CONFIDENCE CONCERNNG THE MISSION OF SOVIET GROUND FORCES IN CUBA IN THE FALL OF 1962

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00401R000200080009-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 23, 2005
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 14, 1979
• Content Type: MEMO

25X1
Approved For Release 2006/01/10: CIA-RDP81B0044.1R0 9Qp0009-6
t:opy 7
1.4 Sc~pt.nmber 1979
SUBJECT: Confidence Concerning the Mission of Soviet
Ground Forces in Cuba in the F~+1l of 1962
1. In response to your question conccC irzinghe
mission of the four brigades in 1962 and our connfide lice
in defining that mission, we believe that the best ex-
planation for their presence is that L.he:.e units were
deployed primarily at four locations in tuba between
August and October 1962 as defense force:; for the sites
being built for Soviet MRBMs and IRBI'4s.
2. In 1962 the structure and size of the units at the
four camps was similar. All were combat-capable and
highly mobile armored groups. Although Svc have not seen
any unique equipment or facility which would correlate
with any specific mission, three of the nits were located
in the vicinity of offensive missile coin?iexes. The unit
at Artemisa was 20 km southwest of the IR11M complex at
Guanaj ay and 55 km east of the MRBM comp lex at San Cristobal
The unit at Remedios was 5 km north of the Remedios IRBM
complex and 37 km southwest of the MIRBM complex at Sagua f.a
Grande. Santiago de las Vegas is approximate:t.y 30 km from
the IRBM complex at Guanajay. The ground unit at Holguin
was approximately 400 km from the nearest offensive missile
co-!ilex and controlled the highwa,' ne+-wcrrk between the IUS
be at Gtnantanamo and the missile bases.
3. The withdrawal of Soviet ground forces in 1963--1964
was judged to have removed the four armored brigades as
organized units. Although some Soviet troops remained, they
were judged to be present in a training capacity to assist
the Cubans in. assimilating the Soviet er_uiprient becoming
available to them.
TI'iis memorandurn Baas prepared by the C'ent,ral intelligence
Agency, Task Force Alpha.. Any comments or gnestsons
should be addressed to
STAT
25X1
,rng
T
Approved For Release 2006/01 10: CIA-RDP81 B00 01 R000200080009-6
25X1
 D
Approved For Release 2006/01/10 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R000200080009-6
7~F?297
cz1'_)r
t SCpt.c:~2iber_ _1_979
25X1
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Preliminary Response to Your Qi.ic:stions Concerning
the Photographic History o f .1aani i ago do 1.as Vegas
25X1
1. In response to your question reg~rd 1_1ng photography
of the withdrawal of Soviet ground forces from Santiago,
we have completed a preliminary review of photography of
the unit there which was taken in the early J.96Us. Thus
far, we have observed no sudden or significant :influx or
withdrawal of equipment at Santiago de la_ Vegas during
th t' f
Mme U the Soviet withdrawal n i')62 and 1963.
2. A 17 August 1963 review of aecia:t photo,(tra
_ r
M1
rnat the Soviet presence at Santiago might
t-unciuaea have been reduced to a maintenance and advisory force
of about 200 personnel.
3. We have not as yet reviewed the low-Level photo-
graphy on which the 1963 judgement was primarily based
but we have ordered the coverage along with additional
overhead photography of other Soviet facilities in Cuba
in the early 1960s. The photography should arrive to-
morrow, and we will begin reviewing i it iumed:i_ate~ly.
This memorandum was prepared by the Central Int(? Z li ence
Agency, Task Force Alpha. Any comments or
should be addressed to
I
5X1
Approved For Release 2006/01/10 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R000200080009-6
 25X1 Approved For Release 2006/01/10 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R000200080009-6
Approved For Release 2006/01/10 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R000200080009-6