SOVIET COMMANDANT UNITS IN SUPPORT OF FIELD HEADQUARTERS/COMMAND POSTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83T00574R000102640001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 30
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 4, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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imagery analysis report
Secret
Soviet Commandant Units
In Support of Field
Headquarters/Command Posts (S)
Secret
Z-14605/82
IAR-0082/82
OCTOBER 1982
Copy 73
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SOVIET COMMANDANT UNITS IN SUPPORT OF FIELD
HEADQUARTERS/COMMAND POSTS (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. (S/WN) This report, covering the period through provides a preliminary
analysis of Soviet field-headquarters support units, referred to generically as commandant units.
Also, the report analyzes special-purpose (SP) vans and van sets which are key signatures for two
types of commandant units-independent security and service units and independent transporta-
tion units. Fifty-five of them, each specially equipped to provide mobile accommodations for
Soviet field command post (CP) personnel, have been identified throughout the Soviet and
Warsaw Pact countries. Through August 1982, Soviet commandant units have been observed in
Afghanistan, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, and all 16 military dis-
tricts (MD) in the Soviet Union (Figure 1). The survivability of the wartime Soviet command,
control, and communications (C3) system depends, to some extent, on the services of comman-
dant units. Observation of the deployment of these units provides critical indications and warning
(I&W) data on increased readiness levels and impending high-level CP deployment.
2. (S/WN) Independent security and service units and independent transportation units,
both supporting field mobile CPs of armies and Fronts, were probably in existence during World
War II. In 1961, a Soviet writer, discussing the units, recommended that the commandant's service
(Kommendantskaya sluzhba*) be broadened.' The author proposed that the security and service
regiment, attached to the Front staff, and the battalion, attached to the army staff, be called
commandant units (Kommendantskaya chast).1 It was not stated in the article if his suggestion was
adopted, but some form of his general proposal is currently being used.
3. (S/WN) This report includes human intelligence (humint) reports and imagery analysis
which is relative to the mission, subordination, equipment, organization, and field deployment of
commandant units. In addition, it includes one table, three charts, five drawings, and 20 anno-
tated photographs.
Commandant Units
4. (S/WN)I I commandant units-consisting of various SP
units-are under the direct supervision of the commandant's group at every level of Soviet forces
headquarters.' Through late August 1982, commandant companies, battalions, and regiments
*Commandant services are an aggregate of activities organized by staffs at all command levels for controlling
areas where troops are deployed. The services also include regulating road and rail traffic and camouflage
activities.
(Continued p. 6)
WNINTEL
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Magdenburg Furstenberg
Wire Trevenbrietten
Dresden
Milovice ? ? Wundsdorf Vyborg
Legnica
Kaliningrad :Riga ? Wistrotavodsk
Grodn Leningrad
L vov Minsk
Budapest? \+ r rsoriaov
Ivan-Frankovsk ? ?Bobruysk
O'Rovno Alabino
Zhitomir ? ? ?Cherrigov ?aBarybin
Kiev
Kishinev ?
? Odessa
?
Novochekaask
Tbilisi
?
?Yerevan
Baku ?
Sverdlovsk
*Kuybyshev ?
Alma-Ate
? Indep Sec and Svc, regimental size
? Indep MD Transport, battalion size
? Indep Sec and Svc, battalion size
Chita
?o Borrys
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SECRET IA R-0082/82
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Khabarovsk
Belogorsk ? ??
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Table 1.
