THE SS-12

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00472A000600060002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 13, 2004
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 30, 1965
• Content Type: IM

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
30 December 1965
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The SS-12
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1. The Soviets have developed a 600-mile max-
imum range ballistic missile probably for support
of Front-level operations. The missile--named SS-12
by western intelligence
may currently be deployed.
It is probably mobile, ana -
able evidence suggests that it is a liquid-fuel,
singlq-gtnqp system with a nuclear payload capabil-
ity.
2. A mobile nuclear missile with the demonstrated
range of the SS-12 would serve well in the role of
a Front support weapon, supplementing the capabili-
ties of tactical air units organic to a Front. Likely
targets for the SS-12 would be major objectives--
bridgeheads, beachheads, airfields, etc.,--major
communications hubs, troop concentrations, and ports
deep in the rear of the Front's area of influence.
3. A Front is the highest Soviet wartime
level of operational command. A Front can include
armies, separate divisions and regiments of the
ground forces, its own air forces, and sometimes
naval forces. Fronts, however, have no fixed organ-
ization and are formed on the basis, of missions and
situations. The closest approximation to a Front
currently existing in the Soviet armed forces is the
"group of forces" located in East Germany.
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4. A Front organized for combat on a main
axis in Central Europe probably would comprise
about 20 divisions organized into five field
armies, plus organic air and missile support
units. Such a Front would operate in a zone
of action involving a width of 300.kilometers
(185 miles) and a deployment depth of 400 to 600
kilometers (250-375 miles) with an area of re-
sponsibility extending from 500 to 1,000 kilo-
meters (350-650 miles) ahead of the forward edge
of the battle area.
5e
last November
the Soviets displayed a new transporter-launcher
for the 150-mile Scud tactical missile, one with
wheels instead of the usual tank tracks. While
the missile shown with this transporter in Novem-
ber was the standard liquid-fuel Scud B, the
transporter appears capable of carrying a larger
missile, possibly the SS-12 or a follow-on missile
to the Scud.
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SPACE
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF SOVIET FRONT COMMAND
A S~pf.JDe- B Release -- I/ A/1 k: ,1,9T0047~AOOq 060002-8
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TOP SECRET
30 December 1965
Copy No. 8 9
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INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
THE SS-12
UU'.:(JMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGE`