volumes I through III are available from TommaX, Inc., Riverview Professional Plaza, 65 Mechanic Street, Suite 205, Red BANK, NJ 07701. Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail]. Further information on subsequent volumes are available on their Web site: http://tommaxmilitary.com.

Dr. David LL. Silbergeld is a member of the Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Division of the National Defense Industrial Association.