NAVAL VESSEL SIGHTINGS AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS AT RIGA, VENTSPILS, AND KLAIPEDA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A051700490001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 4, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 25, 1960
• Content Type: REPORT

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This material contains iniormatioa aSectiag the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.B.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by laW.
S-E-C-R-E-T
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
COUNTRYi;SSR (Baltic) REPORT
SUBJECT Naval TT~ss~l Si~Yitin~s- s.nd Other 'Observation@ATE DISTR. ~.,~"' '~`
s.t Riga, Ventspils,s.nd Klaipeda
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
EFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF
50X1-HUM
y, ~ ~,.?~,~. ',?~ /'mil ~~
50X1-HUM
The following reports of observations at Riga, Ventspils, and Klai~e
Att. No.
Subject
1
A two-page re
ort on naval vesse
RIGA-class escort vessel; and a landing craft
made at Riga inc Soviet
minesweepers ; three
MVD vessels and thirty to a
forty landing craft or motor torpedo boats covered with tarpauli s
and resting atop small trucks southeast of the Winter Harbor.~,~~~~~/~
50X1-HUM tP."~ .
A one- is on ~~'~';
-x
asers, ,:
13 ot3~sr .
fleet mineswee er? one ,'? ~ ,
A brief half-page report
J 50X1-HUM
d oi7_
_
-
:
~.
. _ __ _ ~___---o ?-~~- _ ~-.++,,,,,~-++v,.., ~.i a 1Ja V V 10411 ~11.1U ~
that the Outer Harbor would be dredged to a depth of 12 meter. s, c
that four oil piers would be built over the next seven years, and
that the annual oil capacity (sic, possibly referring to the
total annual turnover of the port) would be nine ma:llion tons.
the harbor was to be dredged to a
50X1-HUM
STATE X ARMY
ep o en meters and that refueling (sic) would take -dace
,X NAVY AIR X NSA
(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; field distribution by ".#".)
50X1-HUM"r"""
sightings observations.
x ,_FB, :, NIC
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on the projects
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._..
Att. No.
Subject
A two-page report on naval vessel sightings and other observations
at Ventspils includi SASHA-clasG
minesweepers ; one 50X1-H U M
RIGA-class escort vessel, thirteen KRONSHTADT-class
submarine chasers,
two T-43-class minesweepers,
3 50X1-HUM
auxiliar vesse a possible RIGA-class escort
vessel, dredging activity in the Outer
Harbor; and 20 to 25 military vehicles, including tanks~on the
southern bank of the harbor.
A two-page re
on naval sightings
three SASHA-class 50X1-H U M
and harbor construction at
Ventspils
minesweepers,
I inc
a T-~+3-class minesweeper,
? two probable T-~+3-class minesweepers
a probable W-class submarine,
KRONSH'I`ADT-class submarine chaser, and a 50X1-HUM
probable KRONSHTADT-class submarine chaser, ~ and
dredging underway in the Outer Har~rr.-. Sketches of the submarine
and a sketch map locating the dredging operations are attached.
Klaipeda and vicinity based on observations
uding four submarine
A one-page report of naval vessel sightings and liviizg costs
RIGA-class escort vesse ; and a target
vessel,
A one-r.,oom apartment rented for
75 rubles per month, and food items ~G~ld for the following prices; sugar
13 rubles per kilogram; coffee, 100 rubles per kilogram;th~;
cheapest vodka, 28 rubles per bottle ~ and butter ?T a^ub].es per kilo~raua?
50X1-HUM
A five-page report on naval vessel sightings at Ventspils and
vessel inspection procedures at Ventspils and Klai eda, based on
observations Vessel 50X1-H U M
sightings at Ventspils include; 11 KftONSHTADT-class su
chasers,
minesweeper, ; a mineswee er 50X1-H U M
a MP-8-class an ing s ip medi sketch included);
a possible W-class submarine, ; an apparently old
destroyer without armament, wh as eing owed into the harbor;
twenty tracked vehicles and .some trucks on the Export Quay in
boxes marked "Mexico" and "BRT 6"; l~+ upright and six horizontal
oil tanks at the oil storage facility.l The report notes that
the inspection procedures at both Ventspils and Kla.ipeda were
quickly accomplished, that there was no search of the vessel and
that passports and discharge books were not checked.
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~UNTRY IJ~~~~~i,atvia:z S:R~
SUBJKT Ship sightings and Other
Observations in Riga
DATE OF
INFd.
PLACE &
ner~ er
50X1-HUM
1 'T'tnA Snv;6i t: Tt~ri~rFa~ VA3:3~i. ~f}~$ t>b~e'iPV@d C3.i~
t~~a pis
'`'~+ere~ nc
REPORT
--~,-- _ _. , .
