NEW WEAPONS IN SOVIET ARMY IN AUSTRIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000400110004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2013
• Sequence Number: 4
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/01 : CIA-RDP82-00046R000400110004-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person Is prohibited
bylaw.
COUNTRY USSR/Austria
SUBJECT New Weapons in Soviet Army in Austria
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DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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27 October 1954
10
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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STATE
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ARMY
V
NAVY
LIBRARY SUBJECT AND AREA CODES
2,02-0406
512.4
261.919
514.21
514.3
261.113
514.1
512.8
SECRET
AIR
I 0/54
N(n)
N(XL)
N( a)
NOW
N(X1)
N( XT)
NOW
FBI
AEC
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'T
npriassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/01 : CIA-RDP82-00046R000400110004-1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/01 : CIA-RDP82-00046R000400110004-1
COUNTRY
USSR/Austria
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tun, T?
REPORT NO.
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DATE DISTR. 10 Sept 1954
SUBJECT New Weapons in Soviet Army in Austria NO. OF PAGES 9
DATE OF INFORMATION
PLACE ACQUIRED
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
REFERENCES:
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50:00 NEW SOVIET WEAPONS IN AUSTRIA
. 7.62-mm Semiautomatic Carbine Model .SKS
a. Appearance in Austria
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to the 55th Sep Tk Tng Bn in Austria,
a shipment of new carbines known as the 7.62-mm "Samozaryadnyy
Karabin Simonova" (see End l A) arrived in May 1954. The
number of weapons received was unknown
there were enough to replace each 7.62-mm
Mossin-Nagant M1944 Carbine The weapons were
accompanied by manuals, the 50X1
title - Samqzaryadnyy Karabin Simonova Pod Patron Obraztsa
1943 (Self-loading Carbine Simonov Used with Cartride Model 1943).
no instruction was given to troops relative
to the weapon's characteristics, functioning, disassembly, and
assembly When the weapons first arrived
In the battalion, company CO informed the troops that a new
weapon was to be issued at a later date and that it was a better
weapon than the one in use.
the officers of the regiment received
instruction on the new carbine and the 7.62-mm AVTOMAT. During
March and April 1954, these officers received two or three
hours of instruction once or twice a week on the new weapons.
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In appearance, the new carbine was very similar to the 7.62-mm
Mossin-Nagant M1944 Carbine with respect to overall length,
weight, integral box magazine, sights, and the permanently
attached knife-type folding bayonet. The operation of the
50X1 carbine, appeared to be similar to the
operation of the US Cal .30 M1 Rifle.
b. Characteristics
Caliber
Operation
Cooling
Magazine
Range
Rate of fire
Muzzle velocity
Length w/o bayonet
Bayonet Length
Weight
Barrel length
Rifling
Stock
Sights
Rear
Front
Optical
Muzzle attachments
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Place of manufacture
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Date of issue to troops
in USSR
50X1 Date of issue to troops
in Austria
Ammunition
Caliber
Model
Overall Length
Weight
Bullet
Weight
Type
Length
Type metal
Cartridge ease
Type
Length
Propellant
Type metal
7.62 mm
Gas, semiautomatic
Air
Integral box, 10-round capacity
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
36-40 inches
About 12 inches
About seven pounds
Unknown
Appeared to be the same as the M1944
Carbine, which has four lands and grooves,
right-hand twist
Wooden, w/hand guard over barrel
Tangent curve, graduated from 100 to 700
to 1,000 m
Open post w/ circular guard
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
KOVROV (N 56-25, E 41-18), USSR.
there were small arms plants
there, the new
carbine could have been manufactured there.
1951, according to hearsay
June 1954
7.62 mm
M1943
About 2i inches
Unknown
Unknown
Ball and another type with a red tip.
