ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX PLESETSK, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200300033-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 1, 2000
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: February 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

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PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT
PLESETSK, USSR
Declassification review by NIMA/DOD
NAVY
Handle Via TALENT - KEYHOLE Control Only
WARNING
pr.1udiciol to th. soi.ty or interest of ih. United '$$.t., ., for tlt.benefit of any f.r.fpn yov.rnsi.nt to the
detriment of the United States. to is to be soon only by personnel .specially Indoctrinot.d and avthorf:.d to
receive TALENT.KEYMOLE inforawtion. Its s.cwity awst b. ar.lat..n.dtin accordance with KEYHOLE and
TALENT r.gvlotions.
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
+i+n ~r~niecr
min
:%1,101 A
MIRMADIrPno-V
 Page
1
LAYOUT OF COMPLEX . . . . . . . . . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
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Launch Points I and II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Launch Point III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Launch Point I% .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Launch Area A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Launch Area B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R
Launch Area C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R
Launch Area D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Launch Area E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Complex Support Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Rail-To-Road Transfer Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Administrative and Housing Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
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Figure
1. Location of Plesetsk ICB\1 Launch Complex and
Layout of Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
Figure
2. Launch Points I and II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
0
Figure
3. Launch Point III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Figure
4. Launch Point IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Figure
Figure
S. Launch Area A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. Launch Area F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R
Figure
7. Launch Area C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Q
Figure
S. Launch Area D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Q
Figure
Q. Launch Area L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
Figure 10. Complex Support Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12
Figure 11. Rail-lo-Road 1 ransfer Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
Figure 12. Administrative and Housing Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
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S_
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The Plesetsk ICBM Launch Complex con-
sists of four rail-served launch points (I-IV),
five road-served launch areas (A-E), a com-
plex support facility, a rail-to-road transfer
point, and an administrative and housing area.
Launch Points I-IV, each with one pad,
are completed Type I facilities (see General
Guide to ICBM Site Configurations, Pag 15)
similar to Complex B of the T yura Tam Missile
-l est Center (TTMTC). T heir pad orientation
is on an azimuth of 330 degrees,
Launch Areas A and B, also completed
and each containing two pads, are Type II
facilities similar to Complex C of the TTMTC.
Area A has a Mod a configuration and Area
B, a Mod b configuration. The pads at both
areas are oriented on an azimuth of 330 degrees,
Launch Area C is a Type III facility
similar ta?those at Complex D of the TTMTC.
Launch Areas D and E are Type IV
facilities in a middle stage of construction.
Complex E of the TTMTC is probably their
prototype. Pad orientation is on an azimuth
of 265 degrees
The complex is located northeast of Ple-
setsk on the Vologda-Arkhangel'sk rail line.
Launch facilities extend about 18 nautical miles
(nm) along the south bank of the Yemtsa River
(Figure 1).
T he topography of the general area of
the complex ranges from level to rolling for-
ested plains with numerous marshes, lakes,
and streams. The soil in the region is gen-
erally clayey and gravelly and contains lime-
stone rock formations. Surrounding forests
of spruce and pine have been extensively logged.
Cold winters and cool summers with
considerable precipitation prevail. I he com-
plex is not in the permafrost zone.
T he complex is served by a rail spur
rail line and by an adequate local road net-
work which links the launch complex to ad-
jacent towns and villages. Obozerskiv South-
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east Airfield, probably supporting the ICBM
complex, is located approximately 25 nm to
the north. First identified on photography of
his newly con-
The launch complex is defended by six
SA-2 SAM sites and two new-type SAM sites
collocated with the north and northeast SA-2
sites. A SAM support facility was identified
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25X9
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 1 1112 complex occupies an area of approx-
imately 215 square miles extending in a north-
east-southwest direction Figure 1). It is
bounded on the west by the Vologda-Arkhangel'sk
rail line and on the northwest by the Yemtsa
River. the town of Flesetsk is situated at
the southvve.`t edge of the complex.
.\ rail spur leaves the main line at Pie-
setsk and runs through the complex in a north-
eastern direction. About 3 nm from plesetsk
a branch of this rail spur runs north-est
to the complex administrative and housing area.