Commandant Units Identified on Imagery
This table in its entirety is classified SECRET/WNINTEL
Baltic MD (BAMD)
BAMD Regt
11th GDS Army Bn
BAMD Bn
Belorussian MD (BEMD)
BEM D Regt
5th GDS Tk Army Bn
7th Tk Army Bn
28th Army Bn
BEMD Air Forces Hq Bn
Carpathian MD (CPMD)
CPMD Regt
8th Tk Army Bn
13th Army Bn
38th Army Bn
CPMD Bn
Central Asian MD (CAMD)
CAMD Bn
1st Army Corps Bn
1 7th Army Corps
FEMD Regt
1 5th Army Bn
35th Army Bn
Unid Army Corps Bn
Unid Army Corps
Facility
Type** BE No
Riga Army Bks E AL-2 A
Kaliningrad Bks Sharlottenburg AL-3' " A
Riga Army Bks NE AL-1 B
Minsk Army Bks Uruchye NE
Bobruysk Hq GDS TK Army/Army Bks
AL-11 A
Borisov Hq Tk Army/Army Bks AL-4 A
Grodno Army Bks E AL-1 A
Minsk Army Bks Stepyanka SE AL-1 1 B
Lvov Army Bks AL-7 and
LVOV AAA Bks Vysokiy Zamok AL-5
Zhitomir Army Bks Central A
Rovno Army Bks/Hq 13 Army AL-1 A
Ivano Frankovsk Army Bks Central A
Lvov Army Bks NW AL-11 B
Alma Ata Army Bks AL-10
Semipalatinsk Army Bks AL-2
Unknown
Khabarovsk Hq Far East MD AL-21 A
Khabarovsk Army Hq/Bks AL-27'"' A
Belogorsk Army Bks Tom River
AL-4
Ussuriysk Army Bks W AL-3/SAM
Sup Fac A
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Army Bks N
Unknown
'Army designators derived from referenced document 12.
"A (independent security and service units) and B (independent MD transportation units) designate types of com-
mandant units.
*APCs housed with independent security and service unit.
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Table 1. (cont'd)
Subordination* Echelon Facility
Kiev MD (KYMD)
KYMD Bn Kiyev Army Bks South AL-24
1st GDS Army Bn Chernigov Army Bks E AL-3
6th Tk Army Unknown
Leningrad MD (LEMD)
Type** BE No
LEMD Regt Leningrad Army Bks Radishcheva AL-2 A
6th Army Bn Petrozavodsk Hq 6 Army/AR Bks AL-4 A
30th GDS Army Corps Bn Vyborg Army Bks AL-3 A
Unid Army Corps Unknown
MOMD Bn Alabino Army Bks A Tng Center AL-1 A
Command Staff Regt Barybino Army Bks AL-1 `"" A
North Caucasus MD (NCMD)
NCMD Bn Novocherkassk Army Bks SW AL-1 B
Unid Army Corps Unknown
Odessa MD (ODMD)
ODMD
14th Army
32nd Army
Regt Odessa Army Bks AL-2
Bn Kishinev Army Bks West AL-2
SIMD Bn Novosibirsk Army Bks N AL-7 B
SIMD Bn Novosibirsk Army Bks AL-1/Hq MRD A
Trans-Baikal MD (TBMD)
TBMD Regt Chita Tk Div Army Bks AL-15 A
TBMD Bn Glubokaya Army Bks Atamanovka AL-1 B
Command Staff Regt Ulan Ude 9th RVGK Signal BDE AL-3 A
Unid Army Bn Borzya Army Hq AL-1 A
Unid Army Bn Ulan Ude Army Bks SE AL-2 A
'Army designators derived from referenced document 12.
-A (independent security and service units) and B (independent MD transportation units) designate types of com-
mandant units.
" *APCs housed with independent security and service unit.
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Table 1. (cont'd)
Subordination* Echelon
TCMD Air Forces Hq Bn
4th Army Bnt
7th GDS Army Bn
Unid Army Corps
Turkestan MD (TKMD)
Ural MD (URMD)
VOMD
Volga MD (VOMD)
VOMD
40th Army Bn Kabul Deployment Area SW* A
Central Groups of Forces (CGF), Czechoslovakia
Facility
Tbilisi Air Depot W/GSE
Baku 4th Army Hq AL-33,
Baku Army Bks Shaumyan AL-2,
and Baku Army Bks SW AL-4
Type** BE No
Yerevan Army Bks Kanaker AL-6 A
Unknown
Tashkent Turkestan MD Hq AL-20 and
Poltoratskiy U/I CC RCVR Fac/Bnk A
Kuybyshev Army Bks AL-1 and
Dubovyy Umet Mil Instltt A
Soviet Forces in Mongolia
39th Tk Army Bn Ulaan Baatar Army Bks AL-1
Soviet Forces in Afghanistan
Bn Milovice Army Bks Hq NW 201
"Army designators derived from referenced document 12.
