SOVIET BRIGADE ACTIVITY, CUBA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000100480001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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Imagery analysis report
Soviet Brigade Activity, Cuba (S)
Secret
Secret
Z-20087/80
IAR-A222/80
SEPTEMBER 1980
Copy 167
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SOVIET BRIGADE ACTIVITY, CUBA (S)
I. (S/D) The Soviet brigade in Cuba is currently engaged in field training at the San Pedro
Military Training Area Figure 1).
2; (S/D) Initial occupation of the Soviet brigade bivouac area at San Pedro was first ob-
The bivouac area and equipment park were completely established on
no maneuver activity had taken place.
3. (S/D) On the units observed included elements of three motorized rifle battalions,
one tank company, a multiple rocket launcher battalion, and six platoons of ZSU-23/4 self-propelled
antiaircraft (SPAA) guns. Additionally, four possible SA-9 transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) were
observed with the ZSU-23/4 platoons. The elements of the three motorized rifle battalions included
three 122mm D-30 howitzer batteries, three BRDM-2 antitank guided missile batteries, and three
120mm mortar batteries.
4. (S/D) All units observed on have been observed in
past Soviet brigade exer-
cises at San Pedro with the exception of the possible SA-9 TELs and the ZSU-23/4 SPAA gun
platoons. The ZSU-23/4 platoons were involved in training at Alquizar Military Training Area
during the last Soviet brigade exercise in February 1980. Although this is the first observation of
Soviet brigade SPAA equipment at San Pedro, one similarity to the February exercise at Mariel
exists. At San Pedro, one of the six platoons of ZSU-23/4 had been established in a separate
bivouac area adjacent to the tank company (Figure 2). The precedent for a separate ZSU-23/4
bivouac area was set in February at Mariel. At that time, the single ZSU-23/4 platoon was
assessed as being Cuban on the basis of its physical separation from the other Soviet ZSU-23/4s.
However, the proximity of the isolated ZSU-23/4 platoon at San Pedro to the tank company
suggests that this single platoon may be the ZSU platoon assigned to the tank battalion of the
Soviet brigade. Because the tank company at San Pedro consisted of nine tanks instead of the
seven tanks seen in Cuban tank companies, the company is assessed as being Soviet.
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Third World Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
WNINTEL
Z-20087/80 SECRET IA R-A222 /80
2FU-I
25X1
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