SUSPECT GALOSH LAUNCH SITE FROM ROCKETS ON GUARD FOR PEACE (SOVIET SOURCE)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05161A000100010079-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 7, 2003
• Sequence Number: 79
• Publication Date: June 1, 1965
• Content Type: IR

Approved For Release 2003/05/14: CIA-RDP78TO5161A000100010079-2
7 PAGES ATE June 1965
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE REPORT
SUSPECT GALOSH LAUNCH SITE
FROM
"ROCKETS ON GUARD FOR PEACE"
(SOVIET SOURCE)
CIA/PIR-1014/65
DECLASS REVIEW by NIMA/DOD
GROUP I
E.cl.d.d h....
d--.di, end
Approved For Release 2003/05/14: CIA-RDP78TO5161A000100010079-2
 TOP SECRET
SUSPECT GALOSH LAUNCH SITE
From
"ROCKETS ON GUARD FOR PEACE"
(SOVIET SOURCE)
The Soviet film "Rockets on Guard for Peace" shows what probably is the
launching of a Galosh missile from a launch point in the vicinity of a self
supporting lattice-tower. This report concerns the analysis of this film and
photographic coverage of the Soviet Union, with the view of identifying
and during the filmed sequence flies in an arc behind the adjacent tower, thus
revealing that the tower is closer to the camera than the erected missile.
(2) The container cover pops off prior to the launch of the missile,
which closely resembles the Galosh container revealed in recent Moscow parades.
The following facts and assumptions bear on the problem:
(1) The Soviet film reveals a missile being launched from a container
(3) Smoke and dust, resulting from the missile's deflected jet, billow
quickly outward and engulf the tower in two to three seconds of film time.
(4) The tower shown in the movie is a lattice, self supporting tower
with square or rectangular platform mounted on top.
(5) Known launch facilities were examined on iI photography and 25
it was found that self supporting lattice towers with rectangular or square plat-
forms can be found near a number of launch positions. These include positions at
Kapustin Yar, Tyuratam, and Sary Shagan.
not edit the film. In other words, the film was not projected with a single mirror
(2) The Soviets projected the film in the correct orientation, and did
permits use of recent high quality photography in this analysis.
(1) The launch filmed by the Soviets occured during a time frame which
Assumptions
(3) The missile container, erected for launch, was elevated so the
bottom of the container was 5 feet above the launch pad surface.
Approved For Releaser/O8/8t &
 ppr
ved For Release IdWb5SEC I TR
(4) The base of the lattice tower appearing in the Soviet film was
at the Same elevation as the surface of the launch pad.
(5) The camera used to produce the Soviet movie sequence of the Galosh
launch was equipped with a telephoto lens, which had the effect of equalizing the
photographic scale due to foreshortening.
(6) The missile launched was a Galosh, with container similar in size
to that photographed during the recent Moscow parade.
25X
25X
Discussion
It is important to first determine which of the possible launch positions
are the most likely locations for the Galosh launch, by rejecting those which have
towers of the wrong height or configuration. With this in mind, a Kapustin Yar
launch facility (Launch Complex A, Site 2-A (South) is ruled out because the
towers are not properly configured. (See Figure 6, NPIC/R-1186/64). Tyuratam
launch pads G-1 and G-2 have towers which fit the general configuration of the
Soviet movie film tower, however these facilities do not appear to be a likely
candidate for the launch of a Galosh type missile in view of long association
of Tyuratam with the launch of surface to surface missiles, and the detection of
a 95 foot long erected missile at pad G-2 on Thus the two remain- 25
ing candidates are Launch Complex A and Launcri Complex at Sary Shagan Anti-
missile Test Center.
Launch Complex B candidate launch positions are located between Facility
B and Facility C (The Building Triad), and are located on loop roads which were
constructed after the building triad was started, and are here designated "Facility
D".
Launch Complex A candidates include launch sites 5 and 6 and launch
position 5, launch site 3.
Complete mensuration of all suspect towers was accomplished by NPIC/
Technical Intelligence Division. This mensuration included the Soviet movie
photography on the basis of the assumptions stated above.- Attachment 1 contains
the mensuration from the Soviet movie.
25
meaningful accuracy statement could not be made regarding the Soviet TV film
"Missiles on Guard for Peace".
