TYPE III SOVIET ICBM LAUNCH SITES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A000600010034-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2003
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: July 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

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Duo t NPIC/R-117/63
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PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERP
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No TYPE III SOVIET ICBM LAUNCH SITES
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DECLASS REVIEW BY NIMA / DoD
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PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT
TYPE III SOVIET ICBM LAUNCH SITES
NPIC/R-1 17/63
July 1963
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
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same on the photography, a matter to be dis-
cussed in later paragraphs. Later, two rec-
tangular equipment and/or fuel bunkers appear,
each between two of the silos. 't'hese bunkers
each measure 70 by 50 feet. It has been deter-
mined that the two objects in the excavation
forward of the control bunker which were iden-
tified as silos in earlier reports are in fact the
two equipment bunkers.
Also present in a midstage of construction
at Type III sites is a probable covered spray
pond, generally located to the rear and slightly
to the left of the control bunker and measuring
approximately 150 by 100 feet. Two probable
buried tanks are located to the left of the control
bunker and silos in an area that will eventually
be enclosed by the site service road.
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As the midstage of construction of a'[ype III
launch site commences, the characteristic rec-
tangular excavation with its associated notch is
present (Figure 2). This excavation varies in
size from site to site depending on soil charac-
teristics, but generally measures about 500 by
150 feet in the main section, with the notch being
on a slightly higher level and measuring 200 by
150 feet. It appears that construction is probably
started nearly concurrently on the control bunker
in the notch of the excavation and on three silos
in the main portion of the excavation. The con-
trol bunker generally measures 120 by 100 feet
and is located 90 feet to the rear of the silos.
The three silos are separated by a distance of
180 feet on center, in a straight line along the
approximate center line of the main excavation.
l hese three silos do not appear consistently the
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A anted square perimeter, 55 feet on as ide,
has beer. observed around the right and center
silos oi three occasions it sites in a midstage
of construction. 1 this was noted at Site P2,
Fl MT( , 01 11 l`_ Verkhnvav,i
Saida, rn and Site A Olov ann. va
IC IRM ( om lex oni 11
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kc 1 a, have heen identified at Sites I and Cl at the
V(et-kluivava Salda ICBM Complex and at Site I)1
I" I M,, ! C.
'lie rep c r silo of Site f)2, TTMTC on
me isur ? the inside di,imeter of a silo with anv
let ree ai" confidence. Phis was accomplished at
In )nlv one case has it been possible to
i
I h the resultant being in inside dia_imere r
of 3[) fe-
I ht left silo has never been seen in a mid-
sta;,e olconstruction is having a distinct snaps'
even on lie best availabini horographv. however,
m Iirel cases it can he described as heist'
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slightly larger and more massive in appearance
than the center and right silos. '['his was ob-
25X1 Dserved at Site D2, TTMTC, on
and at
E
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25X1 DVerkhnyaya Saida, Site F, on The
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left silo can in no case be described with
confidence as being smatter than the other
two.
At two of the sites in a midstage, of con-
struction (Site G, Verkhnyaya Saida on
land Site F, Verkhnyaya Salda, on
there has been evidence of possible con-
necting passageways between the control bunker
and the three silos and two equipment bunkers.
'T'hese possible passageways appear to run the
length of the main excavation, with connecting
segments to the actual facilities within the launch
site.
When completed there are only a few com-
ponents of a 'hype III site that are identifiable
(Figure 3). The most apparent items are three
objects each identical to the other in appearance
and each measuring 80 by 40 feet. These three
items are positioned at the exact location of the
three silos seen in a midstage of construction
and are canted to the long axis of the excavation
location and coincide with the angle of the
canted square perimeter observed around some
of the center and right silos. It is noteworthy
that the probable portal silo located to the
left and rear of the control bunker at hardened
IRBM/MRBM launch sites is identical in appear-
ance when completed to the missile silos
forward of the control bunker (see NPIC/tl-
This section presents detailed descriptions
of Type Ill launch sites that have had
coverage of sufficiently good quality to be of
value in the preparation of this report.
76/63 for a full description of hardened IRBM/
MRBM launch sites).
A characteristic racetrack-shaped road
pattern is present, the long axis of which is ap-
proximately 850 feet in length. At Site Dl,
`I'TMTC, and at Site F, Yurya ICBM Complex, a
short spur may turn in from this road and
terminate at the left silo. No such spur can be
identified leading to either of the other silos.
On the other hand, this appearance may simply
be the limits of the hardstand that surrounds all
three silos.
The control bunker is mounded with the
mounded area measuring up to 180 by 110 feet.
In no case can an entrance into the control bun-
ker be identified with any degree of confidence.
'I'he probable spray pond can be identified tothe
rear and to the left of the control bunker, and
the racetrack-shaped road encircles the area
where the two probable buried tanks are located.
'T'he equipment bunkers are not visible, having
been completely covered when the excavation
was hackfilled. The only indication of their
presence at Site F, Verkhnyaya Saida, onF
occurred when the snow was melted
at a point directly over their location, probably
indicating that vents of some type were dis-
LAUNCH SITE D1, TTMTC
(Figure 4)
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Coverage of this site on pro- 25X1 D
vides the best example of a completed ype III
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APRON
MOUNDED CONTROL
BUNKER
PROB SPRAY POND
BLACKTOP
ROAD
100 0 40G
FEET IA PPROX)
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munch site to date. "The typical racetrack-
alt:aped road pattern measures 900 by 3511 feet
and onc(oses most of the basic components of
rile :; itc, I he three si to covers or cover l'ousings
ari? the most apparent items present and their
darned rectangular shape is clearly visible. The
loner axis of the covers are c:mted 45 del ;reel to
the long ;axis of the original excavation. The
oicr:; appear to rise a few leer above the sur-
>i!net nn; fiat hardstand. The mounded control
hunker is observed as is the covered probable
,,larne pond to the left and rear of the control
F. 'I wo semihuried ranks are locn-ed to
the loft (it the silos inside of the racetrack
acrimetcr road,
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as the best coverage to date of a
ccinapfeted Type Ill site, the coverage ofiite1)2,
CONTROL. HUNKER
100 0 400
FEET (APPROX)
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FIGURE 5. LAUNCH SITE D2, TTMTC. 25X1
I" MT(' on provided the best
n1lotogr nhy to date of this type of site in a mid-
sta