RUSSIAN BALTIC SHIPYARD NO. 890 IN TALLINN, ESTONIAN SSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01093A000900080003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 6, 1999
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: June 7, 1955
• Content Type: IR

k9 ~A-RDP01+Q93A0o090Q;08Q003-9
SSIAN BALTIC SHIPYARD NO. 890,
:1N-, TALLINN, ESTONIAN ,, SSR
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 This. material contains information. affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,,'
Title 118,' USC, Secs. 793 and 794, :the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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fi't'-R - F-
PROVISIONAL INTELLIGENCE REPORT
RUSSIAN BALTIC SHIPYARD NO. 890
IN TALLINN,, ESTONIAN SSR
CIA/RR PR-114+
(ORR Project 35.507)
NOTICE
The data and conclusions contained in this report do not
necessarily represent the final position of ORR and should
be regarded as provisional only and subject to revision.
Comments and additional data which may be available to the
user are solicited.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
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This report on the Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890 is one of a
series of Soviet shipyard studies made in an effort better to assess
the capabilities of the Soviet shipbuilding and ship-repair industry.
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CONTENTS
Page
Summary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
I. Name and Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
II. History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
III. Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
IV. Importance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
V. Building and Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
VI. Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
VII. Labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
VIII. Sources of Power and Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IX. Capabilities and Vulnerabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Vulnerabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Appendixes
Appendix A. Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Appendix B. Gaps in Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Appendix C. Source References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
L -.U, _U -11 -Z -.L
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Chart
Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890, Tallinn, Inside
Estonian SSR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
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cIA/RR PR-111i
(ORR Project 35.507)
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RUSSIAN BALTIC SHIPYARD NO. 890, IN TALLINN, ESTONIAN SSR*
Summary and Conclusions
The Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890, in Tallinn, Estonian SSR,
is an important ship-repair and modernization yard in the Baltic Sea
area of the Soviet Bloc. The shipyard was reconstructed by the Russians
after World War II, but no building ways were added. The major function
of the shipyard is the repair and modernization of naval vessels of
fleet destroyer size and smaller, including submarines in the Soviet
Baltic Naval Fleet. The shipyard also serves the fleet as a refueling
station. The vulnerable location of the shipyard at the mouth of the
Gulf of Finland and the development of shipyards elsewhere in the USSR
and the European Satellites for the construction of naval and merchant
vessels make the shipyard an unlikely site for the construction of
new vessels.
The shipyard has about 3,650 feet of quay and pier berthing space,
of which 1,250 feet are allocated for refueling activities. The
remaining 2,400 feet of quay and pier frontage, together with the
floating drydock, permit the simultaneous repair of 9 fleet destroyers
or 17 W-class submarines. Machine shops, foundry and forges, and hull
fabrication shops have been developed to support adequately all repair
and modernization activities. Current employment is estimated at 3,500
persons.
The proximity of the shipyard to the Leningrad-Moscow industrial
area adds considerably to the efficiency of the yard through the
availability and the relatively short rail haul of components.
* The estimates and conclusions contained in this report represent
the best judgment of ORR as of 1 April 1955.
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I. Name and Location.
The Soviet Shipyard No. 890, commonly known as the Russian Baltic
Shipyard No. 890 and also known as Kopli No. 2, Kopli No. 890, or
Vene-Baltic, is situated on the tip of the Teliskopli Neem Peninsula,
approximately 4.9 nautical miles southeast of Naissaar Island and 1.5
nautical miles southwest of the northwest tip of Paljassaar Island.
It is roughly 3.5 miles west-northwest of the center of Tallinn
(formerly Reval), Estonian SSR, in Economic Region IIa:* The shipyard
is approximately 170 nautical miles by water and 230 miles by rail west
of Leningrad. J** The plane coordinates are latitude 59?27'48" N -
longitude 24?39'28" E. J
The approach to the shipyard from the Gulf of Finland is through
open waters. Tides do not affect navigation, and variations up to 4
feet in the water level are due almost entirely to winds. Ice interferes
with navigation from the middle of January to the end of February.
Icebreakers, however, usually are able to maintain open channels during
the winter. J
The mean annual temperature is 400 F. Extreme recorded temperatures
are 89? F in July and minus 19? F in February. J
The shipyard is about 3,000 feet long by 1,200 feet wide and covers
an area of 4.19 million square feet, or approximately 96 acres.