"A (independent security and service units) and B (independent MD transportation units) designate types of com-
mandant units.
"APCs housed with independent security and service unit.
tElements of an independent security and service battalion housed at three separate installations in Baku.
ttApproximately 15 nm south of Kuybyshev VOMD Hq/AL-1.
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Table 1. (cont'd)
Facility
Type** BE No
Southern Group of Forces (SGF), Hungary
Northern Groups of Forces (NGF), Poland
*Army designators derived from referenced document 12.
"A (independent security and service units) and B (independent MD transportation units) designate types of com-
mandant units.
supporting field headquarters from division through Front/groups of forces (GOF)-level have
been identified on imagery and in humint reports. Photographic evidence suggests that these
units may be available to support national-level/command staff (CS) authorities as well; however,
only nondivisional commandant units are discussed in this report. A list of each commandant unit
identified by late August 1982 has been provided in this report (Table 1).
Mission
5. (S/WN) Commandant units provide transportation, logistics, physical security, and
administrative/clerical services for the headquarters they support.2.3 Transportation personnel set
up special vans for workspaces for the staff directorates, departments, and smaller entities
comprising field CPs of high commands, Fronts, armies, and lower levels. Commandant
transportation personnel operate and maintain expandable vans and van truck and trailer sets and
position them in specific sectors within the CP area. Transportation vehicles such as these are the
most readily identifiable part of commandant units. The security elements (modified motorized
rifle and tank combat units) of the independent security and service units are not readily
identifiable because they may be in emergency reserve or they may not have armored vehicles.
Because the transportation and security vehicles are most prevalent on imagery, this report
focuses on their characteristics instead of on those of the logistics and administrative clerical
services.
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Independent Security and Service Units
6. (S/WN) Imagery analysis revealed that two echelons of independent security and service
units exist above division level. The smaller of the two echelons-company/battalion strength-is
generally associated with areas containing army corps and army headquarters. The Soviet
designation for the smaller unit is Otdelnaya Rota/Batalon Okhrani i Obsluzhivaniya or
OROO/OBOO, which means independent security and service company/battalion.2 A typical
OROO/OBOO has approximately 150 vehicles. Thirty-three OROO/OBOOs have been identi-
fied. The larger echelon-battalion/regimental strength-is associated with MD or GOF head-
quarters. This unit is probably regarded as regimental sized because of the reported existence of a
Front-subordinate independent security and service regiment designated by the Soviets as
Otdelnaya Polk Okhrani i Obsluzhivaniya or OPOO.4 The unit contains approximately twice the
number of.vehicles as the smaller unit. Eleven larger units have been identified.
Independent Transportation Units
7. (S/WN) Eleven independent transportation battalions-essentially motor transportation
units equipped to provide support to field CPs-have been identified on imagery. These
battalions contain the same type of special vans as transportation subunits of independent
security and service units as well as transport (cargo trucks) and fuel supply (POL) subunits. They
have been associated with headquarters of MDs (rear service and main field CP support) and with
air forces of MDs (combined air force and air defense field CPs). The units do not appear to
include armored personnel carrier (APC)-equipped security subunits.
Signature Vehicles of Commandant Units
8. (S/WN) Field operations van (FOV) sets (the NPIC interim designation for an unidentified
truck and trailer set that has been seen with commandant units since 1972), Babochka (butterfly)
expandable van trucks, and administrative transportation vehicles are the three predominant
types of multipurpose special vehicles observed in commandant units. Besides the FOV sets and
Babochka vans, vehicles observed organic to commandant units include UAZ-469/69 light utility
trucks (jeeps), light-toned civilian buses, limousines/sedans, APCs, tanks, and general transport
and utility service vehicles (Figures 2 through 5).
9. (S/WN) Only seven commandant units have been identified with APCs (Table 1). These
vehicles are used by the security subunits assigned/attached/organic to independent security and
service units. Presumably, they could serve as lead vehicles for reconnoitering a route and for
securing a site for a field CP; in addition, they could provide a means for ensuring continuity in
command and control while commanders are travelling.