About 10 nm from Plesetsk another branch--
the main rail spur branches out again. I he
northwest spur runs through the complex support
facility, continuing on to Launch Points I and
 II and Launch Point Ill. -I he southeast spur
terminates at a storage and transfer facility
near Launch Area D. A rail-to-road transfer
point--connected by road with Launch Area A,
Launch Area 13, and Launch Area C--is located
about 19 nm from Flesetsk. The rail spur
from Plesetsk terminates at Launch Point IV,
plea. , he launch pads an_4 rni s:le-ready
building occupy an inverted L-,haped area lying
on a no_-tth-south axis. DAL' maximum width
of the area on the north side is 2,300 feet and
the maximum length on the east sidc is 5,000
feet. I he area is enclosed by a double security
The launch pads, 1,200 feet apart, are
concrete platforms built out from the escarp-
ment along the Yemtsa River. Pad dimensions
are 105 by 100 feet. An object on each pad
is probably a missile gantry. An unidentified
building, 140 by 70 feet, lies slightly behind
and about midway between the pads. A missile-
ready building, 410 by 140 feet, lies 3,450
feet south of the launch pads. Two associated
buildings, each 70 by 30 feet, are located 425
and 850 feet north of the missile-ready building.
Several other small, unidentified structures
are located within the secured area. A rail
spur enters the launch area at the south end,
runs north through the ready building to a point
1,050 feet south of the pads, where it forks.
From this point a spur continues to each pad.
A road providing access to other elements of
the launch complex enters the launch area on the
east side, then parallels the rail spur connect-
ing the ready building and the launch pads.
 TOP SECRET RUFF
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structures, most of the buildings are about 130
by 35 feet.
A two-track rail siding, is located on the
south side of the rail line leading to Launch
Points I and II. This siding branches off
about 0.5 nni before the line curves north
into the secured area. The siding contains
about 3,500 feet of track.
Launch Point III (Figure 3) is also a
Type I launch facility with one launch pad. It
is located at 62-56N 40-32E on the south
bank of the Yemtsa River and about 2.2 nm
east-northeast of Launch Points I and II. The
area is enclosed by an irregular, double security
fence, 3,100 by 1,850 feet, with the long axis
generally north-south.
-1 he single pad of concrete construction is
105 by 100 feet and is built over the escarp-
ment along the Yemtsa River. An object on
Outside the secured area is a probable
guidance facility and a launch support area.
The probable guidance facility, located 5,150
feet southeast of the pads, apparently consists
of two like elements each containing at least
three buildings. The largest building is ap-
proximately 145 by 45 feet, another is 85 by
50 feet, and the smallest is about 50 feet
square. A similar, single installation is located
behind each of the other two Type I facilities
within this launch complex. A perpendicular
to the axis of the probable guidance'structure
through the launch pads indicates a probable
pad orientation of 330 degrees,
the launch support area appears to be
primarily for housing, except for one rail spur
parallel to and outside of the east security
fence. 1-his spur serves a possible small
heating plant and/or power plant. The launch
support area contains about 50 buildings, 30
of which are arranged in three quadrangles of
10 buildings each. Except for a few small
941331 LE-READY
BUII DING
LAuWCH
\.5 1
PAD ORIENTATION APV70OX 330'
1000 0 1000 2000
25X1 D
TOP SECRET RUFF
 the pad is probably a missile gantry. A missile-
ready building, 180 by 130 feet, is located
1,300 feet south of the pad. Two associated
buildings, each 70 by 30 feet, are located 200
and 400 feet north of the ready building. ?;everal
other small, unidentified structures are located
the south end, runs north through the ready
building, and continues on to the launch pad.
A road providing access to all other elements
of the launch complex enters the area on the
east side.
A probable guidance facility is situated
3,950 feet southeast of the launch pad and con-
sists of four buildings: one is 145 by 45 feet,
the second is 85 by 50 feet, and the other two
A support area of at least 12 buildings
averaging 115 by 65 feet and a double-track
utility rail spur with about 3,000 feet of track
are adjacent to the launch area on the east
side. The spur serves a possible heating and/
or power plant. A second support area (not
shown on Figure 3), 3,000 by 950 feet and en-
closed by a fence, is situated 8,000 feet south-
launch area forms an irregular rectangle, 2,600
by 1,300 feet, lying on a northwest-southeast
axis and is enclosed by a double security fence.
The single launch pad, of concrete con-
struction, is 150 feet square and overhangs
a ravine of a tributary of the Yemtsa River. An
object, 50 feet wide, on the pad is probably
a missile gantry. Five small, unidentified
structures are located within the secured area.