Tallinn is an important railroad terminal for railroads which
connect the city with Leningrad, the Latvian SSR, and other parts of
the USSR. A Soviet standard-gauge rail line connects the shipyard
with the city of Tallinn. J
II. History.
The Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890 in Tallinn had its origin during
the days of the czars when Estonia was a province of the Russian Empire.
The shipyard had eight shipbuilding ways and was an important shipyard
for the construction of new vessels. The shipyard suffered much damage
during World War I and was not reconstructed during the period of
* The term region in this report refers to the economic regions de-
fined and numbered on CIA Map 12048.1, 9-51 (First Revision, 7-52),
USSR: Economic Regions.
** For serially numbered source references, see Appendix C.
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Estonian independence. During the latter period, several unrelated
private enterprises occupied a few buildings, but there were no ship-
building or ship-repair activities. 1
Further damage was done to the shipyard during World War II.
Following the war, reconstruction was started under the supervision of
Soviet engineers with prisoner-of-war labor. Description of the
reconstruction by many of these prisoners of war indicated that the ship-
yard was being developed to repair naval vessels, including submarines,
and to serve as a refueling station for naval vessels. At the time
when the prisoners of war left the shipyard in late 1949, no recon-
struction work had been started on the shipbuilding ways. No confirmed
reports of ship construction have since been received, and it is
believed that the principal activity has been naval ship repair. J
III. Organization.
As the shipyard is engaged principally in the servicing of naval
vessels, it probably comes under the cognizance of the Ministry of
Shipbuilding (Ministerstvo Sudostroitel'noy Promyshlennosti -- MSP).
IV. Importance.
The city of Tallinn is the capital, the largest city, and the most
important economic center and port in the Estonian SSR. Since World War
II this port-has become the main advanced base of the Baltic Fleet. The
city of Tallinn, lying within the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, is well
placed to defend the sea approaches to Leningrad. J The operations
of this naval base are supported in part by the repair facilities of the
Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890.
V. Building and Facilities.
Information on development of the Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890
in Tallinn since late 19+9 is sparse. Much work remained to be done
when the prisoners of war were repatriated in late 1949, and it is
doubtful that the shipyard was fully activated until about 1952. ?/
Buildings and facilities have been reconstructed in a permanent manner,
indicating that the shipyard will be integrated into Soviet long-range
planning.
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Intrayard transportation is chiefly by railroad of Soviet standard
gauge . 10
The shipyard is protected on the land side by a fence aboux: 6 feet
high. All entrances are guarded by armed guards, and entrance is by
pass only. 11
The chart of the shipyard,* developed from aerial photography but
revised to agree with various intelligence reports, is believed to
present a reasonably accurate picture. 12 Shops in addition, to those
shown on the chart probably have been added, and mobile heavy lift
facilities have been installed along the quays and piers: There are
no reports that the original shipbuilding ways have been reconcstructed.
However, it is significant that during the reconstruction the old ways
were not demolished and no new buildings were erected close by which
might interfere with the future development in this area.
Following the war, buildings 29 and 31 were occupied by industry
not related to shipbuilding. Building 29, formerly known as the ETKVL
plant, was engaged in the production of farm machinery. Building 31
was engaged in the manufacture of bricks. During the reconversion
period it was reported that these activities would be transferred to
other locations in the Tallinn area and that the buildings would be
converted into shops for the shipyard. 13 It is probable that, this
conversion took place by 1952.
The shipyard has a floating drydock capable of docking vessels of
fleet destroyer size. 14
VI. Production.
The Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890 in Tallinn probably was not
equipped for full production until about 1952. A few destroyers and
other small naval vessels were overhauled during 1948-49. Because
the heavy lift facilities had not been installed on the repair quays,
work on these vessels was accomplished with a 20-ton floating crane. 15
There are no reports of production since late 1949. It is estimated,
however, that the yard has been in full operation since 1952, engaging
principally in major overhaul and possibly modernization of destroyers
and smaller naval vessels.
* Inside back cover.
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Shop production is believed to be confined largely to rebuilding
worn or damaged parts of vessels and assembling of new components for
replacement. It is doubtful whether any major production of compo-
nents is accomplished.
VII. Labor.
Assuming that the Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890 in Tallinn is
engaged in repair and modernization work only, it is estimated that
the current total employment is 3,500 persons. The shipyard probably
follows the practice of other shipyards in the USSR and operates on
one principal 8-hour shift, with certain shops and possibly some
vessel repair of high priority working additional shifts.
