ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX KOSTROMA, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200300034-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2000
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: February 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

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 This document contains classified information effecting Nss national sscrrity of the United States within the
mooning of the espionage laws U. S. Coda Title ISr Sectlwo 793 sod 794. The low Nohibits Its transmission
or the revelation of (js contents In any mennet to as wnavthorised person. q well as its use In any manner
prejudicial to the surety, oof Interest of the United Stases me isr the bewofit of any foreign government to the
detriment of the United States. It is to be soon only by persosmel especially Indecrtiaetod and All
~ed to
receive TALENT.KEYHOLE lnformetipn. Its esevrity r ot be moiatelaed Is accordance with K7_NL
TALENT regulations.
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an east-west direction. Rail service to the
transfer point is provided by a spur line from the
Kostroma-Galich rail line. Two SA-2 SAM sites
are deployed in the general area of the complex.
One is located adjacent to Kostroma Airfield at
FIGURE I. LOCATION OF KOSTROMA ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX.
TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
An ICBM complex consisting of five launch
areas, a complex support facility, and a rail-to-
road transfer point is located in a forested area
northeast of Kostroma (Figure 1). The launch
areas are served bv access roads leading from
the Kostroma-Buv highway and are dispersed
 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
57-48N 41-03E, and the other along the Kos-
troma-Buy highway at 58-14N 41-38E. All
measurements contained in this report are ap-
proximate.
This complex was covered b KEYHOLE
25X1 D photography as follows
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was no evidence of the complex on
Portions of the complex became
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Four of the launch areas (A, B, C, and D)
have a Type II (Mod b) configuration with a ready
building to the rear of each launch pad and all
are oriented on an azimuth of 295 degrees.
Launch Area E has a Type III con-
figuration and is under construction. Power
traces are evident to all launch areas.
25X1 D
Launch Area A is located approximately 15
nm by road from the transfer point and 1.3 nm
north of the Kostroma-Buy highway-. It was first
seen in and construction is now com-
plete. 1/ The access road enters the launch area
to the right of center to service the launch pads
and missile-ready buildings (Figure 2). The
ready building to the rear of the right pad mea-
sures about 170 by 125 feet and is canted at an
angle to the long axis of the la?:nch pad. The
ready building to the left, 170 by 105 feet{ s in
line with the launch pad. Three buildings are
positioned along a line through the center of the
launch area to the left of the access road. The
structure at the forward end of the launch area
appears to be roughly L-shaped with an uniden-
tified object on top. The center structure, prob-
ably the control building, is 105 by 85 feet. To
the rear of it is a slightly smaller building with
a low object atop one corner. A horizontal
structure, probably a missile-erecting device
approximately 100 feet lon , is centered on each
launch pad. In a vertical object at 25X1 D
the forward end of the structure on the left pad
casts a short, faint shadow. A probable vehicle
stall is located just to the outside of the pads.
One other structure is located just off the road
halfway between the right ready building and the
launch pad. A security building is located along-
side the road as it enters the launch area.
In the launch support facility for
Launch Area A contained at least six completed
structures, four of which were 150 feet long, and
foundations and construction for four additional
buildings. About 5,000 feet to the southeast is a
housing and const uction camp containing 25 to 30
buildings and strtIures. Nine of these buildings,
which are 120 feet long, probably are barracks.
Launch Area B is located about 16 nm from
the transfer point and 7 nm from the Kostroma-
Buy highway and is considered complete, al-
though only the ready building,l70feet long, be-
hind the left pad has been constructed (Figure 3).
It is canted at an angle to the long axis of the
launch pad in the same direction as the one at
Launch Area A. For some unexplained reason,
the side edges of the roof of this completed build-
ing appear wider than that of other ready build-
ings. The width of the building could not be
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line with the launch pad, was visible behind the
25X1 D right pad in Horizontal structures
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are positioned in the center of the launch pads.