DATE OF REPORTdi November~l959
NO. OF PAGES ~ 50X1-HUM
REFERENCES
Cti~t iaGer ~nraa v~~a~s.is
1 v~rare also a~~servsd.
the v+~ssa s ao~searad tc~ ~e ~~ine3v~eapers. '~`~-uir
observed.
c f' the
TbrQU. h
fl.af~s
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
e z?e.
deck
ietiirtg to ~.#? vcssal.~ sbc~ut 3~ k~ete,rs for artd cavs~rad ~tit;R tar-
paul3.ns or b?arde mere sittin on s~s1l trua~s sc3utheaat of '''^?
a}int?r Harbor in i3augavgrivs~ 'T~-zu vessels eex50X1-HUM
.believed to be lending; craft. 50X1-HUM
A -~a~~`~ about 1~ Tatars hid--,h ~itr~ e~ erdia~ary rr~~sr scrae~ can top
eras c~bsdrved` at he end of the ~r~at i~ree'ater at the entrance
ci~annel t? Riga 50X1-HUM
~. The 3.ns;~ect{an of a vassal c.n bot~; arrival at ezzd c3e~arture frog
F~ i?~e. tea?t? only i~sl f an hour. ~~za special s~csre bass
~suglly ~ e c~u car all e~~be~r~a cif the crew was :~c~t necessary :ar
the ~:~ast?r. fie eas told that he co#~alct ~anve abe~at the i'.er'~Gr and
~-a i+nto tarn ~it.'r~avt a shore pase.4 50X1-HUM
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COUNIRI~ ~jf~F
';~
SUBJECT Ship. Sightings in Ventspils
REP4R
DATE OF REPORT l0 NOVelx~b@r 1959
NO. OF PAGES 1
67ATE OF
INFO.
DATE ACQ.
SCyURCE, EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE. NOTE FOREGOING EXPLANATION.
ed Soviet naval vessels were observed in Vent~n314,
Eleven KH~NSFiTADT-class subchasers,
2. rs, including one T-~.3-class fl@et m eswee er
and ei ht unidentified minesweepers
50X1-HUM
tender.
i0ne RIGA-class destroyer ?scort, one tugboat, one trawler, and one
50X1-HUM
One landing craft, The vase?1 was approximately
60 meters long, had a ows-por , an anchor on the starboard side
only, a twin mount on the forecastle, one smokestack abaft the
bridge, four life rafts along the d@ck, and four life rafts along
the bridge house. There was a signal mast on the bridge, but no
other mash or Samson posts were observ?d. Current from two screws
was observed. 50X1-HUM
S-E-C-R-E-T
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CQUNTRY USSR
sUBJECr Projected ,0i1 ~Iarbor in Ventspils
DATE OF
1NF?.
PLACE &
BATE AC
DATE OF REPORT to November 1959
50X1-HUM
NO. OF PAGES 1
tha Out?r Harbor basin
in.,Ventspils was to be dredged to a depth of 12 meters. and that
.four oil piers were to be built over a period of seven years. The
annual oil capacity would be 9 million tons. The h
t~i,~ nnly .~"n~~ir-~'t ni'1 rarbar in the Baltic ~6a ar8&.
the harbar-was to be dredged to a ep o
me ers an a refueling would take place at sea. 50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
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C UNTi1~
- - k
SUBJECT .Ship '53.~'tings and Other Obser-
vatinr~ in Ventspils
NO. OF PAGg~
REFERENCES
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
-acio~l visit b~- a single gereo , -
Qbaervsd ~n beard the va~sels. The surfac~- vease ~ revi+~usl
t
frame a diset-taste cif a~~ra~~i~atel~ ~e na~tinal rail+ss t
t3~an the anal observed in l~l~ipada. ~:Tho eo>uxning~-to~-ers did net
have steps, 50X1-HUM..
A shipbrd!?~ar (in a unfax~s ~-itia insignia of ~ stripes and square
eyes} stated t~sat kse r~tceived ~tu'sthly wages of 2,i44 rubles aAd
that he paid ?~ rubles ~ mc-nt for a ane-raga apartment Frith
'~itchen asZd ~1 publes a raosxth ire ta~aa. A lon~shc~ra~.an reeaived a
s>:onthly' wage of $4t3 rubles,
~,. The prise ~' one 'cil.o cP each of t~za following ite~~a p~ar~ha>~ad in
~laipeda was ~ butter, 31 rubles; sugar, g~ 50X1-HUM
rubles; coffee, ~ru as The ches~pes~t vodka cast 28 rubl+~~l a
bottle.
50X1-HUM
Cor~nent: 1. these sub-
marines were pro y ~o a lass. 50X1-HUM.
S-~-C,.R-~-T 50X1-HUM
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 ?ATE OF
INFO..
PLACE &
I?ATE ACQ
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'COt1NTRY S1R
SUBJECT ~~~. Ship S ightin~s and Other
nu.._....___.,a..x _...... ~... ST....,i..~..,..5'I ..
2.. Vessel Inspection Procedures
in Ventspils and Klaipeda
GC~.~'GC.,~ ~ 50X1-HUM.
SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE ?EFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OFF CQiNTENT IS TENTATIVE. NOTE FOREGOING EXPLANATION.
