ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX VERKHNYAYA SALDA, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200210018-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2000
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: February 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/05/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200210018-1
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Approved For Release 2002/05/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200210018-1
 PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION0REPORT
ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX
VEFRKH NYAYA SALSA, USSR
N P I C R-9 63
February 1963
 forested area north of V'erkhnyaya Sjlda. l he
complex conn-ists of seven launch areas, a com-
plex support facility with a rail-to-road transfer
point
and small areas of support activity (Ficure 11.
The photographic coyera~-,e of the launch
complex area is listed in chronolo ic:_l order
below with the status of facilities ob_?eryed on
ginning construction of rail spur now seryinhz
complex support facility.
IProh-
able support facility and main complex access
road. Small scale and darkness preclude further
identification.
Entire complex covered by fair-quality photon-
raphv. Launch Areas A. B. and C cornpleted:
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qual it-, . Launch Areas P, F
obscured by clouds and haze.
being hackfilled.
excavation at Area 1= backfilled: Aran Gpan W v
obscured by clouds, excavation ,_.riyin en -
tinuing,
F. F. and G were cloud covered.
1 he ICI3\I Launch complex is situated
_a ea of heavy 5.A-2 S:A\I defenses, Two SA-2
sites have been _.ssoc'ated with the defense of the
launch complex, one at 5S.434 (1 -n3F_ and the
other at 5S-04N :;1-nlE, Another SA-2 site is
locored 15 nm north of the complex At 5S-2n\
nO-1517, In addition, Our SA-2 elocated
,round Nizhnaya Tura and three around \iziuaiy
_l y_il
present
facility was
TI-:AI.I3N1 - photo?raphv-
photography.
taint truce of this sur~e~ line is still visible
beyond the point -here the rail line terminates
At the transfer point.
road, leadin T no-tin from the \izhniv T.a-
_i1 - Verkhnyay_a rhrouhih the ccom-
plex support facility, his been constructed to
serve no launFr areas. Vide-_ ad;..c turf.- are
evident at intersections where access roads
br_ nch 'rom the complex main roadtothe launch-
Seven launch areas comprise the launch
facilities of the complex. F iye of these Areas
A. 13, (', I), and F) are Type II launch areas rand
two Areas F and G1 are Type III launch areas.
Launch :Areas 13 and C have a Type II \1od a)
configuration with the two missle-ready build-
ings positioned on an apron along the center road
of the area. h he huildln s are parallel to each
other and to the long axis of the ,are... These
e'er probably, the first two launch areas con-
srruct~d at this compl x. Launch Areas 11
and I_ are Type II < Cod b) with the ready build -
in s positioned to the rear ofand in line with the
launch pads. None of launch Areas with in
- Coy d
and C parr i:11'.
,a, the complex have the ready buildings canted at an
angle to the long Axis of the launch pad, as has
been observed or some other deployed launch
areas. Power traces or ground sears lead to
all Launch areas except Areas F_ and G, where it
may closely parallel the road and not he dis-
cernible. All the Type II launch areas are se-
cured by double fences enclosing an area of S
to on acres.
Construction of Launch Areas A. B. C. and
F is completed and Launch Area E is in
mid-
StayO of co,rstruc,ion. Launch Areas F and G
arc laoth under construct=Or w ith I= beingtire most
advanced. Ao definite stake of construction has
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. _ d t1O :nose l"...c e -. com-
i _71T _. _., of t_e onn=--
fee-.
art 11 ~Ave _- horizo:,tal structure MCA:ez
ccn:e= of :no pads. A sin 1.. -
x:r_c!
li=ial to Am roar of the cud c_..._.- .,._..s
~ss
the roads leadi _ to outside of :no pads.
These fmcili_._s are prob_hlr utili7_O for
protection of l:icles coot n., nobil_ cl - , _..
epuipi-rent or fuel trucks.
Launch \rea .\ has a "i pe It Mod b, con-
fin ..tio:,.n7j e forward end of the ready h 'a i ld-
._ .,bout -(in feet from the cer:e_ of the
launch pads F igure 2L 1 l.e left r_ad~ huilciin= is
npprox r,,ately 170 by 125 feet and the rig": one
170 b 101 feet-
O., photo_-_ ' '- front
s u on ne lmunch p _-_d
to cast a , u1__ . uadon-. This ,ppem. mnce
. 0 be caused -
,~' the ;-oar .al erec-;1In of mom: the for-.ti-m. d o7d of launch nit.
M _-cc_ss road th on -. :he launch area is
to .-:_ of cente . Aprohahle control
Id - on !~_:".k~r is 1,,ca:eJ to I~f: of
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L. UN C H PA OS
sS:..e-R-cG Cv
=..~~CI~: GS
LAUNCH
SUPPORT
F A C O R I C N T A T I O N
A P P R O X ? 4 5
2C
road. ~quidistan: from Iaunclt pads. -I i.e ..,.
