FORMATION OF CATEGORY III/SECOND-GENERATION MOTORIZED RIFLE DIVISION, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000100230001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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Formation of Category III/Second-Generation
Motorized Rifle Division; USSR (S)
Secret
Z-80062/80
IAN-A188/80
AUGUST 1080
Co!y 16 7
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SECRET
FORMATION OF CATEGORY III/SECOND-GENERATION
MOTORIZED RIFLE DIVISION, USSR (S)
1. (S/D) Imagery of I (revealed that a category III/second-
generation motorized rifle division MRD has been formed in the Ural Military District (MD) of the
USSR, at Shadrinsk SSM Complex The complex, a former SS-7 ICBM complex, was
deactivated in June 1978, and ground force equipment began arriving soon thereafter. Shadrinsk Com-
plex consists of five major facilities-Shadrinsk ICBM Rail-to-Road Transfer Point (RTP;
=, Shadrinsk SSM Launch Position I Shadrinsk ICBM Complex Support Facil-
ity Rail Shadrinsk SSM Launch Position 2 and Shadrinsk SSM
Launch Position 3 Figure 1). Analysis of imagery of launch positions I through 3
revealed no ground forces units.
2. (S/D) Major units of the category III/second-generation MRD were at Shadrinsk ICBM RTP.
Divisional units identified included elements of a tank regiment, elements of three tank battalions,
elements of three antitank battalions, elements of three motorized rifle regiments (MRRs), major
elements of a chemical defense battalion, major elements of an engineer battalion, and at least 90
antitank guns in storage. The three tank battalions stored with the tank regiment are subordinate to the
three MRRs. The 90 antitank guns in storage are probably not part of the MRD at this facility.
3. (S/D) Shadrinsk ICBM RTP contains three MRRs, a tank regiment, three MRR tank battal-
ions, an engineer battalion, and a chemical defense battalion (Figure 2). The boundaries of the three
MRRs are clearly defined, and the MRRs consist of approximately the same type of equipment. Each
regiment consisted of a 24-gun antitank battalion, antiaircraft artillery (AAA) batteries comprising eight
ZPU-4 antiaircraft guns, and a chemical defense company containing three ARS-14 decontamination
vehicles. One MRR also contained a MTU-20 tank-launched bridge, three PMR-3 mine plows, and one
BAT-M dozer, which represents elements of the regimental engineer company. The engineer battalion is
next to the tank regiment storage area. This battalion contained eight TMM truck-mounted short gap
bridges, six GSP amphibious ferries, one PMP ponton bridge company, one KMS pile driver set, and
two BMK-T powerboats. There are approximately 214 medium tanks, four TMM, five MTU-20, three
PMR-3, and three armored recovery vehicles in the tank regiment storage area. The engineer company
was in the northwest corner of the vehicle park. The chemical defense battalion was in the northwest
corner of the facility and consisted of 13 ARS-14, one DDA-53 decontamination vehicle, three medical
trailers, and three ambulances. Shadrinsk ICBM RTP has covered storage for approximately 161
vehicles. With the completion of two additional seven-bay double-depth vehicle storage buildings, the
storage capacity will increase to 195 vehicles. Support facilities at Shadrinsk ICBM RTP consisted of
three multistory barracks/administration buildings.
4. (S/D) On additional units subordinate to the category Ill/second-generation
MRD were observed at Shadrinsk ICBM Launch Position I. A division-level artillery regiment, an
antitank battalion, and a multiple rocket launcher (MRL) battalion were observed in a cleared area
adjacent to the launch pads (Figure 3). The artillery regiment contained 100mm field artillery pieces and
122mm howitzers instead of the 152mm and 122mm howitzers usually observed in an artillery regiment.
WNINTEL 1
1-20002180 SECRET lA R-A 186/80
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The antitank battalion contained eighteen 100mm antitank guns, and the MRL battalion consisted of II
BM-13 MRLs. Twenty MT-LB tracked prime movers which were being used to tow the 100mn antitank
guns for the antitank battalion were also observed. Additional equipment observed at this vehicle park
included nine 76mm field guns ZIS-3 for training as well as numerous cargo trucks to tow the artillery
pieces for the artillery regiment. The AAA regiment was also observed at the main support facility at
Launch Position I (Figure 4). The regiment contained twenty-four 57mm AA gun S-60 with 16 cargo
trucks and I I generator trailers. Covered storage is provided by three eight-bay single-depth vehicle
storage buildings and one bunker with a storage capacity for approximately 30 vehicles. Support
facilities included eight multistory barracks. There is sufficient housing at Shadrinsk SSM Launch
Position I for the number of personnel necessary to activate the MRD.
5. (S/D) Shadrinsk SSM Complex is in the Ural MD. As of August 1980, divisional holdings in
this district included a second-generation and a category III MRD at Sverdlovsk, a second-generation
division at Perm, a tank training division at Kamyshlov, and a motorized rifle training division with a
newly identified second-generation based MRD at Chebarkul.
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Warsaw Pact Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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