POSSIBLE SOVIET SUBMARINES IN TONKIN GULF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200290006-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2000
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: May 14, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

14 MAY 1954
Approved-For Release 2000/08/30 : CIA-RDP80RO1443R000200290006-4
NSC BRIEFING
25X1X7A
4. ON THE 14TH OF MAY TASK FORCE 72 VESSELS
HAD RADAR CONTACTS WHICH WERE EVALUATED AS POSSIBLY
SUBMARINES.
5.
CLAIMED TO HAVE EVIDENCE THAT SOVIET SUBMARINES WERE
OPERATING BETWEEN HAINAN AND TONIC]'.
6. HAS INDICATIONS 25X1X7A
THAT TWO SUBMARINES NORMALLY BASED AT PORT ARTHUR
HAVE NOT BEEN IN PORT SINCE LATE MARCH.
7. ON THE BALANCE ONI BELIEVES THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT THERE MAY BE THREE SOVIET SUBMARINES
OPERATING IN THE TONKIN GULF. HOWEVER, THIS
INFORMATION IS NOT FIRM SINCE NO DEFINITE IDENTITY
OF THE SUBMARINES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
ONI DECLASSIFICATION/RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS ON FILE
Approved For Release 2000/08/30 P80R01443R000200290006-4
 Approved FQr Release 2000/0%W. CIA-RDP8OR0'44 0b&002a0006-4
NSC BRIEFING
POSSIBLE SOVIET SUBMARINES IN TONKIN GULF
1. ON 2 APRIL A US DESTROYER, EQUIPPED WITH
ELECTRONICS DETECTION EQUIPMENT, DETECTED SIGNALS
FROM AN SJ TYPE SURFACE SEARCH RADAR KNOWN TO BE
USED BY SOVIET SUBMARINES. THE DESTROYER WAS IN THE
TONKIN GULF AT THE TIME.
2. ON 25 AND 28 APRIL TWO US AIR FORCE PLANES
SIGHTED ONE AND THEN TWO SUBMARINES IN THE TONKIN GULF.
3. ON 2 MAY A US MERCHANTMAN WAS CHALLENGED
38 MILES OFF YULIN BY WHAT IT IDENTIFIED AS A
SUBMARINE. THE MASTER STATED THAT THE SUBMARINE WAS
IN COMPANY WITH ONE OTHER SUBMARINE
ON 30 APRIL THE SOVIET FLEET TANKER
"VOLGA-DON" LEFT SINGAPORE BOUND FOR WHAMPOA.
ONI SPECULATED THAT THIS VESSEL COULD HAVE BEEN
INTENDED TO REFUEL THE SUBMARINES IN THE TONKIN
GULF AND THAT THE SUBMARINES WHICH CHALLENGED
THE US MERCHANTMAN THOUGHT SHE WAS THE "VOLGA-DON.",
Approved For Release 2000/08/ C 4*-RDP80RO1443R000200290006-4