SOVIET NAVAL EXERCISES NEAR KILDIN ISLAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005300250009-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 18, 2007
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: November 1, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300250009-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws. Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
COUNTRY USSR (Arctic)
SUBJECT 1. Soviet Naval Exercises near Kildin
Island
2. Port of Arkhangelsk
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Kildin Island. The formation was a considerable distance from
ship but the weather was clear.
practice in the area between Majakkaniemi (sic) and the east side of
15 November 1954
while enroute to Arkhangelsk,) (ship passed a
Soviet cruiser, two destroyers and two MTBs which were engaged in target
that the ship displayed a flag
2. The cruiser was a large vessel with a large tower-like bridge. It had two
stacks and there were two gun turrets on both the fore and afterdecks. 25X1
The foremast had a radar screen on top. There was a large space between
the forward stack and the aftermast which was larger than foremast. There 25X1
was some block and tackle equipment near the aftermast.
3. Each of the two destroyers was about 350 feet long. One of them displayed
flag The of the second vessel was
4. Each MTB had one stack and one mast. No other significant details could be
observed except that MTBs were much smaller than the destroyers.
firing to the west.
vessels. The targets appeared to be "bracketed" by vessels resembling MTBs.
A long towline was used and the targets were towed at a moderate speed.
6. At first the cruiser proceeded at moderate speed on a course south-by-south-
west; it then followed a zigzag course in a northeasterly direction while
two targets, one for the cruiser and one for the other
The cruiser employed its main batteries;
muzzle blasts and the hits but he did not know the elevation o
during the firing.
X ARMY
X NAVY AIR
Fal AEC
25X1
Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300250009-0
 Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-00810A005300250009-0
7. At first the cruiser fired two single shots which hit near the target.
This was followed by five or six salvos of three shots each; the salvos
were not fired simultaneously. The hits were-near the target, but each
of the three hits per salvo was a little short iju relation to the other.
The water spurt was high but informant did not observe any smoke or
flame.
8. The destroyers conducted their firing exercises close to the shore on the
east side of the area. The MTBs were closer inshore than the destroyers.
The destroyers fired with their main guns while at long range. Informant
could not observe any of the hits by the destroyers. The guns of the IHTBs
were not observed but informant heard automatic gunfire from these vessels.
No target was observed near the MTBs.
9'. At the conclusion of the firing exerciseithe destroyers joined the cruiser
and the MTBs remained with the targets. It appeared that the naval vessels
continued to keep at a considerable distance .-as' ship entered
10. In Arkhangelsk informant observed about 24 naval vessels of two different
types. The first type was a long sleek vessel with one stack, a foremast,
and a smaller afterma
t
Th
s
.
ere were about twelve vessels of this type.
The second type was equipped with a mine rack. The vessels yvrp
Sketch of Soviet Naval Vessel:
SECRET - US OFFICIALS ONLY
SECRET - US OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-00810A005300250009-0