25
Approved For Releaser2Q /Og Rff-L& 079-2
25
 X1
X1
Approved For Release T?F/0,% + R
CIA, PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
Attachme Snows e location of the tower and select distances using C
The unidentified object in the lower right corner of the line drawing is
approximately 10 feet high and has been a speculative candidate for the location
of the camera station from which the launch was photographed.
The tower dimension at Launch Complex B as well as other outstanding features
in the area for orientation purposes are depicted on the lin d
e yawing Attachment 3.
This line drawing nor Attachment 2 should be considered complete portrayals of
features seen at these locations. Complete drawings would be produced during a
detailed analysis of the entire installation.
Launch Sites 5 and 6 at Launch Complex A are ruled out due to the type of
missile (Griffon) which has been associated with the specific launcher found in
front of the curved missile ready buildings. The Galosh missile would be grossly
out of place at either of these two launch sites. Consequently, this leaves only
two launch areas for consideration, in view of the known facts: Launch Complex A,
Launch Site 3, position 5 and Launch Complex B, Facility D.
Attention is now invited to Attachment 1, which is the photogrammetrists
The photo analyst takes exception to this measurement, and believes the tower
is considerably wider at the base. The first good measurement of width can be
made approximately labove the base of the tower, and at that point the
tower width is approximately 15 feet wide. This particular measurement was made
by the CIA/PID project analyst, using scale factors derived from NPIC/TID measure-
ments. It should not be construed as being mensuration data compiled by the NPIC/
Technical Intelligence Division.
Approved For Relea GP03CtfEFI
-RDP78 05161A00010001
25
25
25
 ApprUV
d For Release Ii
&SACRUR6
analysis of the Soviet movie, "Missiles on Guard for Peace". The basis for
measurement on individual frames of the sequence in question was the assumption
that the missile being launched in the movie was the Galosh missile, and that
the container shown had the same dimensions as that of the Galosh missile
containers seen in the recent Moscow parade
It was further assumed that the container was erected so the bottom was 5 feet
above the surface of the launch pad, and that the base of the tower seen in the
movie sequence was at the same level as the launch pad surface. (See Attachment
1). A further assumption is that the taking camera had a telephoto lens of
sufficient focal length to create fairly similar image scales at the focal plane.
A final assumption was that the portion of the tower not visible in the movie
consisted of a regular continuation of the lattice members, with no unusual
flare below the These assumptions have been arrived at with
an intent to create a reasonable basis for analysis. For example, proximity of
the perspective ray from camera to tower and from camera to missile indicates
that the distance from each to the camera must be different. This is a reason-
able conclusion because if they were the same distance away, the missile would
be launched dangerously close to the platform on top of the tower. The movement
of the container cap behind the tower confirms that the tower must be closer to
camera than the missile. The envelopment of the tower in a cloud of dust and
smoke in approximately 2 to 3 seconds of film time also suggests that distance
of the tower from the launch position is not great. Though combustion particles
are expelled at supersonic speed from the rocket engine, they quickly and
progressively slow down to subsonic speeds on hitting the atmosphere. Wind
speed and direction at the time of launch would not substantially effect the
time of arrival of the dust cloud provided the distance was not great and the
wind speed was not severe. The latter is probably not likely in a developmental
launch.
The tower at Launch Complex A, located adjacent to launch position 5, has
a height which makes it a good candidate. It is not clear, however, whether a
platform is mounted on top of this tower. A suspect square shape can be seen
at the top of the tower itself, but only on on e of the two photographic
exposures of and a considerable amount of radial displacement
introduces a complicating factor. This square shape measures approximately
The shadow of the tower and whatever object is mounted on top,
does not confirm the presence of a platform. However, it must be realized
that the shadow is not falling on perfectly flat ground; in any case some room
for doubt exists regarding the shadow analysis.
Three lattice towers near the westernmost launch position at Launch Complex
B, Facility D, are candidates. Each of these towers has a prominent object
mounted on top. See Attachment 3. The tower annotated (1) has a probable plat-
form, measuring approximately however it is not possible to
determine if it is square or rectangular. The tower at annotation (2) possibly
has a similar platform, however the shadow falls on or very near to rough ground
which does not permit a meaningful measurement. The tower at (3) also has a
Approved For Release fff0 -Rp'P78TD1161A00010001
ECRE
25X
25X
25
25
25
 possible platform, however, it appears to be a few feet smaller than the plat-
form at (1). The towers adjacent the eastern loop road at Facility D are too
small to be considered good candidates.
