ALBANIAN GROUND ORDER-OF-BATTLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82T00709R000100410001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 31, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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Copy 170
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ALBANIAN GROUND ORDER-OF-BATTLE (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. (S/D) This report presents an imagery-derived order-of-battle for Albanian ground forces. Imag-
ery acquired from September 1979 through March 1982 was used in writing this report. Collateral infor-
mation, although limited, was used as an aid to determine unit subordination and identification.
2. (S/D) Development of a complete Albanian ground order-of-battle is hampered by several fac-
tors. Because of the intense competition for the collection of imagery of Eastern Europe, the quantity of
imagery acquired of Albania is limited. Additionally, Albanian ground force units are generally housed in
small facilities that are poorly secured and frequently appear to be nonmilitary. Compared to other
Eastern European forces, many Albanian units are inadequately equipped, and most of the equipment
these units possess is generally stored in vehicle sheds or tunnels (Figure 1) 25X1
This report was prepared to fill 25X1
some of the intelligence gaps in the current DIA Albanian ground order-of-battle.'
3. During the preparation of this report, 12 installations were newly identified, the 25X1
locations and subordinations of a number of units were changed, and two new brigade-sized units were
identified. Evidence is also presented suggesting the existence of a fifth army corps, headquartered at
Fier. The August 1980 DIA order-of-battle states that the Albanian ground forces are composed of four
army corps, with each corps containing only one brigade. However, analysis of imagery, supported by
some collateral information,1,3,4,1 indicates the presence of more than one brigade in at least three of the
corps. Figure 2 shows the location of all identified ground forces units in Albania.
4. (S/D) The tables below list the Albanian ground order-of-battle by army corps, brigade, regi-
ment, battalion, and unit. The DIA ground order-of-battle for Albania was used as the primary reference
DESCRIPTION
Northern Corps
5.
fied.2,3
In the Northern Corps area, two additional infantry brigades have been identi- 25X1
Installation Name Units
BE No Present
21st Infantry Brigade
Shkoder Army Bks 001 Bde hq
Ivana' Army Bks 2 prob inf units
Barbullush Army Bks 2 prob inf units
Lac Army Bks AL-1 Tank bn, AAA bn
Shkoder Chem Tng Area Poss chem unit
At least 10
storage tunnels; 5 prob
Type 59 tanks outside
tunnels
Chem unit not
confirmed from
imagery
Prob arty unit 6 weapons
revetments
Lezhe Army Bks 001 Inf unit
Unid Infantry Brigade
Peshkope Bks 001
Prob inf bde hq,
Large admin
2 prob inf bns
areal (Figure 3)
Bical Army Bks 001
Inf unit, AAA unit
Inf unit, AT unit,
17 trucks, 1 field
AAA unit
gun, 6 AAA guns
Kukes Army Bks North
Unid unit
10 cargo trucks
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Northern Corps (Continued)
Installation Name
BE No
Units
Present
Unid Infantry Brigade
Bajram Curri Army Bks
Prob inf bde hq,2
inf unit
Bajram Curri Army Bks S
Prob inf unit New tgt;
13 cargo trucks
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Tropoie Bks 001
Unid inf unit
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Central Corps
6.
The 14th Infantry Brigade (the unit designator may be 32nd6) is headquartered at
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Elbasan, but too many units exist within the boundaries of the Central Corps for all to be subordinate to
this brigade. The numbers and types of units, especially the five tank battalions, in the Central Corps
indicate the presence of more than one brigade. However, no collateral information was available to aid
in determining unit subordination. Collateral information indicates that an infantry brigade may be
headquartered in Gramsh,4 but this could not be confirmed from imagery.
Installation Name Units
BE No Present
Elbasan Army Bks 001
Elbasan Army Bks
Labinot Mal
Bde hq,6 tank bn,
AT bn, engr bn
At least 1 inf bn
Elbasan Army Bks At least 2 inf bns
Shkumbin 2
Burrel Army Bks 001
Belqize Mil Facility
Librazhd Bks 001
Stalin Mil Bks
Prob arty bn,
prob AAA unit
Inf bn
Inf bn, tank bn,
unid unit
Cerrik Army Bks N
Pepin Mil Installation
Fushe-Kruje Bks
and Tng Area
Durres Army Bks 1/6
Prushkull Army Bks
Inf bn
Prob inf bn
2 prob inf bns;
poss AAA bn
Tank bn
Tank bn, arty bn
5 AAA guns,
31 trucks
Facility large enough
to house 2 or more bn
Numerous arty bunkers
in area; 9 AAA guns
New tgt
12 trucks
4 AAA guns
1 T-34 tank in
front of tunnel
entrance
New tgt;
tunnel storage
New tgt; tank bn
in convoy 1 nm south of
bks on
Shijak Army Bks
Kavaje Bks 001
Durres Army Bks N
Prenjas Bks 001
Cerrik Army Bks S
Gramsh Bks 001
Dars Army Bks E
Tank bn
Prob arty regt
AAA bn
Engr unit
Inf bn
Unid unit
Prob arty unit
numerous arty
revetments
17 med tanks
3 occupied AAA
sites
1 bulldozer,
5 trucks
New tgt;
tunnel storage
Poss inf bde,hq;4
not confirmed
from imagery
New tgt; 8 arty
revetments south of
barracks
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Southeastern Corps
7. Only one infantry unit subordinate to the Southeastern Corps has been identi- 25X1
fied. Collateral information indicates that one additional infantry brigade may exist in the area of Erseke,5
however, the existence of such a brigade could not be confirmed from imagery.
