USE OF SOVIET WEAPONS BY BULGARIAN MILITARY UNITS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003900230007-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2010
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 31, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003900230007-7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION' REPORT
0S!$
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 799, 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.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Use of Soviet Weapons by
Bulgarian Military Units
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 31 March 195
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES 25X1
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. The special section of the Army General Staff in Sofia which is charged with the
organization of the Bulgarian Army along Soviet lines, is at present working on
armament and tactics designated to bring Bulgarian units on a par with those of
the Soviet Army.
3.
5?
Light "Bran" and "Zbrojovka" machine guns, of Czech manufacture, and "Maksimil,
of German manufacture, already in, use by the infantry, have been replaced by
the Soviet 7.65 mm. "Sokolov" model gun. This replacement has been completed
for the present in the .l Army of Sofia and in the 2 Army of Plovdiv:
Furthermore, "Maksim" and "Schwartzlosei+ heavy machine guns of 8 mm. have been
withdrawn and replaced with the Soviet 8 mm. "Degtyarev" heavy machine gun.
Such replacements will also be adopted for all light arms used by the Bulgarian
Army. The "Walter" and "Parabellum" 9 mm. machine guns will be replaced by the
7.62 mm. Soviet "M.P." gun.
Units of the 1 Army which took part in maneuvers at Dupnitsa and Radomir this
year were issued these new Soviet weapons for short range combat. It should
be noted that the military plant of Kazanluk has enlarged its munitions section
and is at present producing, as compared with 19119, twice as much ammunition
of 6.75, 7.62, 8, and 9 mm, that is nine million more rounds.
Twice during the above mentioned maneuvers live ammunition was fired so that the
units involved could get the feel of real combat.
6. The following changes have taken place this year in the Army and were noted
during the maneuvers near Radomir which took place in January 1951:
a. Special mountain units were dissolved and no longer exist as an autonomous
arm? they were equipped with 60 mm. artillery iece
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
STATE X ARMY EY X NAVY 3ETAIR X FBI AEC
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003900230007-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003900230007-7
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
b. The "Bofors" cannon.. were replaced with the Soviet "ZIS" model, 76.2 mm.
cannon which are now used by field artillery units attached to infantry
regiments; each regiment has one battery.
7. The above information only concerns units which took part in the maneuvers and
it is possible that they were armed in this manner specifically for the maneuvers.
8. The formation of large antitank units, which previously were subdivided into
batteries and battalions, has started. At the present time the formation of
the first Bulgarian antitank regiment is in progress.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003900230007-7