MISSILE LAUNCH COMPLEX

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000100240138-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 138
• Publication Date: May 4, 1960
• Content Type: BRIEF

ILLEGIB
Approved For Release 2000/08/04: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000100240138-6
Approved For Release 2000/08/04: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000100240138-6
 SUBJECT : Missile Launch Complex
Declassification review by NIMA/DOD Copr No 46
JOINT PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
ARMY-NAVY-AIR FORCE
LOCATION : Approx. 50 nm WSW of
Sary Shagan Support Base,
USSR
=-- - - -_= No Pages 5346PUNCRED
25X1 D
REFERENCES:
? E
CIA. PIC/JB-76/60, Sary Shagan Support Base. 2~ Apr 60 (TSC)
CIA. PIC/B-4/60, Probable Missile Launch and Electronics Complex,
4 May 60 (TSC)
which is cloud covered. Only pad "B" is visible on photography of a usable
"B" and "C") are located within a double-fenced site, a ;major portion of
probably for launch control. The two semicircular probable pads (pads
This brief, which is the result of a preliminary photographic analysis,
identifies a road-served missile launch complex approximately 50 nm
(nautical miles) west-southwest of the Sary Shagan Support Base (see CIA/
PIC/JB-76/60). The complex consists of a launch area, .a network of in-
strumentation sites, an assembly and checkout area, and a large support
area. A brief description of these areas and facilities follows (see Figure 1).
Although a major portion of the launch area is obscred by clouds, the
following facilities are visible: a road-served rectangular launch pad
(pad "A"), two road-served semicircular probable launch pads (pads "B"
and "C"), and other associated facilities. The rectangular pad (pad "A")
is located within a separately fenced site and measuresapproximately
300 by 120 feet, with the major axis oriented west-northwest/east-south-
east. A probable rail launcher about 30 feet long is positioned on the north
side of this pad. Nearby, to the north, are two _earth-rrkounded structures,
MIMIC A~;0 CUPY
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PROBABLE
LAUNCH PADS
1
INSTRUMENTATION SITE
APPROX. 17,000'
PAD '- A?'
300' X 120'
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R
wT 1-- 1 ..
.
o c ~ >o? x
W
l?~?..~
FIGURE 1. MISSILE LAUNCH COMPLEX ABOUT 50 NM WSW OF"SARY SHAGAN SUPPORT BASE.
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ORIENTATION MAP
we wN
ao N~oR rse wse
LAUNCH AREA
su PEwRT
INTER ERR OME T ERA
TYPE SITE ,
LAUNCH'AREA
ASSEMBLY AND
CHECKOUT AREA
PROBABLE
INSTRUMENTATION
CONTROL SITE
INSTRUMENTATION SITE APPROX. 22000' ~! ? _
 PI ;./JB-86/60
FIGURE 2. LINE AND PERSPECTIVE DRAWINGS OF PROBABLE LAUEJCH PAD "B".
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scale, and only a small corner of "B" can be see in sterep. The flat
portion of this pad has a radius of approximately 55 feet, 'With a probable
launcher positioned in the center (see Figure 2). Surroundding the flat
portion is a semicircular concrete probable blast deflectoir about 300 feet
across which rises at a slight angle from the flat surface.' This launcher
appears capable of at least a 180-degree traverse through; an arc from
west-northwest to east-southeast. Other facilities within the double-
fenced site include a lattice tower at least 150 feet high, .n unidentified
structure, and a possible radar refle 6'r about 20 feet across located
within a cizcular area about 50 feet, n diameter.
Within the vicinity of the launch area, the network of #instrumentation
sites includes three sites interconnected by cable lines ar4d a fourth site
which is connected by cable only with the launch site containing probable
pads "B" and "C". The three related sites, located gene4ally south of the
launch area, form a modified "T" configuration by the joining of an
approximately 22, 000-foot east-wesst leg- with an approxirriately 9, 000-
foot northeast-southwest leg. Each of these sites contains two similar
instrumentation buildings and a hardstand containing two or three vehicles.
One of these, the probable control site, is secured by a single wire fence
and is located at the east end of the east-west leg. It contains 6 buildings.
2 sheds, a quonset hut, 3 vehicles on a hardstand, several masts, and
other small objects. The site located at the southwest end of the other
leg is positioned on a ridge line. It is enclosed by a single wire fence and
contains 3 buildings, 3 vehicles on a hardstand, and a mast located outside
the fenced area. The third site, located at the west end of the east-west
leg, is also positioned on a ridge line. It is enclosed by a. single wire
fence and contains 4 buildings, .2 vehicles on a hardstand, and 3 unidenti-
fied objects. The fourth site, located about 17, 000 feet north of the launch
area, consists of a single instrumentation building with a1parapet around
the roof.
In addition to this ' network of instrumentation, an interferometer-type
site is located about 12 nm to the southwest. It is connected to the complex
by a good all-weather road. A long-range high-frequenc communications
site, with two 2-bay fishbone receiving antennas under construction and
several mobile communications vehicles, is located about 16 nm west of
the complex and about 6 nm north-northwest of the interferometer-type
site. An all-weather road also connects the communications site with
the interferometer-type site.
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 TOP SECRET CHESS
PIC /,B-86/60
t
The assembly and checkout area, secured by a single fence, is road-
served and includes a drive-through assembly/checkout building with a
connecting building, a steam plant, and several other. support buildings.
The assembly/checkout building measures about 90 by 80 feet and has a
longitudinal monitor about 50 feet wide. The vehicle entranceway is
about 35 feet wide.
The support area is approximately Z nm southeast of the launch area.
It contains housing for more than 1, 000 persons, administrative facilities,
several motor pools, and numerous other support facilities. A probable
airstrip is under construction just north of the support area.
NOTE: Because of the poor quality of base maps offthis area and the
scattered cloud cover on the photography, it is emphasized that the
geographic positioning of this complex is only approxim*.te at this time..
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