SHAO-KUAN EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION AND PROBABLE AMMUNITION LOADING PLANT NEAR SHAO-KUAN (CHU-CHIANG), CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000500300071-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 27, 2000
• Sequence Number: 71
• Publication Date: August 1, 1965
• Content Type: REPORT

ILLEGIB
Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000500300071-9
Approved For Release 2001/03/03 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000500300071-9
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SHAO-KUAN EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION AND PROBABLE `AMMUNITION
LOADING PLANT NEAR SHAO-KUAN(CHU-CHIANG), CHINA
?25X1 D
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25X9
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SUMMARY
Recent good-quality photography revealed
an explosives production and probable ammu-
nition loading plant northwest of Shao-kuan (Chu-
chiang), China; an associated revetted storage-
area is located nearby. This installation had
previously been identified, on. the basis ofpoor-
quality photography, as the Suspect Ammunition
Loading Plant near Chu-chiang.. Although con-
struction activity was still under way in =
some portions of the installation were.,
probably operational at that time.
DESCRIPTION OF FACILITIES
The Shao-kuan Explosives Production and
Probable -Ammunition Loading Plant is located
8.5 nautical miles (nm) northwest of the town
of Shao-kuan (Chu-chiang), China, at 24-55N
113-29E (Figure 1). The plant is situated in
a bend of the Wu Shui (river) and covers an
area of approximately 3 square nm on the east
-bank.-
0
Collateral information indicates that in
a chemical plant located north-
- west of Shao-kuan and * overtly known as a
-coal processing plant was reportedly produc-
ing
terials shipped in-via a newly constructed rail
spiur._. jJ-' Although the location of the reported
chemical plant -resembles that of this-explosives
W \V ILL AGE
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FIGURE 2. SHAG-KUAN EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION AND PROBABLE AMMUNITION LOADING PLANT CHINA,
Table 1. Structures at Shao-kuan Explosives Production'and Probable Ammunition Loading Plant
(Item numbers appear on Figure 3)
Item
Dimensions
(ft)
Item
Dimensions
(ft)
- -
Item
Dimensions
(ft)
Item
Dimensions
(ft)
1
205 x 45
9
200 x 30
17
210' x 30*
?25
'
15 x 10
2
100 x 90
10 (4)
45 x 35
16
30 x 25
(2)
26
30 x 15
3 (6)
95 x 25
11 (2)
30 x 25
19
16'5 x 30
27 -
70 x 15
4 (3)
140 x 40
12
120 x 30
20 -
> 70 x 20'
26
65 x 25
5 (4)
120 x 45
13 -
75 x30
21
15 x 10
29
130 x 50
6
55' x 30
14
115 x 30
22
50 x 15
30 (4)
50 x 25
7 (2)
30 x 30
15
135 x 35
23
25 x 15
31 (7)
60 x 45
6-
35 x 30
16
135 x 30
4
'35 x 15
32
70 x 25
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HOUSING AREA
-25X1 D,
POSSIBLY RELATED
SUPPORT AREA
BU IL DIP
REMOVE
EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION AND PROBABLE
- , AMMUNITION LOADING PLANT -
FLOWER
_BED
SUPPORT
AREA
OPEN
STORAGE
FIGURE 3. LAYOUT OF EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION AND PROBABLE AMMUNITION LOADING PLANT.
.BOI LERHOUSE
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HOUSING AREA
EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION. AND PROBABLE
FLOWER
BED
SOUTH EXPLOSIVES
PRODUCTION LINE
POSSIBLY RELATED
SUPPORT AREA
OPEN
STORAGE
FIGURE 3. LAYOUT OF-EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION AND PROBABLE AMMUNITION LOADING PLANT.
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REVETTED STORAGE AREA
BUILDING 1111b
REMOVED tYi\so
^- Probable underground pipeline
Building under construction
Earthen dam
r-r Revetment -
Construction activity
Guard tower
Stack
500 0
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TCS-81061/65
plant, a significant resemblance between the
facilities of the 2 plants is not apparent on
the most recent photography.
i\ prcylous report boned on poor-quality
photography presented construction progress
and layout -- details as of 21
Recent good-quality photography, including that
of has provided additional details,
measurements, and the interpretations which
follow.
The 'installation consists of the following
sections: a secured plant containing 2 parallel
explosives production lines and adjacent prob-
able ammunition loading buildings, a secured
revetted storage area for explosives, and a
housing area (Figures 2--and. 3). - Support
structures are located near the secured plant.
A small walled compound east-southeast of the
plant may provide additional support facilities.
Table 1, which is keyed to Figure 3, presents
the dimensions of various structures at the
installation, and color coding of the line draw-
ing of the plant layout (Figure 3) indicates con-
struction. progress.
