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How could the Soviet Union have been able to keep pace, or at least keep not quite so far behind, the Western navies? Divide by allegiance rather than nationality: include allied navies in the total strength of both spheres.

Historically, of course, the Soviets were kept tightly bottled up simply because the United States ad overwhelming naval superiority, by virtue of fighting a predominantly naval war across the Pacific and simply a stronger industrial base. So my initial guesses for Soviet improvement would be greater resistance to Barbarossa keeping the Soviet industry and agriculture safe, further advance of Soviet armies in Europe giving Warsaw Pact ports beyond the Baltic Sea, and more substantial investment in Vladivostok pre-WWII. Turkey falling into the Soviet sphere is probably a necessity. So is all of Korea, as Vladivostok is not sufficient.

It has to be the Soviet navy, not a surviving Imperial Russian navy. What are your thoughts? How do you make the premier land power in Asia competitive on the seas?
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