The rail spur from Plesetsk terminates
at the launch pad. At a point 4,000 feet southeast
of the pad, a rail spur branches out to the north
and proceeds to a missile-ready building, 215
by 130 feet, which is situated at the shallow
end of a gully. This ready building has the
usual two associated buildings, 70 by 30 feet,
located 250 and 500 feet to the south, but is
unique in being the only ready building in the
launch complex which has been found outside a
a support-housing area
containing at least 25 buildings averaging 200
by 75 feet. This group of buildings is located
on the east bank of the ravine.
 TOP SECRET RUFF
LAUNCH
SUPPORT
TRANSFER
POINT
(2-9 NMI
GUIDANCE
PROS
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SUPPORT-
MOUSING
PAD ORIENTATION
APPROX 330?
1000 0 1000 2000
I
FEET (APPROXI
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 A launch support-housing area of 35 build-
ings averaging 200 by 75 feet is located ad-
jacent to the southeast end of the launch area
and has a three-track utility rail spur with
3,000 feet of track.
A probable guidance facility is situated
3,250 feet east of the launch pad. The dimen-
sions of its four buildings have not been as-
certained but appear to be similar to those
of the buildings at Launch Points I and II and
Launch Point III. A perpendicular to the axis
of the guidance structure indicates a probable
pad orientation of 330 degrees,
It is noteworthy that this facility is offset
slightly to the east of the launch pad instead
of being directly behind, as are the guidance
facilities at Launch Points 1, .11, and III.
River and 3.4 nm northeast of Launch Point
IV. Construction appears complete. The launch
area measures 2,300 by 1,800 feet, and is
enclosed by a double security fence. 1 he se-
cured area contains two elliptically shaped con-
crete launch pads, 375 by 125 feet, with an
object, probably a missile erector, on each
pad; two missile-ready buildings, each 170 by
105 feet; a bunkerlike. structure, 135 by 65
tmwiidentified buildings. An
feet; and severald~k
unidentified building, 125 by 40 feet, lies 1,800
probable drainage ditch runs from the north-
west corner of the secured area and apparently
discharges into the Yemtsa River. - The area
is connected with the rail-to-road transfer point
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LAUNCH AREA B
Launch Area B (Fig
ure6)isa road-served
I ype It (, Mod b) facility located 63-03N 40-58E
on the south bank of the Yemtsa River and 6.6
nm northeast of Launch Area A. Construction
appears complete. the launch area is 1,900
feet square and is enclosed by a double security
fence. The secured area contains two ellip-
tically shaped concrete launch pads, 375 by
125 feet, with an object, probably a missile
erector, on each pad; two missile-ready build-
ings, one 170 by 125 feet and the other 170
by 105 feet; and three unidentified structures.
A support area containing 14 buildings, 125
by 40 feet, lies 4,000 feet southwest of the launch
ar a. the launch area is connected with the
rail-to-road transfer point by a good road.
Fad orientation is 330 degrees
LAUNCH AREA C
Launch Area C (Figure 7) is a road-
se_ ved 1 ype III facility located at 63-01N 40-52E
(H40.0)
on the south bank of the Yemtsa River. _Fhe
area, secured by a double fence, is 1,500 feet
square and located 3.2 nm northeast of Launch
Area A. I he excavation was first seen on KEY-
HOLE Construction is still in 25X1 D
progress and is paralleling work on the harden-
ed silo configuration with two launchers at
Launch Complex D at I yura Tam and at seven
other deployed ICBM complexes. A support
area of at least eight buildings is located ad-
jacent to the north side of the secured area.
The area is connected to the rail-to-road trans-
fer point by a good road.
LAUNCH AREA D
Launch Area D (Figure 8) is a road-
served Type IV facility located 4.9 nm east
of the complex surport facility at 62-53N 40-50E.
It is connected by road with all other elements
within the launch complex. It occupies a gen-
erally rectangular area, 1,850 by 1,550 feet,
and is enclosed by a single security fence.
