SOVIET NAVAL ACTIVITIES IN THE GULF OF FINLAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003600810010-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 10, 2002
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: March 15, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/07/23 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600810010-2
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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.
SECRETfCONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
25X1 PDATE OF INFO.
USSR (Baltic)
Soviet Naval Activities in the
Gulf of Finland
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
SOURCE:
25X1A
15 March 1954
2
25X1X
25X1A 1. two large Soviet warships, probably cruisers,
were sighted off Hiiumaa , F 22-13). The ships, which were about 1,50
meters long, had two stacks andtwo twin turrets, one ox the rather long fore-
deck, and.the other on the fantail. They were about one-half nautical mile apart
and were proceeding at a speed of approximately 20 knots on'northeaeterly
course parallel to informant's ship. The two Soviet ships turned off in an
easterly direction when Hiiumaa was abeam.,,
25X1A 2.
two identical Soviet cruisers with two stacks
and four triple turrets mounted in pairs, forward and aft, were sighted between
Osmuseaar (N 59-18, E 23-22) and Paldiski. The first cruiser, which was steering
a west-southwesterly course, disappeared from eight at 1115 hours. The second
cruiser, which belched thick smoke from her after stack, proceeded on an east-
southeasterly course at a speed of ai:out nine or ten knots, but reversed
course at 1130 hours. At 1140 hours, the cruiser altered course to north-
Liorthwest and, at 1150 hours, turned southeast, at the same time increasing its
speed to 16 knots. At noon, when informant's ship was in position N 59-43,
E 23-52, the cruiser altered its course to southwest, turning away at high speed.
25X1A 3. I I when Porkkala bore 43? true and Naissaar
(N 59-35, E 24-30) 120 true, a target and a destroyer were sighted at 1750 true.
The destroyer had two stacks and two tripod masts, including a smaller one just
forward of the after stack, and had a displacement of 2,000 tons. At 1230 hours
the destroyer, which was on a westerly course, reversed course, passed north
of the target, and again altered its course to southeast. At 1315 the'destroyer
disappeared while the target remained in sight.
25X1A 4.
At 1250 hours, two Soviet M-type minesweepers, I Iwere sighted ne25X1
berth No. 9 near Porkkala. They came from the direction of Porkkala, disappeared on
a southerly course, and were followed at a distance of about two nautical miles
by a German-type landing craft which had a small crane on her forward end.
a tugboat with three loaded lighters was seen
steering approximately 800 true, about seven nautical miles southwest of Porkkala.
25X1A SECRET/CONTROL - US OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2002/07/23 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600810010-2
 Approved For Release 2002/07/23 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600810010-2
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25X1A
5. Between 0?O hours and 0800 hours, 18 October 1 a group of three destroyers
was.sighted -between Osmussaar and Hiiumaa, 25X1
They steered a westerly course at a speed of about 25 knots in line
ahead formation, which was altered to a starboard quarter formation when
they were They were between 250 and 300 meters
apart and developed little smoke, proceeding almost without noise. Both
these ships had a rather long forecastle, an almost vertical stem, a forward
stack which was a little higher than the bridge, an after stack which was only
.a little lower and thinner than the forward stack, and a three-stage, very
long bridge. A gun turret was mounted on the step of the bridge, a single--guts
turret on the forecastle, a single-gun turret and a double-barreled antiaircraft'
gun on the short island-like structure amidships and another gun turret on the
fantail. Several antiaircraft gun positions were located between the stacks
and a torpedo launcher was placed abeam the second stack.
SECRET/CONTROL U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2002/07/23 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600810010-2