LINDENAU SHIPYARD IN KLAIPEDA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003600070005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 11, 2002
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 8, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/12/05 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600070005-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CONFIDENTIAL
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COUNTRY USSR (Lithuanian SSR)'
SUBJECT Lindenau Shipyard in Klaipeda
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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.S. 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
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1. ? In-October' 1950, the former .,Lindenau Shipyard, located,.upst'ream from
Klaipeda., consisted of three building slips. The northern Islip was 120 meters.
25X1 long, the middle 100 meters long, and the southern t0 meters long. The
scaffolds were heavy iron structures with crabs. There was no crane.
The launching direction was at right angles with the-river. The water in
front of the three slipways was 7.5 meters deep. a
Soviet plan,for the middle building slip, which was scheduled to be length-
ened to 130 meters and to be fitted with a gate-locked entrance, would be
executed in the spring of 1951. A 90-meter slipway was also planned.
2. Prior to 1950, several lighters of up to 2,000-tons deadweight, about four
25X1 1,200-hp tugboats, a bucket-dredge, some 43-m drifters (sic),and auxiliaries
of up to 3,000 dwt had been built in the shipyard, which
could also build light warships, but no heavy warships.
3. The managing board of the yard was staffed by Soviets. Fifty percent of
the labor force of 2,000 workers were Lithuanians. Skilled welders, lathe
operators,and locksmiths were badly wanted. Vocational training was in-
ade quate,as the instructors at the apprentice shop-in the shipyard could
be made available only from time to time.
4. Material for the shipyard arrived by rail and bore cast inscriptions in
either.the Russian or the Czech language. Electric power was supplied
by the-municipal power station. A shipyard power station was scheduled to
be completed in 1952 and to be given a MAN-type 850-hp Diesel engine and,
later, two Diesel engines with an aggregate power of 1,000 hp which were
to come from war stocks (sic). Prior to October 1950, all plans for the
shipyard were behind schedule and some were cancelled. Welding electrodes
and, later, rivets were in short supply. Target dates fixed for orders
could not be met because the material usually failed to have the proper
dimensions. The Soviet key engineers were frequently exchanged.
STATE ARMY
x INAVY
%xv
PAX
AIR FBI
AEC
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8 March 1954
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(Note: Washington DistributiXp CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600070005-0
 Approved For Release 2005/12/05 : CIA-RDP80-0081 X1600070005-0
CONFIDENTIAL
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5. Two sections of a floating dock capable of lifting about 2,000 tons and
a 1,000-dwt merchant steamer were under construction in October 1950, when
the shipyard still lacked vital machinery, including multiple lathes,
planers, and milling. machines. Some toolmakers' benches from war stocks
proved unserviceable because essential parts had been removed. Hull plates
occasionally did not meet specifications. large ship-
ments for the shipyard were always escorted by Soviet soldiers,as trains
had frequently been attacked and railroad tracks and embankments had been
damaged.
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the plan of making Klaipeda a naval base had been dropped
because of heavy damages by the incoming swell during westerly winds.- Revetment
work on the river banks near Bommelsvitte started in early 1950 It was rumored
that warship berths for the Soviet Navy would be built there.
lComment:
1. The swell in Klaipeda harbor was reported as insignificant
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CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2005/12/05 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600070005-0