Installation Name Units
BE No Present
8th Infantry Brigade
Korce Army Bks Inf bde hq
S/Corp Hq
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Pojan Army Bks
AT unit
4 85/100mm AT
guns, 8 arty revetments,
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Korce Bks NNW
2 tank bns
8 trucks
24 T-34 tanks parked
in 2 groups; 2 prob
Bilisht Bks 001
AAA unit
Chinese M-1967 APC
4 57mm AA guns,
Erseke Army Bks E Inf unit
4 37mm AA guns
Poss inf bde hq,5
not confirmed
from imagery
New tgt
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Southwestern Corps
8. (S/D) Two artillery regiments have been identified in the Southwestern Corps, but the artillery
regiment in Sarande may be a Coastal Defense asset and not subordinate to the Southwestern Corps.
Installation Name
BE No
Units
Present
5th Infantry Brigade
Gjirokaster Army Bks/
Hq 001
Bde hq
Tepelene Bks 001
Arty regt
Delvine Army Bks 001
3 poss inf units
Permet Ft Bks 001
Inf unit
Rajan Army Bks
Unid unit
New tgt
Sarande Army Bks 001
Inf bn
Sarande Army Bks W
Arty regt
New tgt
Newly Identified Corps
9. A previously unidentified army corps, composed of one brigade, is probably
headquartered at Fier with subordinate elements in Berat, Patos, and Vlore.? Berat and Vlore were
previously carried within the boundaries of the Central and Southwestern Corps, respectively. The artil-
lery regiment for this corps is probably at Fier Army Barracks 002. The only confirmed BM-13 multiple
rocket launchers in Albania are south of Fier at Fier Rocket Emplacements (Figure 4).
Installation Name
BE No
Units
Present
Fier Army Bks/Park
Fier Rocket Emplacements
MRL bn
8 BM-13 MRLs
(Figure 4)
Fier Army Bks 002
Prob arty regt
Fier Army Bks 005
AAA unit
Vlore Army Bks 002
Prob inf unit
Lushnje Bks 001
Inf bn
Patos Army Bks
Inf bn
Berat Army Bks 001
Inf unit, AAA bn
12 AAA guns?
Kryegjate Army Bks
AAA bn
New tgt;
15 AAA guns
Tirane
10. (S/D) Military units in the Albanian capital of Tirane are not subordinate to an army corps. A
number of national-level assets, as well as smaller units, are in and immediately around the city.
Installation Name
Units
Remarks
BE No
Present
Poss arty regt
DIA GOB lists 1
unid arty regt; only
7 AT-S and 16 37mm AAA
guns visible
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Tirane (Continued)
Installation Name
BE No
Tirane Army Bks
Skanderenberg 4
Units
Present
Unid engr regt
DIA GOB lists 1
unid CBR unit;
no CBR equipment
discernible
Tirane Army Bks SE
6 Type 59 tanks;
adequate storage for 2
Tirane Army Bks E
tank bns
7 85/100mm AT
guns, 6 trucks
Tirane Army Bks SW
Ali Riza 005
3 trucks, 2
tractor-trailers
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Tirane Army Bks A
2 85/100mm AT
guns
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Tirane Army Bks N
Tank unit,
1 med tank,
arty regt/bde
36 85/100mm AT guns
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Tirane Army Bks NNE
Unid unit
New tgt
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Tirane Army Bks B
Unid unit
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Tirane Army Bks NE
3 inf bns
New tgt
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Tirane MT Park 008
Unid MT bn
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Coastal Defense Artillery Units
11. (S/D) All coastal defense artillery units are subordinate to Coastal Defense Headquarters, Tirane
Ministry of National Defense
Installation Name
BE No
Shengjin Army Bks 001
Rodeni Army Bks 001
Prushkull Army Bks
Seman Army Bks
Sazan Army Bks
Vlore Bks 003
Port Palerno Army Bks
Saran de Army Bks 001
Sarande Army Bks W
Units
Present
Arty bn
Arty bn
Arty bn
Arty bn
Arty bn
Arty bn
Arty bn
Arty bn
Arty regt
New tgt
New tgt; possible
Coastal Def arty asset
instead of SW Corps
asset
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MRL MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHER
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REGIMENT
BATTALION
GREEN - BDE HO
BROWN - CORPS HO
Scala 1:750,000
II
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(S/D) Satellite imagery acquired from
this report.
DOCUMENTS
1. DIA. DDB-1100-AL-80, Ground Order of Battle: Albania (U), Aug 80 (SECRET)
2. DoD. 2 210 4423 79, Infantry Brigade (U), 27 Nov 79 (CONFIDENTIAL
as used in the preparation of
3. DoD. 2 210 4261 77, Military Units/Defensive Works (U), 3 Aug 77 (CONFIDENTIAL
4. DoD. 2 210 4164 78, U/1 Mixed Brigade (U), 14 Jul 78 (CONFIDENTIAL
5. DoD. 2 199 0299 81, Infantry Brigade in Erseke (U), 5 Nov 81 (CONFIDENTIAL
6. DoD. 2 210 4276 79, Infantry Brigade (U), 21 Jun 79 (CONFIDENTIAL,
7. DOD. 2 210 4303 76, Military and Industrial Installations (U), 30 Mar 76 (CONFIDENTIAL
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Pact Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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