RECAPITULATION OF PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE OVER CIENFUEGOS, CUBA(Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A006900010058-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2000
• Sequence Number: 58
• Publication Date: December 1, 1970
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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SUMMARY
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
SECRET
RECAPITULATION OF PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE
OVER CIENFUEGOS, CUBA
SECRET
NPIC/R-72/70
DECEMBER 1970
GROUP 1: EXCLUDED FROM
ApUfflA4TF?', 'I ase 2000/05/10: CIA-RDP78BO456OA006900010058-0
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This document contains information affecting
the national defense of the United States,
within the meaning of Title 18, sections
793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended.
Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is
prohibited by law.
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 RECAPITULATION OF PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE OVER CIENFUEGOS, CUBA
A. SOVIET NAVAL TASK GROUP
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1. The Soviet Naval Task Group was first observed on- photography
-
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Cienfue os Port Facilities and Cienfuegos Naval Base (BE
at
h
t
k
i
l
th
f
ll
i
hi
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e
group
nc
uded
on T
as
e
o
ow
ng s
ps:
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one Kresta I-class guided-missile light cruiser (CLGM), one
ship tank (LST), one Ugra-class submarine tender (AS), one
Alligator
Sura-class
landing
buoy
tender (AGL), the tanker one Okhtenskiy-class ocean resue tug (ATR,
and two special-purpose barges. The Sura AGL was apparently engaged in buoy-
placement activity near the mouth of Cienfuegos Bay.
25X1 D
25X1 D
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25X1A
2. Photography of revealed that the task group remained
at Cienfue os. The vessels remained in the same positions as when observed on
with the exception of the Sura AGL, which was moored stern to
O'Burke Pier near the bow of the Alligator LST. The Sura AGL appeared to be on
or offloading probable buoy anchors. The two special-purpose barges previously
observed at Cienfuegos naval base were in a position at O'Burke Pier between the
Alligator LST and the Sura AGL. (These barges are believed to have been trans-
ported to Cuba aboard the Alligator LST. Bottom chocks on which the barges
rested remained on the deck of the LST.)
3. The Ugra AS was observed approaching and later moored fast to a four-
buoy mooring site, in water approximately 15 meters (50 feet) deep in Cienfuegos
Bay, at a position approximately 1 nautical mile (nm) north of Cayo Alcatraz.
Submarine nets had been emplaced since across the approach to the
deep-water basin in which the mooring site and the submarine tender were situated.
The Alligator LST was at the POL pier. The Sura AGL and the tanker
were at anchor in the northern bay. The Kresta I CLGM and the Kanin DDG had
departed from Cienfuegos.
4. The two special-purpose barges, formerly at O'Burke Pier, were tied to
the port quarter of the Ugra AS at the four-point mooring site. A probable
personnel launch and two small craft were tied to the starboard side of the
tender amidships. A third and fourth section of the submarine net had been
added, thus completing the net. The entire net extended approximately 422
25X1D meters (1,330 feet). one section
25X1D of the net was open to seaward, the same
section was open toward the Ugra AS. In all instances the Okhtenskiy ATR was
tending the net.
6. The Ugra AS, the Okhtenskiy ATR, and the two special-purpose barges
were at O'Burke Pier. The Alligator LST and the Sura AGL had apparently
departed.
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DECEMBER 1970
5. The Ugra AS was at the four-point mooring site. The net was open to-
ward the Ugra AS. The two special-purposes barges were at O'Burke Pier. An
Uda-class naval oiler (A0) was observed at anchor.
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7. The Uda AO, the Ugra AS, the Okhtenskiy ATR, and the two barges were
at O'Burke Pier.
8. The Ugra AS, the Okhtenskiy ATR, and the two special-purpose barges
remained at O'Burke Pier. The Uda AO had moved since and was at
anchor in the western part of the bay.
25X1 D
No change in the positions of the vessels concerned had occurred
25X1 D
10. The Okhtenskiy ATR was observed near O'Burke Pier and later underway
within the harbor. It was towing the two special-purpose barges side by side
along its port side. The Ugra AS was at O'Burke Pier. A launch had been loaded
aboard the Ugra AS during the time between two observations on photography.
11. The Ugra AS and the Okhtenskiy ATR had departed Cienfuegos. The Uda
AO was at O'Burke Pier and the twc special-purpose barges had been moved to a
small pier at Cayo Ocampo, at the southeastern corner of Cienfuegos Bay.
12. No significant naval activity was observed at Cienfuegos during this
period. The submarine net remained unchanged, and the two special-purpose
barges remained at Cayo Ocampo.
13. The two barges remained at Cayo Ocampo. The Soviet Space Event
Support Ship (SSESS)
the four-point mooring site.
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25X1 D
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25X1 D
14. No change in the locations of the two barges and the SSESS was ob-
served. The submarine net was unchanged.
15. The numbers and types of Cuban naval combatants were relatively
constant at Cienfuegos during the period between
Three to four Kronshtadt submarine chasers (PC), two to three SO-1 submarine
chasers (SC), and three to four P-6 motor torpedo boats (PT) were present most
of the time.