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the secured area contains two launch pads
800 feet apart; two missile-ready buildings. 130
by 115 feet, located 650 feet east of the pads;
a probable guidance facility with a plus configu-
ration of unknown orientation; and a road pattern
connecting the components. All of the components
are under construction. The pads are oriented on
an azimuth of 265 degrees
One support area of 22 buildings lies 2,800
feet south of the secured area and a second
group of 14 support buildings lies 2,000 feet
south'-southwest of the secured area. Apossible
rail-to-road transfer point is situated 4,800
feet southwest of the secured area between the
access road and a branch of the main rail
spur from Plesetsk. An unidentified building,
70 by 50 feet and served by an extension of
the access road, is located 1,300 feet southeast
of the secured area. A group of approximately
50 small structures--some of which may be
tanks--lies along a rail spur 6,700 feet to the
southwest.
I..runch Area F_ I-igure a) is also a road-
served -l vpe IV facility located 4.2 rim south-
southwest of the complex support facility at
62-50\ 40-35F. It is connected by road with
all other elements cif the launch complex. .\
probable security fence is located on the north-
east and south sides of the launch area but the
installation as a whole has not been secured.
The launch area contains two launch pads
800 feet apart; two missile-ready buildings, 130
by 115 feet, located 650 feet east of the pads;
a probable guidance facility with a plus con-
figuration of unknown orientation; and a road
pattern connecting the components. All of the
components are under construction. The pads
are oriented on an azimuth of 265 degrees 25X1 D
25X1 D
.\ support area containing approximately
35 buildings is situated 2,600 feet northeast of
the launch area. 1%%o unidentified scars are
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located approximately 2.500 feet west of the
launch area. An abandoned logging rail line
runs through the launch area.
The complex support facility Figure 10~
lies south of the launch areas in a generally
central location at 62-54\ 40-3QF. The area
is served by rail and road and includes a rail
siding 6,000 feet long and three shorter spurs.
At least 25 buildings of various sizes and shapes,
arranged in no definite pattern, are located
within the installation. Open storage areas,
construction equipment, and vehicle parking
areas are located among the buildings. A
probable concrete batch plant--served by a rail
spur 2,700 feet long--is situated at the northwest
edge of the installation. A tank storage facility
of approximately 11 tanks--served by a rail
spur 1,000 feet long--is situated at the west
end of the installation. A third rail spur,
1,000 feet long, enters an open storage area. All
elements of the launch complex are connected
with this installation by road. In addition, all
elements of the launch complex except Launch
Areas A, B, and C are connected with this
installation by rail.
RAIL-TO-ROAD-TRANSFER POINT
0
The rail-to-road transfer point (Figure
11) lies adjacent to the rail line to Plesetsk
at 62-55N 40-45E. the transfer point, 1,700
feet long, is oriented with its long axis in
a northeast-southwest direction. It has three
crossover links 340 feet long, one at each end
and one in the center. Two unidentified struc-
tures are located in a northeast half of the
facility. A single security fence encloses the
area.
A possible second rail-to-road transfer
point serving Launch A'-eas D and E is located
2 nm south of the first transfer point at
62-53N 40-46E. It extends in a general
east-west direction and is about 3,400 feet
long by 680 feet wide. It has two possible
crossover links. No security fence is apparent.
Poor image quality precludes further inter-
pretation of this facility.
The administrative and housing area, Fig-
ure 12) is situated near the southwest end of
the launch complex at 62-46N 40-21 E. I-,
consists of approximately 270 buildings. of w hich
approximately 35 are two-story barracks-type
buildings measuring 240 by SO feet, 5 are
large administrative-type buildings, 120 are
single-story dwelling units, 15 are various-
sized warehouses and the remaining 05 are gen-
erally small, miscellaneous support buildings-
At the southeast end of the administrative
and housing area, a rail .spur 3,700 feet lops
TOP SECRET RUFF
 serves a probable concrete hatch plant. At
the southeast edge of the main block of build-
ings, a rail yard with three tracks 6,000 feet
long serves a group of warehouses. "I he three
largest warehouses are 600 by 200 feet. A
probable power plant with a conveyer is located
at the northwest end of the rail yard. A rail
spur 1,800 feet long serves the power plant.
At the northwest end of the area is a probable
water treatment plant. East of the rail yard
is an unidentified group of four dispersed, road-
served buildings. The area is connected by road
of ICBM launch facilities. Furthermore, the
construction of these facilities at Plesetsk may
possibly have been undertaken concurrently with
the development of prototype sites at Tyura
Tam. This' pattern of development, along with
the large-scale support facilities at Plesetsk,
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