10. (S/WN) The exact Soviet name for the FOV set has yet to be confirmed. Fragmentary
information extracted from various intelligence sources and open-source publications has alluded
to designations which have been found to be inconsistent and contradictory. Frequently, NPIC
has described this set as a KM-66 or K-66 workshop van set because of the Soviet standard
(Continued p. 10)
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workshop box-body shelter, the most notable feature of the vehicle. Apparently, the Soviets-to
maximize the use of the shelter throughout the Soviet military forces-use this basic design for a
variety of functions.
11. (S/WN) Key identification features of the basic shelter are three windows on each
chamfered edge, three windows on each side wall, and an equipment/luggage storage platform
occupying approximately two-thirds of the surface area of the roof. Usually, camouflage canvas or
net for the FOV set is transported atop this equipment platform (Figure 6). This basic shelter is
installed on the beds of GAZ-66, ZIL-157, and ZIL-131 truck chassis. ZIL-157 and ZIL-131 trucks
usually tow a dual-axle, two-ton van trailer (designated 2-PN-2M).
12. (S/WN) FOV sets are probably well suited to function as mobile staff facilities or mobile
offices. The ,van trailers-with two windows on each side wall and fitted with a chemical,
biological, and radiological (CBR) protection system (Figure 7)-could be used to carry four
sleeping bunks, accessory equipment, wash facilities, and a heater as standard furnishings; they
could also be used as additional office workspace. One source stated that lower-ranking officers
had to share this trailer, when being used for living quarters, with others. Trailers assigned to
general officers are usually pulled by an URAL-375.5
13. (S/WN) Since 1979, the Soviets have been deploying a second-generation e of FOV
shelter mounted on a URAL-375 truck chassis. This vehicle is slightly longer t than the
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overall ZIL-157/131 FOV set's length, which is
The second-generation type has four
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each chamfered edge and side wa
Figure 8 . Also, this version usually tows a
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dual-axle, chamfered-roof van trailer (designated 2-PN-4M) with a four-ton capacity.
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T ue icn on of this FOV set is most likely identical to that of the original version. In examining
these units, a distinction based on the Soviet truck-chassis type (Figure 9) has been made.
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NPIC T-4743
14. (S/WN) Tactically deployed FOV sets seem to share two distinct characteristics. Primarily,
small auxiliary tents-probably used by the crew of the FOV set for sleeping or working
accommodations-are erected next to these sets. Secondly, canvas is stretched across the gap
separating the truck and trailer (Figure 10).
15. (S/WN) For concealment/deception purposes during tactical deployment, light-toned
paints, which can be washed off with plain water, are applied as needed in disruptive camouflage
patterns to these sets.6 Also, camouflage nets and natural foliage are used for these purposes.
Babochka Expandable Vans
16. (S/WN) The informal name Babochka,
refers to the manner in which the side walls of the
van are unfolded to form an enclosed awning.7 Unfolding the side walls doubles the size of the
interior. It usually takes approximately 30 minutes for two men to enlarge or retract the box-
body.8 After the side walls are lowered to form the floor, supported on each side by three
adjustable legs, the roof-probably an additional interior side wall-is raised, and the sides are
erected (Figure 11). The material used for the sides of the van probably varies, but canvas-type
material appears to serve as walls for a few Babochka versions.
17. (S/WN) As with FOV sets, the Soviet military probably use Babochka van trucks for
several purposes. The trucks were designed to be used as operational shelters for offices, CPs,
communications centers, telephone switchboards, communications equipment repair stations,
(Continued p. 15)
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NPIC T-4748
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teleprinters, mobile mess/dining facilities, or living quarters. Based on information about the
missions of commandant units and about the manner in which vans are deployed, it is likely that
the function of the expandable van is command associated. Babochka vans involved in mobile
CP-support operations have been used almost exclusively as CPs.
18. (S/WN) The interior of a Babochka van used for a CP includes collapsible desks, folding
cots, a map/conference table, field telephones-some equipped with ZAS** (a secure communi-
cations encoding device), and an oil heater.7' The box-body, is well equipped
to provide office accommodations for commanders of different branches and services.
