Indian Ocean fleets grow: US to 25 ships; USSR, 24

The United States has increased its naval force in the Indian Ocean temporarily to 25 ships, while the Russians have increased their flotilla there by one, to 24, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The Soviets dispatched one more support ship to join their Indian Ocean vessels. In addition, Navy sources said five Soviets ships have been sighted passing through the Tsushima Strait from the Sea of Japan to the East China Sea. The sources said the destination of the Soviet ship is unknown.