VIII. Sources of Power and Materials.
Electric power is supplied by the 50,000-kw Tallinn Thermal Power
Plant. 16
Because of the proximity to the Leningrad-Moscow-Ukraine industrial
and steel-producing region, adequate sources of supply for machinery,
electrical and electronic equipment, and iron and steel are available
to the shipyard through relatively short rail hauls.
IX. Capabilities and Vulnerabilities.
A. Capabilities.
The Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890 in Tallinn has adequate piers,
quays, floating drydocks, and shops to effect repair and modernization
of hull and machinery and possibly of electronic equipment on naval
vessels of fleet destroyer size and smaller.
Assuming that one quay, No. 7 on the shipyard chart,* will be
used exclusively for refueling, the remaining quay and pier facilities,
including the floating drydock, provide berthing space for the simul-
taneous repair of 9 fleet destroyers or 17 W-class submarines.
Although the shipbuilding facilities were not reconstructed,
the shipyard is ,a potential shipbuilding yard. It is estimated that
within a period of 9 to 12 months the old building ways could be
rebuilt, new platens for the assembly of hull subsections could be
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constructed, and other facilities related to new construction could be
brought into production. The undeveloped area adjacent to the old
shipbuilding ways could easily be developed into platen areas for the
assembly of hull subsections, and the shipbuilding ways could be
reconstructed to provide building facilities for the simultaneous
construction of 2 cruisers and 6 coastal destroyers or 6 Z-class
submarines. The supporting shops in the shipyard are believed to be
adequate to produce new vessels, assuming that all hull steel would
be fabricated and assembled within the shipyard from rolled plates
and shapes, that light castings and forgings would be produced within
the shipyard, that all machinery would be assembled and installed, and
that probably all naval ordnance would be installed. Machinery, ordnance,
heavy castings, and forgings, including propellers and propeller shafts,
would be procured from the industrial area of Leningrad,, probably from
one of the larger shipyards in Leningrad. The development of the ship-
yard to construct new vessels would practically preclude repair work.
It is believed, however, because of the following reasonE, that
any future expansion of the shipyard will be in the direction of ad-
ditional repair facilities such as graving docks and marine railways,
constructed in the area of the old building ways, rather than development
as a shipbuilding yard: (1) the proximity of the shipyard to the Baltic
area of the Naval Fleet operations as well, as to the fleet's base in
Tallinn makes it ideally situated for fleet maintenance support; (2) the
apparent trend of the USSR to develop naval shipbuilding facilities
within the interior or at least in less vulnerable locations such as
Molotovsk, Nikolayev, and Komsomol'sk indicates a trend toward sites
that can be protected for a longer period of time in case of war, and
(3) the use of the yard to build merchant vessels is believed to be
very remote in view of the merchant shipbuilding capabilities in the
Baltic region of the Soviet Bloc.
B. Vulnerabilities.
The Russian Baltic Shipyard No. 890 in Tallinn probably has
developed into a well-coordinated plant. As the shipyard is located
about 230 miles, by rail, west of Leningrad and has good railroad
connections with the Leningrad industrial area, it can safely be
assumed that sources of supply available to the shipbuilding industry
in Leningrad will be available to the shipyard. Probably the most
critical item in the operation of 'the shipyard is an adequate supply
of skilled labor. The shipyard, operating as an adjunct to the Soviet
Naval Forces, undoubtedly enjoys a higher priority for the procurement
of labor and materials than do repair yards of the merchant or river
fleets.
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APPENDIX A
METHODOLOGY
This report was compiled chiefly from post-World War II intelli-
gence. The determination of the use to which the shipyard would be
put was derived principally from an analysis of reports by repatri-
ated prisoners of war and to a lesser degree was confirmed by other
intelligence reports and digests.
The chart of the shipyard was compiled by using 1944 aerial
photography as a base and revising this base to agree with reported
development since 1944.
The labor force was estimated by using a factor of 200 square feet
per employee and calculating the total area of all buildings, including
the area of multiple floors and a space of 30 feet along each pier and
quay. This method evolved from data obtained from a number of US
shipyards and has been found to agree in general with data obtained
from shipyards in East Germany (see CrA/RR 42, The Shipbuilding Industr
in East Germany, 1 Oct 54, SUS ONLY) and in Czechoslovakia (see CIA/BR 31,
The Shipbuilding Industry of Czechoslovakia, 19 Mar 54, S/US ONLY).
