SOVIET NAVAL VESSELS IN THE GULF OF FINLAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005900100007-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 11, 2008
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 7, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/02/11: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005900100007-2
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning 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 by law.
COUNTRY USSR (Baltic)
SUBJECT Soviet Naval Vessels in the'Gulf
of Finland.
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
REPORT
DATE DISTR. . 7 , March 1955
NO. OF PAGES 5
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
three Soviet destroyers were observed car-
target and another destroyer were painted light-gray.
type; two of them were painted dark-gray; the destroyer which towed the
N 59-53, E 23-1+0. At 1000 hours, a.SVERDLOV-class cruiser was sighted.
This cruiser, on an easterly course, proceeded at slow speed east of
Baltischport',.(Paldiski). The four destroyers were all of the SKORYY
rying out firing exercises at a target towed by a fourth destroyer at
25X1
25X1
(For the observed target practice see sketches
and _ legends on pages 3..5.
2.
a Soviet light-gray cruiser was sighted five miles south
f
i
ht
d
i
rom
com
ng
g
e
o lightship. The cruiser, which was first s
I an).easterly direction, turned back and steered an easterly course.
ship was believed to be a CRAPAYEV-class cruiser.
This
25X1
3. two Soviet cruisers were sighted; one was moored between. 25X1
6. The Leningrad lightship was not on its station, because it had been rammed
by a submarine and had to be drydocked. About one mile ., 25X1
west of the position on ngra lightship, three large mooring buoys
erly course about four miles from the position of Leningrad lightship.
5. a destroyer, apparently ex-German, was sighted on,a west-
was observed on a westerly course coming from north of Odensholm Island.
One of the two cruisers belonged to the.SVERDLOV-class, and the other to
the CHAPAYEV-class. Three of the destroyers were of the.SKORYY-class,
but the fourth destroyer differed from them in having no second mast. 25X1
was believed to be the MAKSIM GORKIY. It had only one triple turret aft
and a catapult installation for aircraft fitted between the two stacks.
The second cruiser. was believed to belong to the SVERDLOV-class.
4, a Soviet squadron of two cruisers and four destroyers 25X1
two anchors an the other was secured to a buoy between the Leningrad light-
ship and the north spit of the Tolbukin Bank. The cruiser riding at anchor
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NAVY f 'AIR
Note: Washington distribution indicate
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7.
8.
9.
were observed fixed about 500 meters apart on a line extending from east
to west. A large Soviet warship, clearly identified as a GANGUT-class ship
by her bent stack, was secured to one of these buoys.
Two vessels, apparently T-301-class minesweepers, were sighted.about five
miles northeast of the position of Leningrad lightship. Each towed a canvas-
less target. Two destroyers of similar type executed maneuvers farther west
and in the same direction. These destroyers were characterized py a raked
bow, a short forecastle, one turret on the forecastle and a second gun on
a step projecting from the bridge, a stepped bridge structure with fire-
control station equipped with a range finder on top, a'mast with topmast on
the'after~edge of the bridge, and two rather squat stacks. The forward stack,
which stood a little apart from the bridge, was of approximately the same
height as the bridge. High deck structures, reaching almost to the upper edge
of the stack,,were immediately aft of the forward stack. A small mast was seen
foward of the after stack, which also was followed by high deck structures.
A gun turret was seen on the after dbstroyer-island, and another gun turret
was mounted on deck.
a SVERDLOV-class cruiser was sighted secured 25X1
to a mooring.buoy not far from the position of the Leningrad lightship.
three warships showing riding lights were 25X1
warships included one SVERDLOV-class cruiser, a two-stack destroyer with no
after mast, and a small vessel which might have been a YASTREB-dlass torpedo
boat.
sighted near the north spit of Sursari Island (N 60-05, E 27-00). The three
erly course at N 49-481-E 24-30. It stopped and subsequently steered various
courses at slow speed. This destroyer had a very raked bow; a forecastle
extending about one-third of its total length; a bridge structure on the
forecastle, with the rear end about flush with-the after edge of the forecastle;
a short, thick, raked stack; two masts, the forward one fitted close to the
after edge of 'the bridge; two superimposed guns on the forecastle; and one
gun aft.
a destroyer 'was sighted moving at high speed on a north- 25X1
E 30-00. They proceeded on a northerly. course at a speed between 25 and
35 knots and developed thick smoke.
two destroyers were observed near position N 48-30, 25X1
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Legend to the Sketches of the Target Practice of a Soviet Fleet Squadron
1. Run of first destroyer
2. Run of second destroyer
3.. Run of third destroyer
4. Destroyer towing the target
5. Passing ship
At 0935 hours the destroyer towing the target reversed course, the third
destroyer altered course to 210 degrees and a little later to 050 degrees,
the second destroyer altered course to 250 degrees and'the first destroyer
to 030 degrees. At 0937 hours the second destroyer- altered course toward
the target and, at 0940 hours, steered 200 degrees. The other two destroy-
ers steamed away at high speed on an easterly course.
II. Situation at 1005 hours
1. First destroyer
2. Second destroyer
3. Third destroyer
4. Fourth destroyer towing the target
5. Passing ship
6. SVERDLOV-class cruiser
A SVERDLOV-clase cruiser on an easterly course was sighted at 1000 hours.
The destroyer towing'the target steamed past the cruiser north of Destroyer
No. 2 took an easterly course and was about four miles from the target.
Destroyers Nos. 1 and 3 changed. course to 24,0 degrees and were about eight
or'nine miles from the target.
III. Situation at 1030 hours
The third destroyer fired from her forward and after guns at the target.
No splashes or hits were observed.
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Sketch No. 1.
Situation at 0930 hours:
Sketch No. 2.
Situation at 1005 hour's:
ayo
30
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Sketch No. 3.
Situation at 1030 hours:
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DL
y
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