JUSTIFICATION FOR ADDING KAMCHATKA PENINSULA (INCLUDING PETROPAVLOVSK) TO HIGHEST PRIORITY LIST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61S00750A000500030004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 29, 2004
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 30, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/02/~P, G WRE$1 S00750A000500030004-8
NSA and NAVY review(s) completed.
Copy I of 18
30 December 1957
JUSTIFICATION FOR ADDING KAMCHATKA PENINSULA
(INCLUDING PETROPAVLOVSK) TO HIGHEST PRIORITY LIST
1. The KAMCHATKA Peninsula may be used by the Soviets as
an ICBM launch site or base for submarines with guided missile capability
for attack against North America.
2. Concern that this possibility may be materializing stems from
the following:
a, The strategic location of the peninsula, vis-a-vis the
North American continent, in terms of proximity and free access
to the sea, this pen insmla, ding. aposition-,eox M ra - to i -of'
by
ready covered in part
photography-from which revealed four instaaues
....-of construction of possiblemissile launch sites),
b. The high sensitivity with which the Russians view the
KAMCHATKA area,
ferret flights a s =appes ed -to--their reactions to ferret flights in
--o r.._peripheral -are-as, .
c, The possibilities of guided missile equipped submarines
at PETROPAVLOVSK, it being known that at least two with such
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evidence of this lying in their reactions to
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capability for conversion have been constructed at KOMSOMOLSK
and possibly have been converted at PETROPAVLOVSK. Further..
more, there is evidence indicating a considerable strengthening
of the KAMCHATKA flotilla by the addition of long range submarines.
There is reasonable possibility that at least one of these may be
nuclear powered.
3. It should be noted that previous coverage of a portion of the
KAMCHATKA Peninsula, namely, that in the vicinity of KLYUCHI. by
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Missions 6005 and 6008, I
TROPAVLOVSK of 1;946 and 1951,
suspicion that the latter might be an impact point for guided missile
testing. Exploitation to date tends to confirm this suspicion although
it may be that recoverage of certain areas by larger scale photography
at a later date will be rewarding on this point. Recoverage at this time,
however, is not urged.
A thorough as
a nation of all sour ce.2 (reporting, inclu 'ing
low quality photography of P
activities in they AMCHATK
Jteading to the
leaves intelligence, with a strg g ss picio
of activities on the peninsula but with;'a
inab4ty to assert unequivocrat these suspici ns can be dis egarde
Attention is called to the fact that in submitting this addition
to the highest priority list the Ad Hoc Requirements Committee has not
altered its views as of 9 October 1957 with regard to the pre-eminent
importance among highest targets of those which bear upon the long range
bomber problem (the Navy dissent remaining as stated in that case). It
is also noted that except for UKRAINAAthere is no competition among the
assets for covering this target in the event operations in the
Far East are permitted.
Approv
s.sible critical nature
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