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APPENDIX B
GAPS IN INTELLIGENCE
Information is required on the current status of development of
facilities and the availability and competence of labor in the Russian
Baltic Shipyard No. 890. Data on the type and amount of work performed;
on the technology; on the source and availability of raw, semifinished,
and finished material; and on capital investment, budgets, and adminis-
trative control are also needed.
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APPENDIX C
SOURCE REFERENCES
The compilation of data and the preparation of estimateb and
conclusions were derived from research in the files of the Industrial
Register, the CIA Library, and the Graphics Register.
The documents from the Industrial Register were mainly raw intelli-
gence consisting chiefly of prisoner-of-war reports. The reliability
of single reports could be evaluated only on the basis of their contri-
bution to this report as a whole. The composite of selected reports
may be given a rating of RR 3 (possibly true).
Publications of IAC agencies and a few intelligence reports and
digests prepared by foreign governments have been given a high
evaluation, as they represent the considered opinion of experienced
observers and analysts.
Evaluations, following the classification entry and designated
"Eval.," have the following significance:
Source of Information
Doc. - Documentary
A - Completely reliable
B - Usually reliable
C - Fairly reliable
D - Not usually reliable
E - Not reliable
F - Cannot be judged
1 - Confirmed by other sources
2 - Probably true
3 - Possibly true
4 - Doubtful
5 - Probably false
6 - Cannot be judged
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"Documentary" refers to original documents of foreign governments
and organizations; copies or translations of such documents by a staff
officer; or information extracted from such documents by a staff
officer, all_of which may carry the field evaluation "Documentary."
Evaluations not otherwise designated are those appearing on the
cited document; those designated "RR" are by the author of.this report.
No "RR" evaluation is given when the author agrees with the evaluation
on the cited document.
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 Gulf of Finland
1. Pumping station (Oil storage)
Finland 2. Oil storage ORIENTATION MAP
O 3. Warehouse
of
4. Office building 0 a i N;Ie
f
5. Pumping station (Fuel oil to Quays 7 and 8)
G~t
15 feet high 0 s 1 silemele,
concrete
Sea wall
6
,
,
.
7. Quay, 1250 feet
8. Quay, 600 feet TELISKOPLI 'ALJASSAAI
a. Pier, 500 feet SHIPYARD NEEM
9. Quay, 800 feet No. 890
10. Undeveloped area TaUinna Reid
11. Shop building, use unknown
12. Sawmill
13. Blacksmith shop
14. Warehouse G,; o
15. Transformer station .e4
16. Oil storage N LQ,I
`
17. Fire house
18. Two shipbuilding ways, 755 feet long
19. Three former crane rails -
v Ul .. 1 i ?II/c 20. Barracks
k
21. Barrac
s T A L L I N N
22. Foundry and forge
23. Undeveloped area
24. Heating and steam plant
370 feet long
u
Six former shipbuilding ways
25
_
,
.
n 26. Three former crane rails
Hull fabrication shop o 40
27. o 1o z
lj a. Administrative and engineering offices
gA
~
;," 'il,b, b. First floor: Fabrication shop
,..
Sew
/i4'1, Second floor: Mold loft
c. Assembly shop
.. ,.. ..
d- Carpenter shop
~, O
t~ Ir
e
Stora
s
~
e and small sho
,
.
g
p
~
28. Oxygen and acetylene gas producing shop o\
29. Machine shop (former ETKVL plant for
00
manufacture of farming implements) $
30
. 1. Shop building, use unknown (former brick rr 0?S FINLAAND~
'c 3
/
manufacturing plant)
Machine shop k'
ps
32
o
.
33. Warehouse
34. Old brick clay pit os1.o; HF[SINKI
5
h
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. Guard
3
ouse e
36 Guard towers N
hway - - >?Awen1 O _
10 U'
~r o L J. S. R.
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LOCATION MAP
12
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1 /- 1 I/ PFPLIN O 0 200 M~ ?s
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31 35 37
VENE-BALTI BASIN
as r=`
RUSSIAN BALTIC
SHIPYARD NO. 890 36 6 +
TALLINN, ESTONIAN S.S.R.
(59?27'48"N.- 24`39'28"E.)
Building -.,-.- Railroad
Former facilities not reconstructed -x'\, , x- Boundary fence and gate
0 100 200 400 600 800 1000
Feet (Approximate)
0 50 100 150 200
Meters (Approximate)
13781 5-55
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