05 `I R
The evidence favoring Launch Complex A, Launch Site 3, Launch Position 5
is as follows:
A- Moved For Release F1
1. The height of the tower.
2. Presence of a suspect platform, having a reasonably similar
. Reasonable proximity to the suspected location of the Galosh
The evidence which probably negates Launch Complex A, Launch Site 3,
Launch Position 5 is as follows:
1. The tower is too wide at the 50 foot elevation, even with a
reasonable margin of error.
The evidence which tends to favor Launch Complex B, Facility D, West Launch
pad, is as follows:
1. With the possible margins of error applied, the height of the
lattice towers is reasonable, and platforms are present.
25
25
2. With a Galosh on the west launch pad, and inclined toward impact
areas to the west, the tower annotated (2) could be the tower in the movie
sequence, if the missile were erected on the portion of the pad east of the Q 25
I I or equipment and the camera was located some-
place in the area just west of the western half-moon position at Facility B.
3. With margins of error applied, the width of the towers at Facility
D, Launch Complex B, is reasonably similar to the width of the tower shown in
the Soviet movie.
4. The close proximity of the towers to the launch pad, between 100
and 150 feet (depending on exactly where on the pad area the missile was erected).
5. The wide tower at Launch Complex A tends to leave no strong contender.
The evidence which causes some doubt about Facility D, Launch Complex B is as
follows:
1. The close grouping of towers around the launch pad. It seems as if
one of the other towers would appear in the picture format, yet in the Soviet
movie there is no evidence of other towers in the background.
Approved For Release fdo/O'
25
25
 Approved For Release fe3#O5t'.f DP78T 5161 A000100010079-2
CIA, PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
2. The loop road launch positions at Facility D were possibly
constructed with the view of working in conjunction with the electronics
being installed at the Building Triad (Facility C). The latter facility
continues to show evidence of construction activity, despite the fact the
structures appear externally complete. If the building triad is not operational,
it would seem that the launch positions at Facility D might not be used.
The mensural evidence against Launch Complex A, Launch Site 3 as the
launch site for the Galosh in the Soviet movie seems to be fairly conclusive,
thus leaving Launch Complex B, Facility D as the most likely candidate by default.
Nevertheless, Launch Complex B has strong evidence in its favor as well. As
regards the negative evidence mentioned above, it is believed that a proper
viewing angle and the use of a telephoto lens would permit photographing a launch
from the western pad at Facility D, with only one tower in the picture, and that
tower to the right of the camera axis while the missile was generally left of
the same axis, and at the same time exclude the other towers from the picture
format. As for the operational status of the building triad, it is not possible
to negate this point. The tower on top of the large building had a dish mounted
on top as early as The eastern loop at Facility
D was present as early as and was possibly under construction in 25
An outline of the western loop was first evident on 25
r- I
and negated-on
Nevertheless, in view of the many assumptions required to accomplish
this project, it is not possible to use a stronger term than "suspect" location
of the Galosh launch (See Attachment 3) at Facility D, Complex B.
-6
Approved For Release 2003/05/14: CIA-R
TOP SECRET
 TOP SECRET 1 25
USATC Series 200 sheet 245-14 (SECRET)
USATC Series 200 sheet 245-9 (SECRET)
USATC Series 200 sheet 235-22 (SECRET)
USATC Series 200 sheet 246-13 (SECRET)
USATC Series 200 sheet 236-22 (SECRET)
F -
CIA
CIA/PIR-1364
REQUIREMENT
C-RR5-82,622
CIA/PID PROJECT
30738-5
Approved For Releas W/0SEtRE~1
25
25
25
 Approved For Release 2003/05/14: CIA-RDP78TO5161A000100010079-2
Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2003/05/14: CIA-RDP78TO5161A000100010079-2
 Approved For Release Y-005/4+ POA~9-2 ~~
Approved For Release 2003/05/14: CIA-RDP78TO5161A000100010079-2
 Approved For Release 2003/05/14: CIA-RDP78T05161A000100010079-2
TOP SECRET
Approved For Release 20D90~/1?EGk-~LP78T05161A000100010079-2