RECOGNITION FEATURES OF THE SOVIET D-II AND D-III SSBNS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05698A000300010030-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2011
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: May 10, 1977
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP78TO5698A000300010030-1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP78TO5698A000300010030-1
 _ i I - I Lt- L
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP78T05698A000300010030-1
,?ty ~?r,
NOFORN- Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals
NOCONTRACT- Not Releasable to Contractors or
Contractor/Consultants
PROPIN- Caution- Proprietary Information Involved
USIBONLY- USIB Departments Only
ORCON- Dissemination and Extraction of Information
Controlled by Originator
REL. . .- This Information has been Authorized for
Release to ...
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP78T05698A000300010030-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP78TO5698A000300010030-1
National
Photographic
Interpretation
Center
Op
IMAGERY INFORMATION REPORT
Additional recognition features for distinguishing between the D-II
and D-III nuclear fleet ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) were observed
at Olenya Guba Submarine Base, USSR, The
features of the D-III include a larger upper rudder, the placement of the
anticollision light, a shorter distance between the aft telephone buoy and
the rudder, and an increased number of limber holes.
The most prominent of these features is the length of the upper rudder,
which is on the D-III SSBN and on the D-II SSBN.
Most of the length difference in the upper rudder is in the forward part,
from the leading edge of the rudder to the leading edge of the movable
surface.
The placement of the anticollision light atop the upper rudder
from the front of the rudder on the D-III SSBN and only 0.7 meter
The distance from the leading edge of the upper rudder to the center
The difference) lis approximately the same as the
increased length of the upper rudder of the D-III SSBN.
The number of rows of limber holes on the side of the missile bay is
another identification feature. The D-III SSBN has three parallel rows,
and the D-II SSBN has one row.
These differences are more easily seen when the submarines are
partially snow covered. Snow remaining on top of the rudder, in the joint
between the fixed and movable portions of the rudder, or in the limber holes
is contrasted against the dark submarine. Oblique imagery is necessary
to identify limber hole differences, and it makes the rudder variance more
evident.
COUNTRY CODE
UR
75X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1>X1
Top IIR-030/77
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP78TO5698A000300010030-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP78TO5698A000300010030-1
Iq
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/17: CIA-RDP78TO5698A000300010030-1