FIXED FIELD-TYPE LAUNCH SITES NEAR SMORGON AND VAINODE USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A001200010013-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 14, 2000
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: November 1, 1963
• Content Type: BRIEF

Copy A~~r~ed For Release 2001/O~P: C~
/
2 P
ages
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November 1963
FIXED FIELD-TYPE LAUNCH SITES
NEAR SMORGON AND VAINODE,
I Iccr~
Handle v;a TALENT -KEYHOLE conrro~ of,~y
j roP
Declass reveiw-N I MA/DOD
B041200010~~fC~; R-286/63
This document contains classified inFormation affecting the national security of the United States within the
meaning of the espionage laws U. S. Code Title 18, Sections 793 and 794. The law prohibits its transmission
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 Approved For Relea~e`2001/'~81Z'1'~`CIA-I~P78B04560A001200010013-1
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER PHOTO INTERPRETATION BRIEF
----------------- -
__ ._----------T--_ ~_nuno AL.. P~itilirn lion Nod
T'Irle; Nixed Field-"hype Launch Sites
Near Smorgon and Vainode,
USS
Sec text I None I NI'1C/It-l2Sb/b3
f2eferences; USATC SeYIES 200, SheC'.CS 0168-81IL ano U1JG-GJ11~. ~.?J
NPIC .Project J-390/63 (PC 857-63) - _
following is a description of two fixed
field-type launch sites in western USSR. No
weapons system has been designated -for these
sites because, while they closely resemble
many of the recently identified fixed field-type
MIZBM launch sites, they are deployed in close
proximity to IRBM launch complexes.
A fixed field-type launch site (NPIC 'harget
No 0168-68E) is located in a wooded area at
54-34-45N 26-21-30E, 3.8 nm N~ of Smorgon
IRBM Launch Area No 1, L8 nm SSW of Smorgon
IRBM Launch Arca No 2, and 6 nm NNW of
Smorgon. The site consists of a figure-eight
type outer road pattern which serves two launch-
pad clearings (>?ig;ure 1). The launch-pad clear-
ings also are connected by a single internal road
and are separated 'by approximately 610'. 'hhc
eastern launch-pad clearing is oriented along
aa1 azimuth of approximately 240?. "hhe western
launch-pad clearing is oriented along an azimuth
FIGURE 1. FIXED FIELD-TYPE LAUNCH SITES, USSR.
of 220?, as are the launch pads of both of the
Smorgon soft 1RBM launch areas.
The fixed field-type site is tied directly
to the road which connects the two soft launch
areas. It was first covered by K>JYIIOL>;
photography of 1/ which also
provided. the first look at Smorgon Launch Area
No 1. Smorgon Launch Area No 2 was not
present at this- time, and was first observed
in an early stage of construction on
photography. 2/ The field site was visible
on this and several subsequent missions, the
best of which was
On each coverage the western portion of the
launch site, the launch-pad clearing, and the
road which serves it were more clearly visible
than the eastern portion of the site.
The second fixed field-type law~ch site
(NPIC Target No 0152-15B) is located in a
wooded area. at 56-28-15N 21.-51-OOT, 3.1 nm
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north of Vainode. The site is adjacent to the
administration and housing section of 1Jigraude
I1213M Launch Area No 3 (Tl~t name, 1'ainode),
and probably was abandoned when cousn-uction
of the hard Iaunch area. began. 25X1 D
'L?he site was first visible on
raphy. 3/ Nigrande hard IRBM Law~cl; Areas
~Io 2 ("I'1~1 name, Skrunda) and No 3 were not
~oresent at this time and the existence of
~ligrande Ift F3M Launch Area No 1 could not be
determined because of clouds and cloud shadow.
`Che two launch areas of the Paplaka 1VII~BM
Launch Complex were visible in a completed
:;tare on this photo?;raphy. The PaplakaComplex
is located 20 nm west of the fixed field-type
'Che site was
lour ig r_his
f~eriod it was served by a single access road
and consisted of an outer loop road, an internal
road, and two launch-pad clearings ([~igure 1).
The launch-pad clearings were 450' apart and
oriented along an azimuth of 240?. Nigrande
IF;RM Launch Area P~1o 1 is oriented on an
a;:i moth of ~ and Che Paplak:a MRBM launch
areas are oriented on azimuths of 215'.
Nigrande IRBM I ,aw~ch Brea. 1vl0 3 was
first ob:;erved in a very early stage of con-
struction on _ photography. 5 / Subsequent
KE?YIIOT,I? missions, including
(C'igure 1), showed they construction progress
at t}~~is launch area. The main access road
which connects the hard launch site with the
administration and housing section now passes
directly through the fixed field-type latmch site.
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