SOVIET WARSHIPS IN THE BALTIC SEA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001500260007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 13, 2005
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: June 10, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/05/24: CIA-RDP80-0081OA001500260007-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
$ECRET~
SUBJECT
PLACE ACQUIRED
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USSR
Soviet Warships in the Baltic Sea
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This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.B. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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.. At about 0830 gn 22 November 1952, a Soviet destroyer was sighted off
Tiiskeri (N 60,.10,E 26-15)3,steering an easterly course. Visibility
was poor, with occasional blizzards. The destroyer, which was about
1.5 or 2 nautical miles away, had three funnels and a raised platform
with free guriq between the second and third funnels. She was followed
at about 500 meters by three smaller vessels which had thin funnels, a
low bridge, and aflush fantail. The speed of this formation was esti-
mated at O out eight knots.2
2. At about 600 hours EET on 22 November 1952, a Soviet formation was
sighted o the Tallinn lightship (It 59-4+3) E P-4-44). It consisted of
eight veal is proceeding in line ahead about 400 meters apart, at a
cruiping speed of about 12 knots. They came from the direction of the
Tallinn lightship and entered the Porkkala prohibited area. They were
all of one type,.:arid were between 70 and" 80 meters long, with a straight
bow, and a short forecastle, on which was mounted a gun fitted with splin-
ter shields. Behind the short, squat bridge structure was a mast. S
rather low funnel, and a long, low aft leck with low superstructure and
a square stern.' No armament was observed on the ? "afterdeck, nor were aiy
figures or names observed on the hulls.3 These vessels were met by three
other craft just before reaching the prohibited area. The latter I can
from the direction of 'orkkalA and were similar-to-motor minesweepers,
having ,a clipper bow, a short forecastle, an enclosed conning tower, and
a long afterdeck with a square stern. pi 25X1
lot vessels. One of'them took the lea or the group, while e two others
proceeded abeam.
3.
At 1300 on 13 December 1952, a Soviet destroyer was sighted off Moeven-
haken, 20 nautical miles southwest of Baltiysk (N 54-38, E 19-52), in very
hazy weather.' This twin-funneled destroyer, which steered a south-
southwesterly course and turned to a north-northwesterly course about 15
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10 June 1953
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minutes later, was similar to a German HANS LODY class destroyer.
At 1700 hours on 13 December 1952, at dusk, a formation of three Soviet.
warships was sighted about 25 nautical miles northwest of Baltiyek.
At about 1100 hours on 16 December 1952, about 22 nautical miles west-
northwest of Baltiysk, a destroyer with two funnels was spotted about
six nautical miles away. After steering .a northwesterly course~it sud-
denly reversed course, apparently to return to Baltiysk. At about 1300
hours, what may have been the same destroyertreappeared from the direction
of Baltiysk. The destroyer, which was making between 14 and 16 knots, had
two funnels of the same type, with tops slightly curved toward the stern
and without smoke hoods or black top bands, two superimposed single-barrel
gun turrets on the foredeck, two similar gun turrets, with one gun each,
aft, and a mattress-shaped radar set on the bridge. The destroyer hoisted
a signal flag at her port signal yard and shortly thereafter swung to
port, setting its course for Baltiysk.5
? two of them were destro rsand the other a 2 5X1-
cruiser, The vessels had two funnels each, 25X1
details because of the darkness. The three ships were proceeding in
line at a distance of between 1,800 and 2,000 meters
they were cruising in company, cause
of the darkness. They were steering a southwesterly course, 25X1
assumed that they were heading for Baltiyek.
1. Comment. These coordinates for Tiiskeri'are given as
25X11. they appeared in the original report, although Tiiskeri has not been
located,
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, The destroyer here mentioned is possibly a LENIN class
vessel M all destroyers of this class in the Baltic were either sunk
or seriously damaged during the war, no three-funneled destroyers have
been reported in the Baltic since World War II. It is possible, however,
that the-Soviets have repaired one of these destroyers,. The three
smaller vessels were presumably minesweepers.
25X1 3.~1 apiment. These vessels are believed to be T class minesweepers.
25X1 4. Comment.. This sentence appears to be garbled, since
Moeveinbaken is not to the southwest of Baltiysk, but is well to the
northeast, at N'55-05, E 20-42.
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Cp nt. A Soviet destroyer type with two funnels curved toward
the stern and without. smoke hoods is unknown here. The vessel
was possibly a. LENINGRAD class destroyer.
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SECEET
Approved For Release 2005/05/24: CIA-RDP80-0081OA001500260007-0