Administrative Transportation Vehicles
19. (S/WN) In an alert, HQ staff officers and civilian personnel are transported to the alert
area by buses, sedans, and jeeps. Although such vehicles are a necessity for a smooth transition
from headquarters to the field, substantial shortages in the number of buses and sedans, in
particular, have been observed at several security and service garrisons. Some of these vehicles
are used on a daily basis and are parked at urban administrative headquarters compounds.
20. (S/WN) The number of available vehicles may be increased by using vehicles stored at
bus or sedan motor pools. Sedan motor pools may be part of Soviet contingency preparations to
ensure adequate transportation/evacuation of key personnel out of urban areas during an
emergency. When a crisis is imminent, sedans earmarked for military use could be marshalled
from motor pools to fill shortages in certain commandant units. Figure 12 shows the garage-type
sheds characteristic of sedan motor pools. Several are based in every large city in the Soviet
Union, and many have been observed in the vicinity of ground forces headquarters and mobile
signal units.
Commandant Unit Structure
21. (S/WN) Analysis of vehicle parking patterns has suggested a four-subunit structure for
commandant units. Structures of typical commandant units have been depicted in charts 1
through 3. These subunits are headquarters, service, SP transport, and guard. Other than the
vehicles from an SP transport subunit, no signature vehicles have been directly associated with
the headquarters staff of commandant units. The headquarters staff includes the unit commander,
senior officers, conscript soldiers, and a large number of civilians employed to perform adminis-
trative/clerical functions.3 The echelon for each subunit is based primarily on the standard Soviet
organizational structure for battalions and regiments. Commandant units may be assigned two or
three SP transport subunits, each fully equipped to support a field CP, which may be a main CP, a
reserve CP, etc.
Unit Garrisons
22. (S/WN) The physical layout of each security and service garrison varies widely from one
unit to the next. Of the 55 commandant units, only ten were identified in separately secured and
detached garrisons, each consisting of a barracks/administrative area and a vehicle storage area.
The ten units were identified at Ivano Frankovsk, Leningrad, Lvov, Odessa, Riga, Treuenbrietzen,
Wunsdorf, Zhitomir, Legnica, and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Figure 13).
**The Russian term is Zesekrechivayushchava Aparatura Svyazi.
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Chart 1.
Soviet Army/Army Corps Independent Security and Service Battalion Organiza-
tion and Equipment (Postulated)
Independent
Security and Service
Battalion
SP
Transport
Company
Headquarters*
Note: These figures reflect the largest number of each type of equipment observed in any one battalion at any one time.
The vehicles organic to the SP transport company and service company are often seen within the same vehicle
park. However, the vehicles organic to the guard company may be housed at another installation nearby. If guard
troops are housed with this battalion, they may be armed with AKMs and light machine guns but equipped with
only a few, if any, APCs.
Service
Company
30 cargo trucks
2 truck-mounted cranes
2 cargo trailers
2 workshop van trucks
10 POL truck/water trucks
12 van trucks
2 UAZ-450/452s
2 generator trailers
5 tank trailers
5 ARS-12/14s
Guard
Company
8 "Babochka" 17 APCs, BTR-60P/BTR-60PBs
expandable vans 5 medium tanks
36 FOV sets
27 UAZ-469/69s
12 staff sedans
7 buses
2 KRAZ-255Bs
The service company is representative of a number of service sub-elements, providing a wartime army/Front CP
with electrical, chemical defense, and engineering support.
'Other than vehicles from an SP transport subunit, no signature vehicles have been directly associated with the headquar-
ters staff.
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Chart 2.
Soviet Front Independent Security and Service Regiment Organization and Equipment (Postu-
lated)
Independent
Security and Service
Regiment
Headquarters*
20 cargo trucks
2 truck-mounted cranes
25 cargo trailers
2 workshop van trucks
5 POL truck/water trucks
25 van trucks
2 UAZ-450/452s
23 generator trailers
16 field kitchen trailers
SP
Transport
Battalion
20 "Babochka" 26 APCs, BTR-60P/BTR-6OPBs
expandable vans 6 BRDM-2RKHs
90 FOV sets
25 UAZ-469/69s
15 staff sedans
8 buses
37 KRAZ-255Bs
Note: The composition and strength of the motorized rifle unit which forms the guard battalion are unknown. One source
associated a tank company with this regiment;4 however, this association has not been confirmed on imagery.