About 7/8 inch (that portion which pro-
trudes from the cartridge ease)
Unknown - color of metal similar to
standard M1930 pistol ammunition
Rimless necked
About 1 5/8 inches
Unknown
Unknown - color of ease similar to
Standard M1930 pistol ammunition
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c. Detailed Description of Carbine
(1) Barrel Assembly
The length of the barrel could not be estimated. 50X1
50:0 a gas cylinder and recoil rod and spring
were mounted under the barrel forward of the recetter
group. The rear portion of the piston rod was connected
in some manner to a lug which was an integral part of the
50:0 bolt. The exact location of the recoil spring was unknown.
the spring was mounted forward of the
bolt lug and recoil rod connection,
50X1 it might have been to the rear of this connection (see Enc]. B)
No further information.
(2) Bolt Assembly.
The bolt assembly consisted of a bolt handle, two bolt
lugs (one on each aide of the forward portion of the bolt),
extractor, and firing pin. , The type of firing Din and
the location of the ejector were unknown:
50X1 1.;;;ng. if the bolt was not fully closed
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the weapon would not fire.
(3) Stock
The weapon had a wooden stock with a metal butt plate. A
cleaning accessory compartment, including a small metal
cylinder fdr cleaning and a collapsible cleaning rod, was
located in the butt housing.
()4) Ammunition
The ammunition was a newly developed type which could also
be fired in the following new weapons: 7.62-mm AVTOMAT
SMG and 7.62-mm IMG.
d. Method of Issuing Carbine
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each individual was to be issued a rectangular
aluminum tag with the letters "mir (denoting "Carbine") and the
serial number of the weapon stamped thereon. This tag was to
be turned in when receiving the Weapon and returned to the
individual when the weapon wits returned. A master list of serial
numbers with the name of the individual assigned to the weapon
was maintained by each company first sergeant. I
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2.. 7.62-mm AVTOMAT SMG
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a.
, a shipment
or new SMGs known as the 7:62-mm AVTOMAT arrived in May 1954.
The number of weapons received was unknown
enough were received to replace each 7.62-mm PPSh
The weapon was first seen and handled
M1941 SMG
in May 19
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the new weapon,
was a better weapon than the PPSh M1941 SMG, and
it would be issued soon.
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G., SECRETI.
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In'appea-rance the AVTOMAT was very similar to the new 7.62-mm
SttiaUtdmatic Carbine Model SKS, relative to the barrel,
receiver, and gas mechanism. Both weapons fired the same
ammunition (M1943 round).
b. Characteristics
Caliber
Operation
Cooling
Magazine
Range
Rate of fire
Muzzle velocity
Overall length
Weight w/ loaded
magazine
Barrel length
Rifling
Stock
Sights
, Rear
Front
Optical
Muzzle attachments
Sling
7.62 mm
Gee, full automatic
Air
Box, believed to be curved, 30-round
capacity,
Unknown
Unknown
Vnktown
Slightly longer that the PPSh M1941 SMG
(33 inches)
, About 12 pounds
Longer than the PPSh M1941 MG
UnknoWn
Wooden w/ pistol grip behind trigger
Tangent curve, graduated up to 800 m
Open post w/ circular guard
Unknown
Unknown
Fabric, right side
group
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Place of manufacture
KOVROV. there were
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small arms piants tnere, ana
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the new SMG could have been
manufactured there.
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Date of issue to troops
in USSR
Date of issue to troops
in Austria
Ammunition'
Caliber
Model
Overall length
Weight
Bullet
Weight
Type
Length
Type Metal
Cartridge case
Type
Length
Propellant
Type metal
1951, according to hearsay
June 1954, to 1st Co. 55th Sep Tk Tng Bn
7.62 mm
M1943
About 2i inches
Unknown
Unknown
Ball and another type having a red tip.