.\ vertical object was located at the forward end
of the structure on the left pad in
This object casts a heavier and longer shadow
than the one at Launch Area A. The estimated
height of this object is 95 feet A
probable vehicle stall is located to the outside
of the pads.
Three buildings are aligned through the cen-
ter of the launch area to the left of the access
road. Possibly a fourth structure under con-
struction or a low earth-covered structure was
evident in The building at the for-
ward end of the site is approximately 123 by 100
feet, and the two further to the rear are slightly
smaller and of a somewhat irregular shape.
Another structure was under construction to the
outside of and at right angles to the road between
the right launch pad and the clearing for the ready
building. A probable security building is located
near the access road as it enters the launch area.
Eight to 10 pieces of equipment were evident on
the access road throw h the launch area and near
the left pad in
The launch support facility for Launch Area
B containing at least 10 buildings is located about
2,500 feet to the rear of the launch area. Seven
of these buildings, ranging in length from 110to
125 feet and of varying widths, are laid out in a
U-shaped pattern similar to that of some other
launch support facilities. n
To the rear of the launch support facility
along a small stream are two additional support
areas. One of these probably is a construction
camp containing 9 to 12 buildings of varying
sizes, 3 of which are 130 feet long. Adjacent to
this camp is a cleared and scarred area that may
he used for parking of equipment. A housing
area nearby consists of 12 buildings of varying
sizes, 5 of which are 120 feet long.
Launch Area C is located about 11 nm by
road from the transfer point and 2.9 nm from the
intersection of the road to Launch Area B. The
launch area was in the midstage of construction
as of One missile-ready building,
170 by 125 feet, appears complete behind the
right launch pad and canted at an an le to the long
axis of the pad i l= igure 41. In the left
ready building, which will be in line with the pad.
appeared to he in an early stage of construction.
Construction of launch pads and the roads within
the launch area was not complete in
I woo objects, each about 90 feet long, were evident
on the left pad. A prcbable control building, SS
by 95 feet, is centrally located just to the rear of
a scar between
is a foundation
feet. -1,.%,o other small structures, probably con-
struction sheds, are within the launch area.
The access road enters the launch area from
a southwesterly direction at right angles to the
launch pads. An intersecting road through the
area' is offset -o the right of center. This road
terminates in the woods to the rear of the launch
area with a small structure at the terminus. A
similar arrangement of a road and structure in
the same location are observed at Launch Area
A of the -1 evkovo ICBM Launch Complex. 2
Three buildings, 125 by 40 feet, have been
constructed at the launch support facility for
q_aunch Area C south of the launch area. Clear-
ings for other structures and at least one other
building under construction were evident in_
Tiie initial construction camp is located to
the northwest and forward of the launch area.
This building area for housing and support of
construction workers contains at least 15struc-
tures, eight of which appear to be barracks-type
buildings about 100 feet long.
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launch Area I), in a midstage of construc-
tion, is located approxima-ely 23 nm by road from
the transter point and 3.Q nm from the Kostroma-
Buv highway. The general signature was ev~dent
from the clearings for the loop
and a missile-ready building, hut
no structures were evident within the launch area
(Figure 5). One ready building had been con-
structed behind the right pad at an an -le to the
long axis of the pad as of lat Because
of poor photography the dimensions of the build-
ing cannot be determined.
the access road turns toward the launch area.
probably will be the location of the launch support
of at least 17 structures of various sizes is lo-
cated near the access road to the southwest of the
clearing for the support area.
LAUNCH AREA E
Launch Area F has the Type lll, silo con-
figuration and is located about 11 nm by road
from the transfer point. there was no evi-
dence of this area on
(fin photography from
a road and clear-
The similarity
to other Type Ill areas became evident on
photography from
with the appearance of a clearing b50 feet
long and the start of an excavat approxi-
mately 440 feet long (l= igure b). The short
axis of the excavation is oriented on an azimuth
of approximately 300 degrees. A line of
trees remains along the south edge of the
excavation. One probable structure is lo-
cated south of the excavation near the ter-
minus of a power trace. Late in
on photography from the east
end of the excavation appeared to have been
squared off, and possibly to objects are
now within the excavation. There was still
no evidence of a notch in the side of the
excavation.
