SS-X-18 MISSILE-HANDLING EQUIPMENT AND HANDLING PROCEDURES, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000400010004-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: April 1, 1974
• Content Type: REPORT

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'1'OP-~fERE~
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
SS-X-18 MISSILE-HANDLING EQUIPMENT
AND HANDLING PROCEDURES, USSR
__nP'SEERf4_,
APRIL 1974
COPY N?~-1! 2
11 PAGES
PIR-020/74
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TOP SECRET RUFF I
SS-X-18 Missile-H
UTM COORDINATES
NA
andling Equipment and Handling Procedures
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
NA
CATEGORY
NA
BE NO.
NA
COMIREX NO.
NA
MAP REFERENCE
SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheets 0246-13 & -14, scale 1:200,000
NIETB NO.
NA
1. The SS-X-18 missile is probably transported from the production plant to the research
and development test launch sites in a canister. The equipment used during this movement includes
a canister, a specially configured three-car train, a road transporter, and a silo loader.
2. This report describes the four pieces of equipment associated with the movement of the
SS-X-18 missile. The report also describes the handling procedures involved in receiving the missile
at the Tyuratam Missile Test Center, transporting it to the launch site, and inserting the missile
into the launch silo. Four line drawings and six annotated photographs of equipment and the handling
procedures are included.
3. The handling procedures for the launch control capsule for the type IIIX probable control
silo are probably the same as those for the SS-X-18 canister. These procedures are referred to in
this report, but are not specifically discussed.
TOP SECRET RUFF
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INSTALLATION
PROBABLE FUNCTION
Dnepropetrovsk Missile Development
Prime contractor/airframe & engine
Production Center
R & D/airframe production
Zhdanov Steel & RR Tank Car Plant
3-car missile-associated train
production
Bryansk Road Mach & GM Supt Equip Pit
Transporter design, testing & poss
production
Safonovo Plastics & GM Components Pit
Transport/launch canister production
Pavlograd Rocket Motor Assmb & Test Supt
Sabot production/sabot testing
Fac/Pavlograd Solid Motor Test Fac
Tyuratam Missile Test Center
Sabot ejection & flight testing
Dombarovskiy, Kartaly, Imeni Gastello, Uzhur,
Deployment of type IIIF/IIIX silo
& Zhangiz Tobe SS-9 Launch Cpxs
Derazhnya & Pervomaysk SSM Cpxs
Associated with type 11 IX silo
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TOP SECRET RUFF
4. The SS-X-18 ICBM is currently one of three ICBMs undergoing research and development
at Tyuratam Missile Test Center (TTMTC). This missile was initially launch-phase tested on the H2
side of launch complex H. The facilities in the C/H support area (Tyuratam ICBM Test Support
Facility 3, have been used to receive and handle the missile and its related handling
equipment (Figure 1).
Equipment
5. Four major pieces of equipment are used to move the SS-X-18 missile from the production
plant to the test launch facilities. The first piece is the missile canister which is used as an environmental
container for the missile. The second piece is a three-car missile-associated train which brings the
missile in the canister to the support area at TTMTC. The third is a transporter which moves the
canister from the support area to the launch site. The fourth is a silo loader which places the canister
into the silo. No missile-stage transporters, usually associated with a missile of this class, have been
identified for this missile system.
6. The missile is produced at the Dnepropetrovsk Missile Development Production Center
The specially configured three-car train is produced at the Zhdanov Steel and
missile canister is produced at the Safonovo Plastics and GM Components Plant
RR Tank Car Plant Ilich The road transporter was developed at the Bryansk
Road Machinery and Guided Missile Support Equipment Plant 1
plant for the silo loader is not known.
The production
7. The SS-X-18 missile canister,) I is apparently fabricated
from fiberglass. The canister is fabricated in segments which are joined and strengthened by probable
metal flanges. Six joints have been seen on photography, indicating that the canister consists of at
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TOP SECRET RUFF
least seven segments (Figure 2). An eighth segment (5 feet long) has been seen at the Dnepropetrovsk
facility and at the Pavlograd Rocket Motor Assembly and Tes
Four of the segment joints are strengthened by wide flanges
t Support Facility
and two by narrow
flanges The function of four additional narrow flanges has not been determined,
but they could be additional segment joints or fittings used to secure the canister in the silo. The
two flanges at the bottom end of the canister (the end first inserted into the silo) appear to protrude
more than the other flanges and are probably used as fittings to secure the canister in the silo.