Lure is approximately -0 by 75 feet _-:,:d may
semiburied. A scarred area located for %v and
of the probable control bunker may be capused by
traffic between pads or by buried cables between
ti e control bunker and the launch pad One
other Structure is located at the forward end of
the launch area.
The launch support facility coexisting of
;bout 20 buildings of various sizes is located
3.500 feet south of the launch area. Fifteen of the
la r_ buildjo Ts -Lim-,? in length from 115 to 140
feet. Seven of these buildings probably omyide
technical support and are an an.?ed in _1 pattern
similar to that of other launch support facilit
To the _-ear of the support facility along t,_e ac-
cess road is an area containing miscellaneous
huildings. a small bo rowpit, and sc arrin,. I his
activ ty p1-oh.a1,ly _epr__ the constr :[tips
camp supportinn th constructlor. of[!-.e
I A
I_aun ch Area B has a Type II I Mod al con-
figuration, and the ready buildin,s measure ap-
proximately 170 by 105 feet iFi~_ure 31- Two
buildings, one a probable control bunker, are
located juse to the right of the center road through
the launch area. Two scars between launch pads
pass on either side of the probable control bun-
ker. To the left of the center road and forward of
the ready buildings is an area about 140 by S5
feet which may be a semiunderground or a low
structure. Another building, 100 by -45 feet. is
located at the forward end of the launch area to
the right of the center road.
Just forward of the ready buildings a short
road leads to the left and terminates directly to
the rear of the left Launch pad in a clearing ti-:at
con: sins an unidentified structure. Another
clearing is located just off the access road on
the right side of the launch area. This clearing
1111
1 1 1 i
J 1 1
C ON5 T R UC. TI O`:
C4A+~
1111,??
1111
25XI
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 is not directly in line ,vith the launch pad but is
offset to the rioht. Ao facilities can be observed
within this clearinz.
The launch support facility, located between
the complex main road and the launch area. con-
cula- road --c -n about 2O feet in d iarneter. :A
portion of th road is not vi.s`.hle and may he
obscured dv a : mall drive-ti.rw,t~h \
_twork -of roads d scar in _. ^d'cat~.- con-
figuration. and the two ready buildin_s measure
approximately 17O by 10-5 feet , Fkaure it. _A
probable control bunker is located to the ri?ht of
the center road between launch pads. Two
structures, both approximately 140 feet in len=th,
are located in the same position as at I_iuncli
Area B -- one at the forward end of the Launch
area and the other slightly to the rear of the
launch pads- \ few smaller structures are lo-
cated to the rear of the ready buildings. As at
Launch :Area B. small structure is located at
h,e end of __ --n-id behind the left pad, and a
clearinn is located off the access road alcm,:the
_~ ' side of the launch _~ea.
launch support facility to the _e___ of th
14 huildin_s 1-?C0 by _IC) feet
end _. le ast 10 smaller structures. .A 0--oil; b1e
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25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1 D
A4_ D AS 0 F I
structures is ioc:..
complex m in ate'. ,:n.l
launch a_ea.
Launch .Area 11 has a I ~. re [ I h b'. con-
fi?uration and appears complete excen:
absence of the read'. buildin; for r _t paid
Figure 51. ')ne ready build;ng approximately
1-0 by 105 feet is located beh nd t e left pad.
On photography from
small
F
structure was located in the cle___ he! n.j he
ri_It pad. hhisstructureappearslargeron
F ~
rnd may lie t.._ _ econd ead~
building. the lauecil support :_.cilit'. lies
cent to the east side of the launch area i -1 con-
tains at least 11 huildings '.cl;ich appear to be
the same size as those oche? launch: areas.
Twelve other structures. approximately inn feet
in length, are located in two ro'., s aloe, a clear-
ins and probably serve as personnel quarters.
Are_i 17 li i_s a Type II \hd hl con-
figuration and appears to still be in the midsta?e
of construction leisure 6'~. One read' building is
under construction behind the left launch pad. A
probable control hunker, approximately 70 feet
lon-? is cem rally located to the left of the center
rooad. A hard surface has been prepared at the
left launch pad, but only scarring and con-
struction activity is evident along the right side
of the launch area. .\ building area is located
about -i,(lnO feet west of the launch area and north
of the complex main road. Four lar-e buildings
are located close to the road, and iust to the north
there is a'probable housing area of about 15
buildings.
1 -1
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 and structures as found at launch-l areas Cl and
1l2 at the Tvura Tam \lissile -I est Center and at
The launch areas are constructed as a rough-
ly rectangular excavation with a notched-out
area on one side. The excavation at Launch _Area
F was about 500 by 200 to 300 feet. but when ob-
served in Isome backfilling had taken
place ,F Figure -\- Within the notched :.r which
appears to he shallower than the remainder of the
deepest portion of the excavation. These struc-
tures appear to be about -0 feet square and about
200 feet apart. center to center. Two indistinct
circular objects, possibly some type of found, -
tions, appear at the outer ends of the two silos.