The rail-to-road transfer point is located in
a wooded area about 10 nm northeast of the com-
plex support facility. A branch line from the
Kostroma-Galich rail line extends 2.3 nm north
to serve the transfer point (Figure 7). A well-
engineered road from the Kostroma-Galich high-
way parallels the branch rail line to the transfer
point and then continues north to intersect with
the Kostroma-Buy highway. From this inter-
section the existing highway is utilized as the
complex main road.
The branch rail line terminates in three
spurs in a wooded area at the transfer point.
The spur extending furthest to the north Iies ad -
jacent to a loop road pattern. The two other
spurs appear to terminate slightly to the south.
A housing area is located along the west side
of the road and rail and contains about 20 build-
ings. I :ig,ht of these appear to he multistory and
about 130 feet long. The remainder are smaller
barracks-type buildings. South of the housing
area is an area probably utilised for open stor-
age of equipment and supplies. It appears to be
fenced and contains one warehouse-type struc-
ture 205 feet long and four smaller buildings.
South of the terminus of the rail spurs that
constitute the transfer point are two other rail
spurs curving to the east which were previously
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25X1 B
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identified as the transfer point. These spurs,
however, appear to he for logistic and con-
struction support as evidenced by the absence of
a good road net from the spurs and the presence
of a concrete hatching plant near one spur.
COMPLEX SUPPORT FACILITY
25X1 D
The complex support facility is located on
the eastern edge of Kostroma and is road and rail
served. There was no evidence of this facility
on photography of except for a por-
tion of the road which enters from the Kostroma-
Galich highway. This road was either under con-
struction or an existing road was being length-
ened to serve the installation. A small structure
near the intersection with the highway probably
serves as a secur'ty checkpoint. The support
facility encompasses an area approximately
-1,500 by 2,600 feet and appears basically un-
25X1 D changed since (Figure 8).
Rail service is provided by a spur branching
from previously existing spurs to a nearby in-
dustry. This spur passes through a rectangul ,-
fenced area, probably used for open storage, Ten
subsequently branches into five spurs within the
support facility.
-1 he support facility contains about 62 build-
ings and structures and a probable concrete
batching plant. .\t least 20 buildings appear to be
for housing and the remainder for storage and
other undetermined function. There do not ap-
pear to be any rail-through buildings. The facil-
ity probably is surrounded by a fence which can-
not be seen in its entirety.
Complex Support Facility
Rail-to-Road Transfer Point
Launch Area A
Launch Area B
Launch Area C
o Launch Area D
57-46\
41-OIE
57-51\
41-15E
58-02`
41-21E
58-02N
41-07L
37-59N
41-09E
58-05N
41-40L
57-57N
41-13E
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o 129' X 35
? 169 X 50
165' X 65
130' X 4L
160' X ~9
? 160 x 55
2151 X 40
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ACIC. O\C 154. 1-t -Ia--ifiod ed. Jun 59. -calo 1:1,ooo,ot)O (CONFIDENT! L)
S:\C. 1'S Air Target Chart. Soria- 20t). Sheet 01,4-9A. 1-t od- \us . -calc 1:200,000 (SECRET)
AMS. Soria- X301. Sheet 37-6 (Danil- ). ui ed. \lar ,6. -c:.lo 1:35t1,000 (1 \CL\SSIFIED)
\\l~. ,orio- \301. Shoot :17-9 (ho-tronu). 2d -d. \lar 57. -vale I:_? S0.0n0 UX('I. %S IFIED)
1. NPIC. 11-16 61 ly Po--ihlo ICBM Launch Site Near Ko-trona. USSR.:\uc 61 (TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF)
-?. NPIC. R-12a'69. ICBM Coo~plo\. To\ko\o. USSR. \ug 0 (TOP SECRET ('HESS RUFF)
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