1. The below listed Soviet naval vessels were observed in Ventspils
on the dates indicated: 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM
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KRONSHTADT-class subchasers,
~RONSHTAT3T-class subchasers,
Three unidentified minesweepers and one T-43-class minesweeper,
Two minesweepe
Four motor torpedo boats without
u es w o
One small .blue motor boat was observed
 '50X1-HUM
f 50X1-HUM
One tender; one vessel rese,nblin a `trawler, o. ~`,,.;
oil l.i`~hter: and one old trawler were observed'
One landing craft.
river sndrout of vied
harbor' between. 0;840~;and. fl900 hours th?-same day.
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The vesse,l'had:~ the ~r
on e s ar-oar s e_an on a stern. There dad ,
appear to be any guns. `The draft forward was ~1-deEimeters
and aft ~.1 decimeters. The landing craft wassequippe
with ordinary navigatioal radar. In front of the bs
house etas a small. ~am~on post with booms and foreof.~ir
ships was an additional Samson post v~ith boos. The ~?ek
line at the stem appeared to angle dcswnward and the~ve~ern
was equipped..-with abogs-port. 50X1-HUM
was iven of landin craft
The .vessel ws~s
?c~uipped with a twin zaount on the. forecastle and. in oft,
of tl~e: bridge house flush with the bridge deEk. Thee metre
no gums abaft. Four life rs.fts 'were placed along eaoh sid?
of the,: bridge house and fQUr life rafts were on the ~~e~ ~.
(in th? well},. ~, tripod mast with an ordinary dir?ctan
finder and riavigat.onal radar was s3.tuated between r~~he
bridge house and the. funnel. In the stem was. a b?ws-part
w~;ich opened "like a book't Part of `a ~.anding ramp chic
'
ove de+v`k
eft?nded approximatel~t one._ and one-half met?rs ab
:was seen ire the stem. In profile the rgmp appeared to b+
harrow. at `its tip, the bottcsrn of .the ramp bung i~la~ ane:
-
.curved. Th? :ramp gaffe tkie?--
the topside being slightly
impression of being solidly. constructed and reinforced
heavily on the .underside. The reinforcements vrere-cq~4
pared to the heavy cross-ribbing used in hatches. 'fie
deck. in the well seemed to hav? been lengthened under the
:
...
.Th? ].ending daft
bridge house through a large op~ning..
was supplied- with a life boat ors each sid? abaft, an ".anchor
on the.: starboard sid?, and an ar~ahor astern. The eni~~.r~
length of the vessel was equipped with a fender 8I.?ng ttie:.
water line.
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~ ~U~~~ >"
t~;50X1-HUM
~o~s- ~?t
50X1-HUM
r`'50X1-HUM
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p :~,nc~th?r'
driven from the coa'~ across :._~ :fit,, ?r._Harbor in Vents ils.
row of piling seemed to fora a gangway for further pile driv~~~. ''
athwart tiae coast. ~, small dr~,dger` was work'i~ng :in tk~ 'O~ter50X1-HUM
Harbor.9 ~..:
no armament was ;towed into the harbor:~
~n old-looking`d~stroyer with two funnels a
~
~, small patrol. ~es~e
the Import ~uay~in Ven sp s
guns on the foredeck and th8
:_
It was observed (that a row of piling was` b~ir~g
the- basin 'ef the Outer Harbor.9 ~,,,,, , ?,.. tinu~_ui inn :50X1-HUM-
s ee p ng ad been driven al?ng the coast, and from this raw,
a` rbw ;of sheet... piling had been '.driven. at right angl?e oust ~3.nt
50X1-HUM..
the obser~at-ion was mad? that a row of piling mr
'Tw?ntv tracked vehicles were observed on the Export Quay ~~
The vehicles se?med to "have been at the ; quay; for
a?'long period; ?nly the bogey and track assembly of the vehicl?
was visible as the tops?of the vehicles were enclosed in lard
,n,;,,.a?~ ~,~.,.e~
.~ shipload of piping was also observ?d at the Export Quay
wheels.. The 2() vehicles"were sti11 on the quay
.when it was noted that some trucks had been add~d,50X1-HUM
eon s e o g a g? r ng ee on eat;h ?nd of a-row of f~~r ~-
The pipes were being loaded on railway ca _
hau a away. e. pipes were. without fl~n~e or muff and were lQ;ta
12 meters long; the outside diamet?r of the piping was 1/2 t~, ~i~
meter and'`the wa~~l thickness was 3/4 inch.ll 50X1-HUM
'50X1-HUM
oil storage facility s:t the Ballast Quay in Klaipeda
.a few of the Winks;? appeared t4 be new and unpainted. a ae
Twenty oil tanks, ll~ upright and 6 horizontal, wer? u te~ at the
The insp. f a vessel ?ntering both Ventspils ,and
Klaipeda was quickly accomplished....- There was n?
search o the v?sse an neither passports nor discharge b?ok~
were checked. The authorities permitted shore leave until midnight,
but no complaints were made if crew members staffed ashore all night,
is being enlarged.- ~ux~-HUivi
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