Introduction -- Historiography on the Soviet Navy -- The reconstitution phase, 1920-25 -- The Consolidation phase, 1925-32 -- The second five-year plan, 1933-37 -- The change to the big high seas and ocean-going fleet -- The third five-year plan -- The Second World War: the first two years -- The great patriotic war, 1941-45 -- From 1945 to the end of Stalin's regime -- Why did Stalin build his big ocean-going fleet? -- Appendices: Warships and submarines of the former Imperial Navy, serving in the RKKF/VMF ; Warships of the RKKF/VMF, laid down or ordered, 1926-45 ; Submarines of the RKKF/VMF, laid down or ordered, 1926-45 ; Lend-lease vessels in the VMF, 1941-53 ; Soviet warships and submarines lost, 1939-45 ; Warships and submarines, taken as war booty into the VMF, 1944-53 ; Warships of the VMF, laid down or ordered, 1945-53 ; Submarines of the VMF, laid down or ordered, 1945-53.