The World : Soviet Ships Off Iwo Jima

A large Soviet naval task force, which left the port of Vladivostok last week, is now conducting maneuvers about 250 miles northwest of the island of Iwo Jima. The task force consists of the 43,000-ton Kiev class aircraft carrier Novorossiysk and seven other ships, including three Kara class cruisers and two Krivak class guided-missile frigates. The maneuvers are being monitored by the Japanese navy and by the flagship of the U.S. 7th Fleet, the Blue Ridge, an amphibious command ship. In Tokyo, Japanese defense officials said they believe this task force is one of the largest to stage maneuvers in this area in the last five years.