SOVIET MILITARY PERSONNEL IN CUBA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A001300010051-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Sequence Number: 51
• Content Type: REPORT

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N P I C/R- 1129/63
March 1963
SOVIET MILITARY PERSONNEL
N I CUBA
DECLASS REVIEW by NGA!DOD
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
GROUP 1
L.cluded from e
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This document contains information nffectin,
the national defense of the United State.-.
within the meaning of Title IS, section;
793 and 794, of the U.S. (llode, as amended,
[ts transmission or revelation of its content;
to or receipt by an unauthorized person i;
prohibited by law.
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SOVIET MILITARY PERSONNEL
IN CUBA
N P I C/R-1129/63
March 1963
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NPIC/R-1129/63
INTRODUCTION
Soviet troops in Cuba are stationed at var-
ious military installations, including military
camps, airfields, SA-2 SAM sites, and cruise-
missile sites. The purpose of this report is to
determine from aerial photography the peak
Soviet troop strength at four armored military
camps -- Artemisa, Holguin, Remedios, and
Santiago de las Vegas -- and five other con-
firmed or suspect Soviet military camps --
Camaguey, Mayari Arriba, Pinar del Rio, Playa
Baracoa, and Torrens (Figure 1).
As of late a total of 10,946
Soviet personnel were estimated to be present
at the above nine military camps. Of this total,
4,924 were found at the four armored camps,
with the remaining 6,022 personnel* attheother
five camps (Table 1). This estimate is based
on a detailed analysis of both high- and low-
level aerial photography.
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Determination of troop strength was based
primarily on the extent of billeting facilities
observed.
*The majority of the estimated 3,238 personnel billeted
at Torrens are believed to be Soviet; however, the per-
centage of non-Soviet personnel cannot be determined.
* Armored military camps
? Military camps
(Figure 2). In several camps, permanent bar-
racks are being constructed to replace the tents,
indicating a degree of permanency at these in-
stallations. Estimated troop capacity of the tents
and barracks is based on an
square feet of floor space per man. Low-level
photography aided greatly in determining tents
and structures not used for billeting purposes.
A detailed study was also made of Soviet
equipment present at the camps to determine
if military units of specific size couldbeidenti-
fied (Table 2). At each of the four armored
camps, a medium tank battalion and an assault
gun company were identified by the type and
number of tanks and self-propelled guns obser-
ved. Support and other equipment and weapons
identified at these camps do not correspond to
the established TO & E of known units, how-
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF SOVIET MILITARY CAMPS IN CUBA.
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Table 1. Determination of Soviet Troop Strength.
Military
Camp
Holguin 64 1,024 32 224
Remedios 49 784 17 119
Santiago de ]as 36 576 10 70
Vegas
Est Troop Cap
74 296 ---
49 196 12
4 16 2
Camaguey 46 736 27 189 45 180
Mayan Arriba --- --- _-- -_- --_
Pinar del Rio 6 96 2 14
Dimensions
(ft)
U/C
U1 1C
1,544
1,099
500 1,162
500 4,924
--- 1,105
971 971
60 290
120
Floor Space
(sq ft)
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PT-76 tank,,
SIB-100 ,(,If-propelled guns
9
9
9
9
SNAPPER antitank rocket launchers
)
9
--
FROG one-round rocket launcher-
?
-
_>
--
Antiaircraft artillerc guns
1.)
1 :;
i i
1 K
(i
16
Field artillery pieces
I
5
P
30
Mortars
1
7
9
--
16
FROG transporters
BRDM :\PC
--
7
5
11
Eight-Wheeled ?CPC
51
-
-I
--
Tracked Prime Movers
1
II
111
b
Cargo trucks
9-1
?fi9
202
13
3~
Ifi
l:il
F(ilitc trucks
10
1 k
26
11
3
?1
1
1 _~
POL
k
7
truc
s
16
--
1 O
Pang
1
I
?'(i
--
1 (i(1
?tOO
Radar, (mohile)
I
2
1
15
\liseellaneous or I1."T
3-4
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NPIC/R-1129/63
ever. Therefore, troop strength could not be
det6rmined on this basis. No determination
of the size of military units could be established
at tie other five camps.
Other methods of determining troop strength
from aerial photography were also explored, in-
cluding a correlation of the number of personnel
L I
nine military camps follows. (Small quantities
of equipment and some billeting facilities may
not have been observed because of dense foliage,
protective canvas coverings, or camouflage.)
