SHIHCHING ARSENAL, CANTON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003600850004-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 4
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/11/15: CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600850004-4
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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 to prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form Is prohibited.
CONFIDFNT.IAL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS Ci1LY
China
SUBJECT Shihching Arsenal, Canton
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
24 February 1954
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
'THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. During late 1952 the Shihching (4258/0064) Arsenal1 in Canton was reorganized
by the Ordnance Department of the Ministry of Heavy industry of the Chinese
Communist Central and South China Military Committee and was renamed the
32 Ordnance 'a.ctory.3 The 32 Ordnance Factory was. then attached to the
Ordnance Department,
2e The 32 Ordnance Factory, consisting of assembly and manufacturing divisions,'
had established two smaller factories, one at Hsikuan (6007/7070), Canton,
25X1 engaged in the manufacture of ammunition, and the second at Yunghannan (3057/
3352/0589), engaged in the manufacture of machine-gun parts.
3. The 32 Ordnance 'a.ctory employed approximately 5,000 laborers, more than 50
Soviet technicians, and a Soviet adviser, Ho-sha-sing (5440/3097/3942).
4. Production at the factory consisted of light and heavy machine guns, 7.92,-mm
rifles, s.ub tiachine guns, 60-mm.and 82-mm.mortars, and parts for howitzers
and artillery pieces. Between May and October 1953 this installation was pro-
ducing about 500 60 mm.mortars per month.
1.,. This plant, which is the main arsenal in the Canton
comp ex, ,s also known as the Hsinnan Arms Factory and is known to be
producing small arms and ammunition. Reportedly, it has also produced
mortars a d some artillerv,
In early
December 1951 th ns a a on was engaged in the production of shells,
hand grenades, and other ammunition, and that the staff of the Shihching
Arsenal had been Increased during December by the addition of more than
400 Soviet advisers.
CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
X AIR X_
Approved For Release 2006/11/15: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003600850004-4
 Approved For Release 2006/11/15: CIA-RDP80-0081OA003600850004-4
CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
2. Other information indicates that Chinese Communist
arsenals are probably run by the national Second Ministry of Machine
Industry.
IComment. According to available information dated late July 1952,
an installation by this name was in Chungking (N 29-35, F 106-35) and was
engaged in similar production. The Far East Command's Intelligence
St,nmx , Number 4064, October 1953, reported the existence in Tsitsihar
(N 47-20, E 123-57) during 1952 and 1953 of an installation known as the
32 Arsenal.
CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/11/15: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003600850004-4