Personnel and vehicles of the guard battalion are believed to be housed at a separate facility. If guard troops are
housed with this regiment, they are equipped with AKM assault rifles and light machine guns but lack APCs.
The service battalion is representative of a number of service sub-elements which provide a wartime army/Front CP
with electrical, chemical defense, and engineering support. Vehicles organic to the SP transportation and service
battalions are often seen within the same vehicle parking area. Unspecified numbers and types of signature vehicles
organic to this battalion are probably mantained under covered storage.
'Other than vehicles from an SP transport subunit, no signature vehicles have been directly associated with the headquar-
ters staff of commandant units.
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Chart 3.
Soviet Independent MD Transport Battalion (Postulated)
Independent MD
Transportation
Battalion
Headquarters*
Company
-.-~-.J
SP
Transport
20 "Babochka"
expandable
vans
22 - 77 FOV sets
15 expandable
semitrailer vans
Motor
Transport
Company
POL
Transport
Company
33 GAZ-66 trucks
80 trucks, KAMAZ-5320s,
URAL-375/377
80 POL trucks
30 cargo/van trucks, GAZ/ZIL
80 Cargo trailers, dual-axle
80 POL trailers
5 truck-mounted cranes
6 generator trailers
3 water trailers
2 kitchen trailers
1 ambulance
Note: The probable mission of this battalion is to provide transportation for supplying a main field CP or rear services
headquarters (rear control post) and depot. A similarly equipped unit has been identified with air force assets at
Minsk and Tbilisi. This unit probably supports an MD air forces field command post.
The expandable semitrailer vans were seen at Kiyev Army Bks South AL-4 and at Glubokaya Army Bks AL-1. The
vehicles of an SP transport subunit are usually parked in a separately secured vehicle park. Not all independent
motor transport units are equipped with the vehicles seen in an SP transport company, but they do maintain the
other subunits.
The figures reflect the largest number of each type of equipment identified in any one independent MD transport
battalion.
'Other than vehicles from an SP transport subunit, no signature vehicles have been directly associated with the headquar-
ters staff of commandant units.
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23. (S/WN) At four other units, vehicles for independent security and service units are
maintained at secured storage areas physically separated from the associated barracks/administra-
tive housing facilities. The location of the barracks/administrative housing area has not been
determined. Limited vehicle storage space, because of urban congestion or overcrowded condi-
tions and because of several units billeted at one installation, is possibly one factor which led to
storing unit vehicles apart from associated main garrisons. Detached vehicle storage areas were
observed at Alabino, Chita, Kishinev, and Vyborg (Figure 14).
24. (S/WN) All remaining independent security and service units (30) were either close to an
associated urban headquarters compound, similar to the compounds at Borisov and Khabarovsk
(Figures 15 and 16), or at a separate garrison housing other nondivisional units also subordinate to
the same headquarters. The independent security and service unit at Belogorsk Army Barracks
Tom River AL-4 is a representative example of ten of the 30 units collocated with other detached
subordinated units (Figure 17).
25. (S/WN) Eleven independent transportation units appear dissimilar to those of indepen-
dent security and service units because an engineering troop obstacle course is at each garrison,
the units are associated closely with rear service elements of their respective MDs, all lack
APC/tank-equipped security subunits, and a lower level of training occurs in them. POL and
cargo transport companies in the vicinity of the SP transport subunits serve as the chief
recognition feature for them. The name of these 11 units was acquired from a source who served
with the 374th Independent MD Transport Battalion at Riga Army Barracks NE AL-1.1? The units
were observed at Alma Ata, Glubokaya (5 nautical miles south-southeast of Chita), Kiev, Lvov,
Minsk, Novocherkassk, Novosibirsk, Riga, Sverdlovsk, Tbilisi, and Budapest. The Minsk and Tbilisi
units are associated with air forces of their respective MDs. The Kiyev MD transport battalion,
illustrated in Figure 18, is the best example observed of MD transportation units.