B. OTHER ACTIVITY IN THE CIENFUEGOS BAY AREA
Coastal Surveillance Site
16. Two SHEET BEND radars and one probable SQUARE HEAD antenna with
associated vehicles or pieces of equipment, in a probable coastal surveillance
role, were situated at Cienfuegos Radar Facility 2 approximately
1.8 rim east of the entrance to Cienfuegos Ba . The facility was occupied on
and was still occupied on The radars were
not present on
Possible Communications Facility Under Construction
17. Construction of a possible high-frequency communications facility
was begun subsequent to on Punta de la Cueva at
.02-06-50N 080-26-OOE, approximately 2.5 nm southeast of Cienfuegos. Initial
ground clearance and grading observed on photography of
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25X1 D
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25h(1 D
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-indicated preparation probably for installing a perimeter fence.
Photography of revealed nine holes in the ground arranged
in a pattern suggesting footing holes for four possible rhombic antennas, ar-
ranged in two day/night pairs. No change in the status of construction was
observed on later missions.
18. New road construction was progressing at a steady rate southeast from
Cienfuegos toward Punta de la Cueva and the possible communications facility
under construction. The road extends southeast from an existin road at a
point 0.5 nm south-southwest of Jaime Gonzales Airfield
Recreation Facilities, Cayo Alcatraz
19. Diverse recreational facilities and new barracks were constructed
on Cayo Alcatraz, an island located near the harbor entrance in Cienfuegos
Bay, at 22-04-35N 080-26-40W. Extensive construction of facilities was ac-
complished between when no construction activity was
evident, and when construction was virtually com-
plete. The newly constructed facilities included two barracks-type buildings,
a soccer field, and tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts. A pier on the
western side of the island was improved and expanded to create an enclosed
probable swimming area. No significant activity or changes to facilities has
been observed on recent missions.
Luna Punta Landing Beach Defenses
Grading along the beach was underway during the entire period from
Progress was very slow and the purpose
eveling was not apparent by A cluster of four
shallow, revetted, probable coastal defense positions was constructed at
22-02-04N 080-25-12W on Luna Punta Beach between when
they were first observed.
21. Three unrevetted six-position AAA sites dispersed throughout the
Cienfuegos area were occupied from One
site, located at 22-04-10N 080-28- COW on the west side of the harbor entrance,
was first observed occupied on photography of Another
site, on Punta Movita at 22-04-lON 080-26-19W, was first observed occupied on
When observed on three positions were vacant. The
third occupied six-position AAA site was located on Punta Soriano at 22-06-50N
o80-25-o8w.
22. A fourth AAA site occupied for a brief period from pos-
sibly until was located adjacent to the latter. site.
23. Constancia SAM Site 6.5 nm northwest of Cienfuegos
remained occupied, as it normally is, during the entire period.
Field Artillery Deployment
24. Field artillery pieces (FA) were observed at two locations near the
entrance to Cienfuegos Bay during- and the first part of
Approximately 2 nm east of the entrance, at 22-02-10N 080-25-16W five FA
pieces were observed in the vicinity of Luna Punta Beach on iiil~
Approximately 3 nm west of the harbor entrance, at 22-04-12N 080-30-18W, four FA.
pieces were observed on and five FA pieces were seen on m
Probable Field Artillery Firing Range
25. A probable direct-fire field artillery range has been recently con-
structed on Punta Luna, at 22-01-55N 080-24-50W., approximately 2.5 nm east of
the entrance to Cienfuegos Bay. The probable range is approximately 10 meters
(33 feet) above mean sea level, oriented north/south, and measures approximately
638 meters (2,093 feet) in length. At the northern end where three circular
firing positions have been constructed, it measures in
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width, and at the southern end it measures
Shoreline Clearance South of Cayo Alcatraz 25X1D 25X1D
25X1D 26. Clearing of vegetation and grading were first observed
along the irregular shoreline of the southern edge of Cienfuegos Bay, just
east of the inner entrance to the bay. By mid the cleared area measured
25X1D approximately 1,189 meters (3,900 feet) along the shoreline by 76 meters (250
feet) inland. Fifteen light-toned unidentified objects equally spaced, were
25X1D
h
d
e
hear
aligne
25X1D - No significant change had occurred along the shoreline by
25X1 D
25X1 D
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New Construction Northeast of Punta Gorda
27. An area of construction activity at 22-07-40N 080-26-34W, on the
southern edge of Cienfuegos, 0.8 nm northeast of Punta Gorda, was first observed
ranhy of
had been graded and six holes for footings
were observed. Piles of construction materials were in the area.
C. MOVEMENTS OF THE UGRA AS AND OKHTENSKIY ATR AT MARIEL PORT
28. The Ugra AS ana the Okhtenskiy ATR which left Cienfuegos after being
seen on photog f were next observed at Mariel Port on
photography of Subsequently, their positions were as follows:
29. The Ugra AS was at the north pier in Mariel Port, and the Okhtenskiy
ATR was tied to one of the buoys at the four-point mooring site in Mariel harbor.
30. The Ugra AS was just south of the four-point mooring site in Mariel
harbor. The Okhtenskiy 4TR remained at the mooring site.
31. The Ugra AS was in mid-Mariel harbor and the Okhtenskiy ATR was at
the north pier.
32. Both the Ugra and the Okhtenskiy were at the north pier at Mariel.
NPIC/IEG/W?/MEAFAB Project 150bb42NA
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Chan 1099
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FOUR~POINT MOORING
(50-fq i d'e`ptR) as
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 Approved For,
PUNTA GORDA
SUBMARINE
NET
LUNA PUNTA
BEACH
25X1D
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