8. A system of rectangular panels, probably baffles, are along the top 25 feet of the canister.
If these panels are baffles, they would regulate the venting of hot exhaust gases during launch. The
panels are of an undetermined thickness. They appear to be mounted on parallel
rails in rows of five panels, with the rows spaced at 90-degree intervals around the circumference
of the canister. A probable access port to the missile which is below these panels
with an undetermined thickness. A probable cableway extends the length of the canister.
9. The specially configured three-car missile-associated train is made up of two cars
= attached to opposite ends of a ca The train can be adapted to two different
shipping modes (Figure 3). Mode 1 is used to transport the SS-X-18 missile canister.
The SS-X-18 canister when seen in the shipping configuration, probably because an
-environmental cap is placed on each end of the canister. Mode 2 is used to transport
launch control capsule (LCC) for the type IIIX probable control silo.
10. In mode 1, the SS-X-18 missile canister is placed on the center car. The canister extends
beyond both ends of this car (Figure 3). One of the end cars is used to transport
a ylinder which may be associated with the launch assist device for
the SS-X-18. The other shorter car which protects the bottom end of the canister is empty.
11. In the mode 2 configuration (Figure 3), the LCC is also carried on the center railcar and
extends beyond both ends. Two cylindrical objects are carried, one vertically and one horizontally,
on one of the two shorter cars while the other is empty.
Canister/Capsule (Can/Cap) Transporter
12. Two transporters of the same overall length but of slightly different configuration have
been identified (Figure 4). These two transporters are used to transport either the SS-X-18 canister
or the LCC. Because of the interchangeability of these two transporters, they are arbitrarily designated
can/cap (canister/capsule) transporters. This interchangeability is illustrated by the identification of
one model of the transporter at the Derazhnya SSM Complex and the other model
at the Pervomaysk SSM Complex These two complexes would both use a transporter
only for transporting the LCC for the type IIIX silos; neither of these complexes has launch facilities
for the SS-X-18.
13. The overall configuration of these two transporters (Figure 5) consists of a gooseneck-type
end,
open-framework section with side braces, a solid tray section, and an open-framework
tray section. The transporter
and when attached to its prime mover has an overall
The difference
has an open framework section L
over five axles, and an open tray
have lengths
braces, and four axles are under
These three sections on the other transporter
The 60-foot-long open framework has ten side
the solid tray section. These two transporters do not appear to
be functionally different. One explanation for the different configuration of the transporters may
be that the five-axle transporter is the later configuration and better able to handle the weight of
the canister or capsule.
TOP SECRET RUFF
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transporters is in the last three sections. One transporter
with nine side braces, a solid tray section
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TOP SECRET RUFF I
Can/Cap Silo Loader
14. The can/cap silo loader (Figure 4) is associated with both the SS-X-18 missile canister and
the launch control capsule for the type IIIX silo. The loader is 70 feet long When
attached to an MAZ-537 prime mover, The loader consists of a ladderlike
framework support section with a high front section. This front section may be an extension for
the support section, since the canister or capsule is longer than the loader. Silo loaders
for other missile systems (SS-7, 9, and 11) generally have a support section approximately the same
length as the missile or canister.
Handling Procedures
15. The SS-X-18 missile is probably shipped by rail from the production plant to the test
center in its canister. The handling procedures described below refer to the handling of the canister.
The canister first arrives at the TTMTC C/H support area where it is checked out before being taken
to the launch silo for insertion.
Receiving Facilities at C/H Support Area
16. Two rail-served transloading facilities have been constructed since January 1971 at the C/H
support area. The can/cap transloading facility is used in transloading the canister or capsule from
the center car of a three-car missile-associated train. The missile-handling/ground support equipment
transloading facility is probably used in transloading the transporter, silo loader, and other associated
ground support equipment.
17. The facility and method used in off-loading the cylinder from the mode 1
railcar configuration are undetermined and the vehicle used to road-transport this cylinder has not
been identified. The two cylinders associated with the capsule on the mode 2 railcar configuration
were seen at the can/cap transloading facility. Similar transloading facilities are under construction
at the Dombarovskiy ICBM Complex Rail-to-Road Transfer Point where type IIIF
launch sites and a type IIIX probable control silo are under construction. Similar facilities probably
will be built at the six deployed complexes where type IIIF launch sites and/or type IIIX probable
control silos are under construction.