The sections of the installation are inter-
connected by roads. The main Shao-kuan/Chen-
hsien railroad passes .2 nm to the east of the
production area, but there are no rail spurs
in._the plant vicinity. The nearest rail-to-road
transfer point appears to be located along tI, e
main railroad 4.5 nm southeast of the installa-
tion at a small village ?at 24-52N 113-33E.
No unusual-.rail cars have been observed in
the area. -
Earthen dams have been built at various
locations throughout the site to stabilize the
terrain and to serve as reservoirs. There
.is no evidence of the mining nor of the pro-
cessing of coal. No unusual storage facilities-
are apparent.
EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION AND PROBABLE
AMMUNITION LOADING PLANT
The Explosives Production and Probable
.am r.-,unicior, Loading 111 ant is secured by a
fence and isolated from the agricultural areas
to the northeast by a second fence. Gatehouses
are located at the main entrances, and guard
towers are scattered throughout the area. The
principal plant entrance is-marked by a circu-
lar flower bed with a star-shaped interior
design. Related support buildings are situ-
ated outside the security fence.
The plant contains 2 parallel explosives
production lines. The northern line consists
of 11 revetted structures interconnected by a.
coveted passageway and 6 unrevetted structures,
2 of which are connected to the passageway.
The revetted structures on the eastern end of
the line, are small gable-roofed typical ex-
plosives production or loading buildings. A
larger structure at the western end of the line -
is connected by pipeline to a small structure
outside the revetment. The southern pro-
duction line is similar to the northern one,
but' somewhat smaller. It -consists. of 8 small
revetted structures, 7 of which are inter-
connected by -a - covered passageway, and 5
other structures, 2 of which are connected to,
the passageway. The alignment and type of struc-
tures in both production- lines resemble the
-layout for the manufacture of an intermediate-
type explosive such as black powder; however,
the production of initiator or bursting-type
explosives cannot be discounted. It is also
probable' that some of these structures are
used for ammunition loading.
A plant support area is located outside
the secured area and immediately west of the
plant; this contains an open storage area and
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several storage and support buildings. A
rectangular reservoir is located on a hilltop
north of the plant. Probable underground
pipelines lead from the reservoir and nearby
pumphouses to the river, the plant, and the
Housing Area.- A boilerhouse with ? an ad-
jacent smokestack and several support build-
ings are situated east of the plant area.
Ground scarring throughout-the area of
the plant indicates continuing construction, but
some of the older buildings are probably oper-
ational.
REVETTED STORAGE AREA The Revetted Storage Area is located about
4,000 feet southeast of the plant. The area is
secured. by a perimeter fence, strategically
placed guard towers, an .a guardhouse at the
single entrance. A cistern is - located near
the entrance. Within the secured area are 12
25X1 D. revetted buildings, 2 recently completed re-
25X1 D vetments, 2 areas of construction activity, and
a revetment which contained a building in
? 25X1 D but was empty in The
average height of the revetments is 20 feet.
The storage buildings are small gable-roofed
typical explosives storage buildings with single
covered entrances; no.' roof ventilators are
visible. i
HOUSING AREA
The Housing Area is located about 3,500
feet east-northeast of the plant. It contains
the following structures; a large administra-
tion building; 7 multistory housing buildings,
1 of which has been under construction since
6 smaller barracks buildings,
2 of which were recently constructed; a ve-
hicle shed; and several other support buildings.
Borrow pits for fill dirt ai,visible immediately
northeast of this area.
POSSIBLY RELATED SUPPORT kREA
The Possibly Rel.Support Area con-
taining a. rectangular -walled compound is lo-
cated about 5,000 feet east-southeast of the
plant. On early photographic coverage of the
site this area resembled a construction camp.
It could originally have- been used to -house
prisoners and may now be an agricultural stor-
age area. The walled compound has guard
towers_ at 2 corners and another on 1 side.
The compound formerly contained several
small buildings which have been razed; the most
recent photography reveals within the walls a
large recently constructed storage building, a
similar building - under construction, and 4
smaller buildings. Numerous low sheds are
located outside the wall.
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MAPS OR CHARTS - -
DL4. US Air Target_Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0498-16HL, 2d ed, Mar 64, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
TCS. 81061/65
1. Air,.- Hq 6499th Support Group. - (C) Shao-kuan (2448N/11335E, Gaz 22) Chemical Plant, 25 OFt 62
(CONFIDENTIAL /No Foreign Dissem) -
2. NPIC. R-280/63, Suspect Ammunition Loading Plant,Near Chu-chiang (Shoo-kuan), China, Nov'63 (TOP SECRET
RUFF/No Foreign Dissem) -
REQUIREMENT
CIA/OSI- C-S15-S2,208
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