via the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Okhotsk. In particular, Naval Aviation was deployed in defense of Odessa (June–October 1941), in operations in the Crimea and the Black Sea and carried out successful air strikes in the last stages of the conflict on the European and Pacific Fronts. During the war, Naval Aviation delivered an immense blow to the enemy in terms of sunken ships and crews—two and a half times more than any other unit of the Soviet Navy. Seventeen naval aviation units were honored with the title of the Soviet Guards, while 241 men were awarded with the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union (including five pilots twice). Aviation divisions of the Red Navy 1st Guards Fighter Aviation Division VVS VMF 2nd Torpedo Rananskaya Red Banner Aviation Division in the name of N.A. Ostryakova VVS VMF 3rd Bombardment Aviation Division VVS VMF 4th Bombardment Aviation Division VVS VMF 5th Torpedo Aviation Division VVS VMF 6th Bombardment Aviation Division VVS VMF 7th Bombardment Aviation Division VVS VMF 8th Torpedo Gatchinskaya Red Banner Aviation Division VVS VMF 9th Assault Ropshinskaya Red Banner, Order of Ushakov Aviation Division VVS VMF 10th Seysinskaya Red Banner Aviation Division of Dive Bombers VVS VMF 11th Assault Novorossiysk Twice Red Banner Aviation Division VVS VMF 12th Assault Aviation Division VVS VMF 13th Aviation Division of Dive Bombers VVS VMF 14th Mixed Aviation Division VVS VMF 15th Mixed Aviation Division VVS VMF - 1 May 1961 became 143rd Maritime Rocket Aviation Division. Cold War To attack surface ships at long ranges, the Soviet Navy was unique in deploying large numbers of bombers in a maritime role for use by Naval Aviation. The Kiev class of Soviet aircraft carriers was deployed in the late 1970s and carried up to 30 aircraft including Yak-38 VTOL fighters. The next class of Soviet aircraft carriers, named the Admiral Kuznetsov class, supported more conventional aircraft such as the Su-33 "Flanker-D" and the MiG-29 "Fulcrum". Land-based aircraft such as the Tupolev Tu-16 "Badger" and Tu-22M "Backfire" bombers were deployed with high-speed anti-ship missiles. Previously believed to be interceptors of NATO supply convoys traveling the sea lines of communication across the North Atlantic Ocean between Europe and North America, the primary role of these aircraft was to protect the Soviet mainland from attacks by U.S. carrier task forces. The last commander of Soviet Naval Aviation, Colonel-General Viktor Pavlovich Potapov, was