About 7/8 inch (that portion which
protrudes from the cartridge ease)
Unknown - color of metal similar to
standard M1930 pistol round
Rimless necked
About 1 5/8 inches
Unknown
Unknown - color of case similar to
standard M1930 pistol round
Unknown
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c. Method of Issuing AVTOMAT
50:0 each individual was to be issued a circular
aluminum tag with the letters "AVT" (denoting "AVTOMAT") and
the serial number of the weapon stamped thereon. This tag
Was to be? turned in when receJrving the weapon and returned to
the individual when the weapon was returned. A master list of
seftal nUmbers with the? name of the individual assigned to the
Weapon was maintained by each company first sergeant./
3 ._m Tank
a
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tan
a new Soviet medium
troops in the USSR
50:0 b. The main armament was said to be a 100-mm gun; it was supposedly
the same as the one carried in the SU-100 SP vehicle.
0. The turret and hull were reputed
those of the JS-3 heavy tank.
d. The turret was reputed to have a
T-34/85 medium tank.
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for the tank crew.
to be similar in design to
lower silhouette than the
there was an electrical heating system
a diesel engine was positioned at
rignt angles (crossways) to the hull. 1.
g. In Dedember 1954 the T-54 was to replace the T-34/85 and the
50)0 T-34/76 tanks \ (Note: the T-34/76 tanks
were used only as training venicles in the unit.) The unit
was supposed to receive 62 of the new T-54 Tanks.
h. The tank crew was said to consist of three or four men (probably
three)
I. The tank was said to have been equipped with radar tracking
eouinment for night and indirect firing. (Note:/
\special efforts
were made to obtain additional data regarding the alleged radar
eauipment employed in the T-54.
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the T-54.)
/radar tracking equipment was used in
j. The vehicle was designed to serve as a dual-purpose vehicle;
either in the role of a tank or as self-propelled artillery.
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4. Other Weapons and vehicles
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a. Small Arms
(I) New long-barrel pistol: similar in construction to the
7.63-mm automatic German Mauser. Caliber was about 12
mm. To be issued only to platoon leaders.
New small caliber pistol: to be issued to all staff officers.
Caliber unknown; reputed to be smaller than,, the 7.62-mm TT
pistol.
New 7.62-mm LMG: used belt ammunition housed in a
magazine. Weapon said to be invented by a (fnu)
KALASHNIKOV, Used the new M1943 round, the same type
of ammunition as that fired by the 7.62-mm Model SKS
Carbine and the 7.62-mm AVTOMAT SMG.
b.
Artillery
(1)
New automatic AA gun: caliber 45 or 57 mm.
the 37-mm M1939 AA Gun;
further information.
(2) New semiautomatic or full
85-mm AA Gun: employed a
information.
. Wheeled Vehicles
To replace
No
3 Encls:
1.
2.
automatic radar-controlled
muzzle brake./
No.. further
a Shop Repair Truck mounted on a ZIS-151
chassis; It
had an electric generator capable or supplying enough power
to show movies during power shortages. "e.
A. 7.62-mm Semiautomatic Carbine Model SKS
B. Detail Sketch, 7.62-mm Semiautomatic
C. 7.62-mm AVTOMAT Submachine Gun
.12.0MENIL
mounted in, this
Comment:
photographs was
Carbine SKS Bolt assembly
the engine was
manner.
The vehicle as described and later identified in
the TRM-B-49 Tank Repair Shop Truck.
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7 . 62-mm Semiautomatic Carbine Model SKS
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Enc lo sure A
Bolt RFIctle
Front Sight
Wooden Stock
Lit egral Box Magazine
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Detail
Sketda, 7.62-mm Semiautomatic Carbine Model SKS Bolt Assembly
Enclosure B
Bolt
f
Bolt Handle
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Bolt Lug
Extractor
E'ngagemant of Bolt- and Piston Rod
AY
Possible Extension of
Piston Rod and/Or Location
of Recoil Spring
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Piston Rod
Piston
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Wooden Stock
7.62-mm AVTOMAT Submachine Gun
5oxiT.
Enclosure C
Bolt Handle
Rear Sight
-
k
I
I A
,Pistol Grip \ )1*** Curved Box Magazine
/Front Sight
Gas Cylinder .
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