SIAN ARSENALS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000300020041-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: November 21, 1963
• Content Type: MF

ILLEGIB
Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300020041-5
Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300020041-5
 Approved For Release 20 1 =R
S 3 : ETAD '78TO5439A000300020041-5
IB - 331/63
21 November 1963
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Manufacturing and Services Division, ORR
25X1 A. ATTENTION MS/D
25X1 D
25X1D
THROUGH Chief, Requirements Branch, Reconnaissance Group, CGS
FROM Chief, CIA/PID (EPIC)
SURTECT Sian Arsenals
REFERENCES (1) ORR Requirement No. C-RR3-80,522/63 (Revision).
(2) CIA/PID Project No. C 1+15-63
1. This memorandum is in response to the referenced requirement
which asks for analysis of arsenals at Sian including production
activity -And expansion since
2. The enclosed information provides comparative coverage of five
installations in Sian and its environs from Annotated 25X1A
enlargements and comparative coverage of each facility illustrates the
expansion over the four year period. In addition, each installation is
discussed individually in the following text. This memorandum is based 25X1D
on analysis of the following coverage:
3. The arsenals at Sian roughly encircle the city. These plants
have been outlined on a reference map (see enclosure CIA/PID/IB-P-T35/63)
and given a number designation which corresponds to the accompanying photo
enlargements and descriptions.
4. Area 1, Explosives Plant is located south of Hu-hsian, approximately
twenty-,one nautical miles southwest of Sian. It is the largest plant of the
complex and has undergone the greatest expansion 25X1A
S-io15C*")
The processing area is rectangular with at least four rail
lines entering the west end. The facilities are still under
construction with many pipe ditches still open, overhead pipeline
supports complete but with no pipes present and some buildings
under construction. From analysis it appears that a few buildings
are still to be.added. At the current stage of construction it is
clear that the flow of materials will be from the west to the east.
77-
 Approved For Release 20 .11Q.31Q3: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300020041-5
25X1 D
Page 2
There will be a probable acid section, primary processing section,
secondary processing section, woodworking and fabricatijn S-6L on
and other unidentified sections. A test area containing
large and two smaller test ranges is located adjacent to th
production area and a well secured explosives storage-area, containing
four large and one small revetted building, is located southeast of.
the production area.
25X1 D
The exact type of explosive to be manufactured can not be
determined at.the present time; however, the presence of the test,
.ranges indicates that a propellant such as nitrocellulose is
probably to be produced.
Considerable expansion was observed as forty-two new buildiigs
were added between of which three were started
It should be noted that the covered only a 7_AX1n
portion of the installation. Between 25X1D
no new buildings were started. Night lights have been ins a e
throughout the production area. Analysis of the facilities did not
reveal a metals processing section.
5. Area 2, a Possible-Munitions Research and Development Center,
is located 3.5 nautical miles south southwest of Sian. This plant is
completely secured by a solid wall and is'only road served.
This installation can be divided into three funtional sections:
1. Administration and research section, 2. Production section and
3. Testing section.
Within this plant there is an exceptionally large portion of
administration type buildings. -One possible explainatior)_ts that
they are being used for research and development. The exact type of
explosives work being conducted here can not be determined at the
present time...
25X1D o buildings under construction could be discerned. In
ver, the fenced area-had been extended, eighteen new
buildings had been built, two others were under construction, and
two significant additions were completed. Currently this plant
appears inactive.
6. Area 3, an Explosive Storage Area, is located 8.5 nauticalamiles
north of Sian near an aircraft engine plant. This installation is rail
and road served. Although it is not a production facility it has been
included in this memorandum for 'completeness.
 Approved For Release 20011Q31f3 : Q,I. 78T05439A000300020041-5
Page 3
7. Area 4, an Explosives Plant, is located 8.5 nautical miles west
ndrthwest of Sian. I is both rail and road served and is secured by a
solid wall.
The secured area can be divided into two sections; inert storage
section and a production section. The administrative facilities are
just outside the secured area and the revetted explosive storage facility
is located some distance to the south (see insert photo).
Although no acid section is discernable, the long processing
buildings at this plant are similar to those at installation No. 1
of this memorandum. The large rail-served warehouses for inert
storage are typical of those used to store cellulose (cotton linters
or wood cellulose). If this was one of the raw materials and nitric
acid were shipped in then the explosive produced could be nitrocel-
-lulose. This plant appears to be inactive at the time of the latest
photo coverage.
25X1D
25X1D the plant appeared to be in a stage of major construction,
which apparently was completed The early coverage revealed
10 buildings under construction. Nine of these were finished 25X1D
along with three other new buildings and one significant addition.
Additional revetments and more landscaping is also observed 25X1D
25X1 D A large area on the northern side of the installation, formerly
25X1D thought to be a processing facility - has been almost removed
This area is now annotated as a possible construction
facility.
25X1 B
 Approved For Release 200 1 10 : CIAf DR78TO5439A000300020041-5
Page 4
25X1
25X1A
25X1A
9. The photo analysts on this project were and
, who may be contacted on extension 25+7 should you have
further questions regarding this project. This memorandum and enclosures
completes the reference requirement. 25X1A
Enclosures:
10 Annotated Photo Enlargements
1 Annotated Map
(CIA/PID/IB-P-735 through 7+5/63)
 25X5
Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300020041-5
Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300020041-5
 ed Fort (ease 01/03/03j:: CIA-RDP78,fO5439A000300020041-5
Exrr02rvr_~ rrurr
j4? N - is 37'E
25X1 D
CIA/rtn,irt+-
r- "136 /G 3
 4 L4 1
25X1 34" (2'A - ICO' j?( F
P- 73n-
7377//G3
 rPPAN,E MUTIUN3 NrsEANCU
AND Uh:vh:IOP}MEwr CENTER
300 12'N' - 1)' 55'E
 E, 3rd " ?r,
nk~_P y
rr: rnrL: rmrrrous ar:;enrcu
Atil t EYEIPPRAMr CF.IrrEli
}4? 12.11 - IU~' 55'F.
CIA/I'll /11-
r- r377/63
 m
25X1 D
 25X1 B
Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300020041-5
Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000300020041-5