18. The can/cap transloading facility (Figure 6) consists of a rail spur and a concrete apron.
The bed of the rail spur has been built up to allow the bed of the railcar to be on a level with
the bed of the transporter when the transporter is on the concrete apron. Two sets of concrete
hardstands and two probable tiedown positions are built into the apron. The hardstands are reinforced
areas where the leveling and stabilizing jacks of the transporter are placed. The spacing and general
appearance of the hardstands on this apron are identical to a section of the silo apron at type IIIF
launch sites.
19. The actual transloading of a canister from a railcar onto a transporter has not been seen.
However, a transloading of a load simulator between a transporter and a platform was seen at Bryansk
Plant 1 ndicating how the Soviets intend to handle the canister or capsule (Figure
7). The transporter will be positioned on the apron, the canister or capsule on the center railcar
will be moved to the end of the rail spur, and then the canister or capsule will be transferred
horizontally onto the transporter. An exercise involving an empty railcar and a can/cap transporter
was seen at the Tyuratam C/H support area in June 1973 (Figure 8).
20. Presumably after off-loading, the canister or capsule is moved to assembly and checkout
building B (Figure 6) in the C/H support area for inspection and preparation for placement into
the silo. It is then taken to a type IIIF silo on the transporter.
21. The missile-handling/ground support equipment transloading facility (Figure 6) consists of
a rail spur which terminates at a U-shaped dock. An inclined ramp extends from this dock. The
equipment would be brought in on a flatbed railcar and driven onto the dock and down the ramp
to the support area.
TOP SECRET RUFF
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Silo Loading Operation
22. The actual transfer of a canister or capsule between the can/cap transporter and silo loader
has not been seen. The probable sequence for a silo-loading operation has been derived from the
observation of the silo apron features (Figure 9) and the position of the silo loader seen at one
site.
23. The silo apron features have been constructed at all the type IIIF launch sites at TTMTC,
probably at both type IIIX probable control sites, and are now being built at the deployed launch
sites. These features consist of tiedown positions and hardstands for the silo loader and two sets
of two hardstands for the transporter. The hardstands are used for leveling and stabilizing jacks on
the two pieces of equipment. The hardstands for the transporter
from the edge of the silo. These hardstands and their separation are identical to those seen at the
can/cap transloading facility.
24. The configuration and the spacing of the apron features indicate that the transporter is
driven to the site and positioned at the end of site apron furthest from the silo. The silo loader
would be driven in behind the transporter with the prime movers facing away from the silo. The
silo loader would then be backed up to the silo and positioned on the hardstands. The prime mover
would be detached to allow for the lowering of the inclined supporting section of the silo loader,
permitting the beds of the two pieces of equipment to be leveled and aligned with each other. The
transporter would be backed up toward the silo and positioned on its hardstands in tandem with
the silo loader.
25. The canister would then be transferred from the transporter to the silo loader. The loader
would be erected and the canister placed in the silo. The bed of the silo loader would be lowered
and both pieces of equipment would be removed from the site. A similar operation would be expected
for the handling of the capsule at the type IIIX probable control sites.
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TOP SECRET
26. After a test firing, the spent SS-X-18 canister is removed from the silo by the silo loader,
probably transferred to the transporter, and returned to the C/H support area. During the early phase
of testing, the spent canisters were loaded onto the three-car train and probably shipped out of
TTMTC. Recently some of the spent canisters have been observed (Figure 10) along the northern
fenceline at launch complex H. These spent canisters are moved from the transporter or railcar to
the fenceline by a mobile crane.
MAPS OR CHARTS
SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheets 0246-13 and -14, scale 1:200,000
DOCUMENTS
1. NPIC.
SECRET Rl
RCA-09/0009/74. Dnepropetrovsk Missile Development Production Center, Oct 73 (TOP
2. NPIC.
SECRET Rl
RUFF
RCA-09/0023/74, Safonovo Plastics and Guided Missile Components Plant, Nov 73 (TOP
RCA-09/0025/74, Zhdanov Steel and Railroad Tank Car Plant Ilich, Jan 74 (TOP SECRET
4. NPIC IR-040/73, Interchangeable Transport Equipment for the SS-X-18 Transport/Launch Cani-
ster and the Probable Launch Control Capsule for the Type IIIX Silo, Sep 73, (TOP SECRET RUFF
Project 143402NH
TOP SECRET RUFF
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TOP SECRET
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