TAI-YUAN BALLISTICS AND SOLID PROPELLANTS TEST FACILITY, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP02T06408R000200010001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 10, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 1, 1965
• Content Type: REPORT

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pI WOG12G1p e 147M UM[ U U I L OO Q--f
TAI ?YUAN BALU M CS AND SOLID
PROPELLANTS TES' FACILITY, CHINA
0
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NIMA/DOD
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TAI-YUAN BALLISTICS AND SOLID PROPELLANTS TEST FACILITY, CHINA
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INTRODUCTION
The Tai-Yuan Ballistics and Solid Propellants Test Facility is located
8 nautical miles north of Tai-Yuan, China at 37-59N and 112-33E (Figure 1).
The 1k5 acre facility is secured by a single board fence and is served by a
road from the northeast corner of the Tai-Yuan Explosive Plant. It is div-
ided into two areas each having its own entrance gate and security guard house.
The eastern half is a ballistics test area including a small 150-foot range
and two 700-foot and ten support buildings. The western
half is a solid propellants es area including a single position horizontal
test stand, a two-position horizontal test stand, an assembly/checkout building,
and 15 support buildings (Figures 2 and 3).
COMMUNIST CHINA
-?- Internal administrative boundary
Railroad
Road
0 200 400 Miles
0 200 400 Nilameters
i
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This test facility has been covered by 15 hoto a hic missions between
The first mission ml I
indicated that the facility was being constructed or ballistics es
purposes only (Figure 2). Subsequent changes in plans necessitated relocation
of the western security fence and construction of a new southern access road to
accommodate the addition of a solid propellants test area. The 700-foot bal-
listics range, although essentially complete by
was probably not operational until sometime in 1 when the roads in
he support area were surfaced. In the propellants test area the major buildings
were complete by However, the test stands were probably not
operational until late in 1 when the road and rail networks were completed.
Ta _
A4 -
Figure I
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1959
The ballistics test area was under construction in (Figure )#).
At that time the security fence was in place with a guard house (No. l)* at
the entrance gate. Eleven buildings (Nos. 1-11) were complete and the road
network was beginning to emerge. The 150-foot ballistics test range (Figure
5 appeared nearly complete at that time. It consisted of grid lines at
intervals, at least one firing pad, and a triangular impact re-
vetment down range to the north. The range was served by only an unimproved
trail or track from the area of the range support buildings (Nos. 1-8). The
700-foot ballistics ranges (Figure 6) consist of two firing pads, control
buildings (Nos. 9 and 10), "L" shaped protection revetments, fragment protection
walls, observation bunker (No. 11 ro?ectile (Nos. 12 and 13),
and a central access road. In these ranges were in mid stage of con-
struction with most of the reve ing, bunkering, and road network still to be
completed.
1960
The next photographic coverage was
4 Altnougn of poor quality, i revea e new construc-
tion for the solid propellant test facility, west of the ballistics ranges.
Three new buildings (Nos. 14-16), including the assembly/checkout building
(Figure 3, No. 15, Figures 9 and 11), were barely discernible. Their construc-
tion status could not be determined.
1961
In more buildings (Nos. 17-23)
were identified. Both test stands in the solid propellants test area were
evident with the two position stand (Figure 3, No. 17, Figures 9 and 11)
appearing structurally complete and the larger single position stand Figure
3, No. 20, Figures 7 and 8) still under construction. By
three more buildings (Nos. 24-26) had been constructed.
1962
Good quality photography in revealed four
additional buildings (Nos. 27-30) as well as other important features. The
roof structure of the single position stand was not yet in its final con-
figuration and numerous drainage ditches and track activity indicated that
construction was continuing. Although the assembly/checkout building appeared
structurally complete, only three of the four lightning arresters were in
place. Also evident was the removal of Building No. 8 and early indications
of a new access road under construction on the south side of the facility.
The fence on the western side of the ballistics test area had been moved
approximately 300 feet to the east from its original position as seen in
n A large gap in the fence permitted free movement from one area to the
* Annotation members identify buildings and facilities on Figures 2 thru
10 and in the table of dimensions.
TOP SECRET
other. The old guard house and support building (Nos. 1 and 2) are now
part of the propellants test area. These facts suggest that the original
plans called for a ballistics test facility and that it was not until construc-
tion of this facility was well along that decision was made to add a pro-
pellants test area. It appears that the major emphasis was placed on the new
area since by 0 over three years after the start of construction, the
reveting of the test positions at the 700-foot ballistics ranges was still not
complete and the roads in this area were still unfinished. An unidentified
object was at the center point of the grid at the 150-foot range on photography
of Its position at that point rather than the probable firing ad
is unexplained at this time, but further evidence in
I provides a possible answer.
1963
missions of fair quality between
revealed the construction of an additional building No. 31), the com-
pletion of the "L" shaped revetments at the 700-foot ranges and the start of
excavation for another building (No. 36)
Good quality coverage in evealed that
the new southern access road nearing completion and a guard house (No. 34) at
the new entrance to the ballistics test area had been constructed. For the
first time a circular scar about 30 feet in diameter is seen at the center of
the grid at trie 150-foot range. A number of hypotheses may be advanced to
explain this marking: The function of the range may have been changed from
ballistics test to a propellant burn area; the mark is evidence of a bursting
charge test; the center point is a normal firing position and the scar re-
presents a malfunction during a ballistics test. The latter theory is probably
the least likely since the same mark appears again ml
Whatever the explanation may be, it is clear a the center position
was in use as early as 0 as previously noted.