1 similar type of object may be located between
the silos. Along the long axis of th excayatica.
be-seen control bun er __r:d e n-1 er . .r_. -
(in pl:~otogra phy ofl I hackf i I1 in,
appear. to have been completed a._ Launch .Area
discernible between them. No chan Te is apparent
at _\rea F on photography of
1 aunc', Area G as observed on photo_raphy
of Icons:sted of a clew? ing ?nd the
structed in deepest part of the excavation
Figure 51- Act yity at excayat inn covers an
area of about PP0 by 500 feet-
3oth launch areas _1:-e _ _ryed by road from
complex main road. po;er t? ace from
~_au:ach ..r e__ C enter s I__.unch _Area F and appears
to -_rminate ___ __ stnall s -. uct_:re n-orthwest of the
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The launch support facility for Launch .Arc_a
F is located West of the access road between the
launch area and the complex main road. It con-
of 6 multistory buildin~zs 13 by 6p to -0
feet, 12 smaller barracks-type buildings. 2
Warehouse-type buildings about 1301 by 60 feet.
and several small structures.
No I - cal support is yet evident at
Area G. ')ne building about 120 feet ion=
three or four smaller associated structures are
located alon~ the access road. Furt':er to t.?
West along the complex main road some sca rri, _
and track activity. Which may be the start of a
support facility. Was evident on p'.,oto>_ apl y of
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I he lsr rail- ar,d rcr_id-~_r~'ed complex
support facility
nd dn-
tructuren is locate m _ of
a \ : k..
rave Jalde. "11-e .__V esu..
housini? ?-ea. co si_'-ucrto? ~_imp. loe:~?;~__. sup-
port area. and =ail-to-road sf~_ poin _-nd
encompasses an ea o pp o I,~ 1),
nrr l i _=_ ~'. toad ]__.d. m : _ \ 7 _ niv
Ta,iI
,.=rcpt e : support f._c it h\-. e on._ s
complex main road. The rail spur Mervin, the
support facility branc=es from the rail line be-
~~ee~ \iz':nip Tagil and V erkhn~'a~'a S_?Ida at a
poh r 13 11M east of \i7hm,-Tagil andextends one
m ., support facility. Prel miner:- con-
s.ructiot of th_e rail spur was underwca:' on
T_AI \Z p .o_o p~oflI "-):]I% a few
u:d ed fc ~_ ~` _ o _dbed ::a een constructed at
t. __. _r e line extended approxi-
n-,atet, m to northeast.
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An a-ea oC multisto-y ::ousi~~._ u.lits con-
tainin_ 17 buildings 220 by -30 feet is located ai
the southern end of the support Facility. Five
nearby smaller structures arranged in ._ [
shaped pattern are probably aoartment-type
buildings. :A probable family-type housing unit
of 24 small structures is located on the .vest
side of the area. A barracks area with about
small structures and 9 multistory barracks
130 by 40 feet occupies the northern part of the
support area. several other miscellaneous
buildings of various sizes are situated through-
out this area.
The main rail spur branches into at least
two and probably four spurs serving a logistical
support area east of the barracks area. Thirteen
large warehouse-type buildings are located along-
the rail spurs with 12 to 15 smaller structures
in the immediate area. The westernmost rail
spur continues on to an area of nrnbahle con-
structioil camp. Four long structures or piles
of material are near the rail spur alo ig with a
probable concrete hatching plant. Open storage,
piles of material, and track activity are evident
throughout this area.
Y\long the eastern side of the complex main
road is an area of activity t@ith an irregular road
net, 15 to 20 small structures, and three probable
?.i arehouse buildings, one of which may he drive-
through.
- The rail-to-road missile transfer point is
located at the northern end of the support facility.
The main rail spur enters this area with a spur
appearing to curve around two small structures,
tl:en termir;ating on a fill. \ road paralleling the
rail spur joins the complex main road at one end
with a V intersection and terminates in a loop
pattern at the other end. The total length of the
road, including ti:e loop, is 3.100 feet. The turn-
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Ibis installation probably serves as a for-
ard con=truction camp for the launch complex
and as a facility for handlin materials shipp:-d
by _ail for transfer to construction sites. It lies
on both sides of the complex main road and is
served by rail from the lip: .__ryina the area of
peat cuttin_ and p_-oceessine a_-ound the -ilia,.-s of
Basyanoyskiy. The sour line branches into two
sidin=s within the installation ~Fi;ure 11~.
-hhc primary activity is concentrated in an
area about 3,500 by C:UOfeetparallelin=the. com-
plex main road alon= the no_-_he:-n side. Open
tora,e oilr.- of ma dal are vident
t.,ro rout r .i. I .Vo buildi are located
in this area. One. is 325 by 05 feet and is adja-
cent to a probable concrete batch plant: the other
is i