' Artemisa Military Camp is located 3.3
nau ical miles (nm) northwest of Artemisa at
22- 0-54N 82-48-30W (UTM 17QLR144278 on
AM Series E 723, Sheet 3684 IV). The camp
con,ists of a billeting area, a motor park, a
secired FROG (free-rocket-over-ground) park,
30 T-54 tanks
9 SU-100 self-propelled guns
8 SNAPPER antitank (at) rocket launchers
2 FROG rocket launchers
6 57mm antiaircraft artillery guns
9 14.5mm antiaircraft artillery guns
4 57mm antitank guns
3 120mm mortars
51 eight-wheeled APCs
2 BRDM APCs
5 FROG missile transporters
8 motorcycles with sidecars
a 57 mm antiaircraft artillery battery, a 14.5
mm antiaircraft artillery battery, and a per-
manent barracks area under construction (Fig-
ure 3).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
94 cargo trucks
10 utility trucks
1. van
5 truck-mounted treadway bridges
1 AT-T prime mover with dozer blade
1 T-54 tank chassis with mounted crane
1 motorized grader
I rotary trench digger on AT-T
1 FIRE CAN radar
12 field kitchens
2 tank transporters
I wheeled backhoe
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Holguin Military Camp is located 1.6 nm
east-northeast of Holguin at 20-53-48N 76-
14-OOW (UTM 18QUU718111 on AMS Series H
723, Sheet 4978 1). The camp consists of a
billeting area, a motor park, a secured storage
31 T-54 tanks
3 PT-76 tanks
9 SU-100 self-propelled guns
1 BTR-50p APC
5 57mm antitank guns
7 120mm mortars
9 twin-30mm Czech antiaircraft artillery guns
6 57mm antiaircraft artillery guns
1 FIRE CAN radar
1 height rangefinder
5 generators
1 AT-T tracked prime mover
2 AT-S tracked prime movers
area, a 57 mm antiaircraft artillery battery, a 30
mm antiaircraft artillery battery, and numerous
scattered personnel trenches (Figure 4).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
8 AT-L tracked prune movers
3 tank retrievers
269 cargo trucks
is utility trucks
4 vans
16 POI, trucks
14 cargo trailers
o truck-mounted re.dway bridges
1 AT-L with dozer blade
1 rotary trench d.gger on AT-T
12 field kitchens
13 motorcycles with ,idecars
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REMEDIOS MILITARY CAMP
Remedios Military Camp is located 3.7 nni
southwest of Remedios at 22-27-12N 79-34-
57W (UiM 17QPQ459835 on AMS Series L 723,
Sheet 4283 II). The camp consists of a billeting
area, a motor park with a double-fenced parking
32 T-54 tanks
9 SU-100 self-propelled guns
9 SNAPPER AT rocket launchers
2 FROG rocket launchers
8 field artillery pieces
6 120mm mortars
6 57mm antiaircraft artillery guns
8 light antiaircraft artillery guns
2 FIRE CAN radars
I height rangefinder
1 generator
4 eight-wheeled APCs
7 BRDM APCs
8 FROG missile transporters
1 AT-S tracked prime mover
M1 W
area, a secured POL storage area, a secured
storage area, a 57 mm antiaircraft battery,
and 12 barracks under construction (Figure 5).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
1) AT-L tracked prime movers
G tank retrievers
202 cargo trucks
26 utility trucks
7 POL trucks
26 vans
17 cargo trailers
5 truck-mounted t.readway bridges
2 T-54 chassis with mounted crane
1 motorized grader
1 rotary trench digger on AT-T
3 unidentified vehicles
12 field kitchens
17 motorcycles with sidecars
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SANTIAGO DE LAS VEGAS MILITARY CAMP
Santiago de las Vegas Military Camp is
located 2.8 nm east of Santiago de las Vegas at
22-58-OON 82-20-25W (UTM 17QLR626403 on
ANTS Series F 723, Sheet 3784 IV). The camp,
located in a heavily wooded area, consists of
a billeting area, a motor park, a 57 mm anti-
32 T-54 tanks
9 SU-100 self-propelled guns
3 57mm antitank guns
9 ZPU-4 antiaircraft artillery guns
6 57mm antiaircraft artillery guns
1 FIRE CAN radar
1 height rangefinder
5 BRDM APCs
aircraft artillery battery, and a 14.5 mm anti-
aircraft artillery battery. Infantry, armor, and
probable elite badges and other minor insignia
were observed at the camp (Figure 6).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
4FROG missile transporters
h missile transporters
h AT-S tracked prima movers
4 , cargo treks
11 utility trucks
34 unidentified wleeled vehicles
:; unidentified tracked vehicles
I field kitchens
FIGURE 6. SANTIAGO DE LAS VEGAS MILITARY CAMP
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CAMAGUEY MILITARY CAMP
Camaguey Military Camp is located 4 nm billeting area, a motor park, and electronics
southeast of Camaguey at 21-21-11N 77-51- areas (Figure 7).
