(SANITIZED)DESCRIPTION OF SOVIET AMPHIBIOUS TANK(SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00280R001300020028-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: October 17, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/18 :
CIA-R0P81-00280R001300020028-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/18: CIA-RDP81-0028OR001300020028-7
It,
TLte material contains taformauoa .fiecung Lb* Natbaal Defense of the United States within the meanin& of tine Mapto0.9e laws, Ttrie
18. U.3 C. Se n. 793 and 794. the tranuairloa or revelation of which to any manner to an unSdthortad person L prohiatted by low.
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
3014527
NO. PAGiS
REQUIREMENT
NO.
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I rvpor*, on Soviet ailitary activitiloe,
observed the eegeaee area during the period of 1-12 August. The eubat4.ace
of the report is concerned with a detail ar i t on of ous
vehicle.
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17 October 1956
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/18: CIA-RDP81-0028OR001
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EASTERN GERL A'.TY
Activity jr. the HEEGESEE Area
1 - 12 AuaT.19t , 1956
1. During the period 1 - 12 August, 1956, there was very little activity
in the HEECESEE Area. In the main, troops could be seen cleaning and
maintaining tracked nm.phibia.ns. On a few occasions single amphibians were
seen to make short trips on the lako.
2. I one of he tracked amphibians
dea=n during the period. The vehicle was 6.5 metres in length, 2.8 metres in
v:idth and the height of the body-;cork was 1.5 metres. The body was shaped
like a rectangular box and was constructed of steel plate, approx. 3 mm. thick25x1
and reinforced with beading. Thu thickness of the metal used for the hull
3. The suspension of the vehicle consisted of 7 bogie-whcals.(approx. 40 cms.
in diameter) and 7 return rollers. The width of the tracks was 25 cros.
4. On the bows of tic vehicle there was a hatch measuring 70 x 80 cros giving
access to the engine. On the hatch cover there was a cork life-belt.
5. The uindscreon was approx. 1.80 metres in :ridth. At the right hone end
of the windscieon there was ^_ w'ip aerial approx. 1.5 metres in height.
6. The driving controls consisted of 2 contra sticks for operating the
tracks and a steering wheel. The grip for the steering :vhoal consisted of
two so ments.
7. The stern of the tracked amphibian sloped slightly inwards from. top to
bottom. There was one driving screw with a double-bladed propellor. Between
the -.torn and the wing-screw there: -.:as cleara ace of approx. 10 ems. and tho
shaft as loosely enclosed in a bellowed rubber cove..
8. The lighting on the tracked anphibian cons sted of the followings-
(a) 2 searchlights with a diameter of 15 ems. The faces of these
searchlights wore covered with a she ', of metal :;ith an oblong slit
10 cros. long and 2 ems. des;. The giass of the searchlight vras
fluted and concave. The light was ;:hite. There was a wino guard
in front of each searchlight.
(b) 2 n aviglticn lights with ai::m,tcr of 5 cros. The glass was arched
.nd plain. Each l=p hid a red bulb. A wire guard was positioned
in front of each light.
........../3.(0)
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/18: CIA-RDP81-00280R001300020028-7
 8. (a) In the middle of the windscreen a boss-shaped lamp Was fitted.
The diameter of this lamp was approx. 12 ems. The glass was
concave and rod. The lamp was slightly tilted forward and g--Ye
a light red or magenta light.
(d) The rear-lighting of the vehicle consisted of an oblong shaped
box with 5 reflectors in a row. From left to right these
reflectors were coloured, rod., yellow and blue.
F Ir,s One tracked amphibian soon had different shaped searchlights in the
place of (a) above. Instead of having a metal cover with a slit, these
searchlights, which had a diameter of 15 ems., ::ore fitted with a protruding
hood. The glass was fluted and concave and gave a red or magenta light.
9. On the 21st July, 1956, 3 large patrol tanks were unloaded at the
railway siding which leads into tha petrol depot at ?{U ERSDORF/CU'I. Those
tanks were 15 metres long ani had a dial ter of approx. ' metres. The tanks
gave one the impression that they had been taken out of the ground racently.
The bill of lading showed that tha tanks had been loaded at COTTBUS.
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/18: CIA-RDP81-0028OR001300020028-7
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