This coverage in also shows the final completion of the
security fence between trie two es areas with access limited to a gate on
the central service road. Within the propellants test area the general road
pattern is emerging although access roads and parking aprons at many of the
buildings have not been constructed. The internal rail network is visible with
lines interconnecting the test stands, support, and assembly/checkout buildings.
This rail pattern suggests that the two position stand is supported by section
"A" of the assembly/checkout building and Building No. 14. The single position
stand is apparently supported by sections "C" and "D" and Building No. 14 as
well as Building No. 18. Numerous drainage ditches are in evidence on this
mission and excavation continues for Building No. 36. Three more lightning
arresters can be identified around the two position test stand and the assembly
checkout building. A pipeline extends from a point 100 feet east of Building
No. 18 to the assembly/checkout building. The line appears broken at rail and
road intersections and may be incomplete. The explosives storage building (19)
previously identified in is nearing com-
pletion but its revetment is still under construction. The roof structure of
the single position stand is in its final configuration, and it can be considered
structurally complete. A paved apron around the stand extends 60 feet in front
of the firing end and has a dark central strip approximately 0 by
110 feet long eminating from the center of the firing bay. This dark strip is
clearly defined and quite regular and should not be construed as a blast mark.
The two position stand is well defined for the first time on this mission. The
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access roads, rail lines, control and observation buildings, and lightning
arresters can be clearly seen.
1964
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The next coverage of the facility was over a year later on
I I. This mission revealed that the ballistics
test area had been completed with the addition of a new access road from the
central service road to the observation bunker (No. 11). Construction of all
roads and building aprons was complete. In the propellants test area, surfacing
of all roads was complete. The explosives storage support building (No. 19)
and the revetment were also complete. A new building (No. 35) had been con-
structed west of support Building No. 16 and the foundation has been laid for
Building No. 6. Less than a month later Building No. 37 is visible on
I I and the first structural members of Building No. 36
are evident.
1965
It is apparent from this photography that the propellants test
area is very near completion. No new construction can be identified and
only Building No. 36 remains unfinished.
All rail lines are complete and many drainage ditches have been covered
or filled in. The pipe line still appears to have breaks at road and rail
intersections. However, these sections may be underground. Landscaping is
evident in both the propellants and the ballistic test areas. Although no direct
evidence of operational activity can be identified on this mission, the over-
all "finishes" appearance of the facility indicates that it is probably oper-
ational at this time and may have been since late in 1964.
REFERENCES
October 1964 (TOP SECRET
NPIC
Probable Solid Propellants Test Facility Tai-Yuan,
China, January 1965 TOP SECRET
NPIC R-1323-64, Probable Solid Propellant Production Test Facility, Tai-
Yuan, China, August 19611 SECRET
MAPS and CHARTS
USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0382-13AL, 2nd edition, October 1960 (SECRET)
REQUIREMENT
C-RR4-81,868
CIA/IAD PROJECT
30848-4
TO
provides the best coverage through
DOCUMENTS
R-868/64, Probable Solid Propellants Test Facility Tai-Yuan China
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 Annotation Figure
Number Number
15 a 9 and 11
15 b 9 and 11
15 c 9 and 11
15 d 9 and 11
16
17 a 9 and 10
17 b 9 and l0
17 c 9 and 10
17 d 9 and 10
17 e 9and10
17 f 9and10
18
19
19
20 a 7 and 8
20 b 7 and 8
20 c 7 and 8
20 d 7 and 8
20 e 7 and 8
21
22
23
2I+
25
26
27
28
29
29
30
31
32
33
3I+
35
36
37
37
TOTALS
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'TABLE OF DINENS IONS
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Function
Original guard house
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
Explosive storage
Explosive storage
Removed
Control building
Control building
Instrumentation bunker
ssem y c ec ou building (large
stand support)
Assembly/checkout building (small
stand support)
Assembly/checkout building (small
and large stand support)
Assembly/checkout building (large
stand support)
Assembly/checkout building (large
stand support)
Function undetermined
Test stand (firing bay)
Test stand (firing bay)
Test stand
Test stand
Test stand
Test stand
Assembly/checkout building (large
stand support)
Motor storage
Storage support
Test stand
Test stand
Test stand
Test stand
Test stand (firing bay)
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
Guard house
Guard house
Function undetermined
Test observation
Test observation
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
Administration
Function undetermined
Removed
Guard house
Removed
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
Function undetermined
A
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! BALLISTICS AND SOLID PROPELLANTS TEST FACILITY
TAI-YUAN, CHINA 37-59 N_ 112-33 E
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Figure 2
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 LEGEND
ROAD
RAIL LINE 1 I
TRAIL
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BUNKERE
REVETMENT -)MW
PIPELINE
LIGHTNING ARRESTER
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BALLISTICS AND SOLID PROPELLANTS TEST FACILITY
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HORIZONTAL
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CIA IMAGERY ANALYSIS DIVISION
BALLISTICS TEST FACILITY
TAI-YUAN, CHINA
LEGEND
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BUNKER
BALLISTICS RANGES
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HORIZONTAL TEST STAND
(ONE POSITION)
SCALE
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HORIZONTAL PROPELLANTS TEST STAND
( ONE POSITION)
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HORIZONTAL TEST STAND
(TWO POSITIONS)
ASSEMBLY/CHECKOUT BUILDING
SCALE
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Figure 9
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