24W (UTM 18Q-lU037637 on AMS Series L The following is a complete list of weapons
723, Sheet 4680 III). The camp consists of a and equipment identified at the camp:
24 cargo trucks
1S utility trucks
7 POL trucks
32 vans
14 electronics vans
14 unidentified vehicles, pieces of equipment
2'T'OKEN-t,ype radars
1 ROCK CAKE'S'T'ONE CAKE radar
1 prohahle SPOON NEST radar
I probable FLAT PACE radar
I microicave lower
t f~um'~. I 'r tl
y_
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PINAR DEL RIO MILITARY CAMP
Pinar del Rio Military Camp is located 1.5
nm southwest of Pinar del Rio at 22-23-56N
83-42-48W (LTTM 17QKQ206794 on AMS Series
E 723, Sheet 3483 II). '1 he camp consists of
a billeting area located in and around an
orchard, and a motor park to the north (l igure 9).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
34 cargo [rucks
:1 utility' truck-
4 cans
.17 unidentified vehicle-, pie-'- of equipment
1 radio tower (R-400)
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PLAYA BARACOA MILITARY CAMP
Playa Baracoa Military Camp is located 1.4 Playa 13aracoa Airf__e11, is associated with the
nm south of Playa Baracoa at 23-01-40N 82- assembly and mainte:tancc of HOUND (MI-4)
34-31W (L"IN4 17QLR386474 on AMS Series L and HARE (MI-L) helicopters at the airfield.
723, Sheet :1685 II). The camp, located at It consists of a billetiarea, an assembly and
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maintenance area, a POL storage area, and
three 3-gun 37 mm antiaircraft artillery bat-
teries. Seventeen tents differing in size and
shape from the typical Soviet tents (Figure 2)
are located in the assembly and maintenance
9 37mm antiaircraft artillery guns
16 cargo trucks
3 utility trucks
30 POL trucks
6 electronics vans (net.-covered)
47 HOUND (MI-4) helicopters
9 HARE (Ml1) helicopters
108 helicopter shipping crates
60 unidentified vehicles,:pieces of equipment
I motorized grader
36 POL tanks (horizontal)
numerous POL drums
Torrens Military Camp is located 4.4 nm
west-northwest of Santiago de las Vegas at
22-59-36N 82-28-OOW (UTM 17QLR496434 on
AMS Series E 723, Sheet 3784 IV). The camp
consists of four billeting areas -- one of which
formerly was a reformatory -- three motor
parks, an electronics area, and a 57 mm anti-
6 57mm antiaircraft artillery guns
3 SPONGE CAKE, radars
2 height-finding radars
10 generators
4 AT-L tracked prime movers
16 AT-S tracked prime movers
151 cargo trucks
21 utility trucks
10 POL trucks
160 vans
aircraft artillery battery (Figure il). The
majority of the estimated 3,238 personnel billet-
ed at Torrens are believed to be Soviet; how-
ever, the percentage of non-Soviet personnel
cannot be determined.
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
area and probably billet Cuban personnel being
trained at the airfield (Figure 10).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
2 van work-shop trucks
33 cargo trailers (two-axle)
7 van trailers (two-axle)
17 trailers (two-axle)
8 trailers (single-axle)
1 ADA shower
1 motorized grader
17 field kitchens
181 unidentified vehicles. pieces of equipment
numerous reels of wire
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RELATED DOCUMENTS
1. Army. TB 381-1, Combat Equipment Technical Intelligence Bulletin (UNCLASSIFIED)
2. Army. TB 381-1A, Supplement to the Combat Equipment Technical Intelligence Bulletin (SECRET)
(SEC
5. Army. ISoviet Guided Missile and Rocket Organization and Order of Battle, 1 Jun 62
(SEC
6. Army. Pamphlet No 30-73, Soviet Tactics-Motorized Rifle Division, 17 Oct 61 (CONFIDENTIAL)
7. Army. Pamphlet No 30-77, Soviet Tactics-Medium Tank Regiment, Nov 60 (CONFIDENTIAL)
8. Army. Pamphlet No 30-80, Soviet Tactics-Tank Company, Sep 61 (CONFIDENTIAL)
10. Army. TM 30-270, Soviet Artillery, Jul 61 (SECRET)
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RELATED DOCUMENTS (Continued)
11t Army. TM 30-271, Soviet Tactical. Vehicles, Oct 61 (SECRET)
12j Army. TM 30-272, Soviet River Crossing Equipment and Techniques, Jun 62 (SECRET)
i3 Army. TM 30-278, Soviet Tactical Missiles, Aug 62 (SECRET)
REQUIREMENTS
JN-337/62
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