Field CP Deployment
26. (S/WN) A Soviet nondivisional field CP appears to be divided into a communications
center, a combat control center, and one or more operations support groups. Timely establish-
ment of a CP in the field would entail extensive coordination among units responsible for
providing vehicles for each of these three components. Vehicles of an army/Front signal unit are
used to set up the communications center for the CP and possibly for the combat control center
(CCC) whereas vehicles of a commandant unit are used to set up operations support groups. The
equipment comprising an operations support group includes FOV sets, Babochka vans, tents,
mobile house trailers, and transportable cylindrical shelters.
27. (S/WN) The combat control center, usually at the center of a field CP, is composed of a
group of four to eight Babochka van trucks arranged in a distinct block-shaped pattern (Figure
19). The main purpose of the center is believed to be troop control and supervision. The center
could have a function similar to a United States tactical operations center and possibly consists of
a ground force commander, an air force commander, a chief of staff, a chief of rocket troops and
artillery, and other key officers. When commandant units were engaged in training, many
examples of the pattern indicative of a combat control center were observed on imagery. Because
Babochka vans are also found with certain types of mobile signal units, the vehicles forming a
combat control center could be drawn from a commandant unit or a signal unit or from both.
(Continued p. 28)
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28. (S/WN) All three components in a field CP were observed on ~ imagery of
Kabul Deployment Area SW, Afghanistan. The 40th Army's CP was established here during the
early stages of the Soviet invasion in late December 1979 (Figure 20). Between
this CP was dismantled, and the commanding general and key officers probably moved to a large
palace (Tapaitijek) atop a hill near the original CP site. Figure 21 shows the security and service
battalion vehicle park as it appeared on As of late August 1982, the independent
security and service battalion and independent signal regiment used to form that CP maintain
their vehicles in separately secured vehicle parks immediately next to the former CP location.
29. (S/WN) Occasionally, small-scale training involving various commandant units has been
observed in neighboring training areas (Figures 22 and 23). The units rehearse in these areas as
though they were at their CP deployment sites. Such training areas might be designated as alert
areas from which commandant units may relocate to their actual CP. Figure 24 is a simplified
illustration of the three essential elements involved in establishing the major control posts at
army/Front level.
30. (S/WN) A deployed Front/CS-level CP was first identified on imagery of
The CP was in the Central Asian MD at Sary-Ozek Alternate Command Post
which is 4 nautical miles west of a fixed command and control facility. This fixed facility-Sary-
Ozek Joint Command/CP/Bunker/Hard is considered most likely to house a
probable theater-associated facility in the region. Only two of the three components of this CP
engaged in a Front- or CS-directed exercise were visible on imagery. (Partial coverage precluded
confirmation of the third component, the combat control center.) The locations of the comman-
dant unit and the signal unit which participated in this exercise have yet to be determined
(Figures 25 through 27).
Command Staff Association
31. (S/WN) National-level authorities may have delegated certain independent security and
service units to support contingency operations involving high-ranking officers and staff person-
nel directly under Moscow control. Beginning in 1979, elements of an independent security and
service regiment were being formed at Barybino Army Barracks AL-1, 33 nautical miles south-
southeast of Moscow, and at Ulan Ude 9th Reserves of the Supreme High Command (RVGK)
Signal Brigade AL 3. Both installations-each with major C3-related facilities-house a CS signal
brigade." A large CP bunker at Barybino and a large high command headquarters building and
radio communications facility at Ulan Ude AL-3 were probably designed to improve Moscow's
coordination and control of Frontal forces in any outlying theater of military operations. Figure 28
illustrates the security and service regiment at Ulan Ude AL-3 where such a CS-level headquarters
has been established.
CONCLUSION
32. (S/WN) Because commandant units must depart along with mobile signal units, they
provide an additional indication of when a CP deployment will occur. Close observation of
mobile signal elements and commandant units supporting field headquarters can aid in predict-
ing CP deployments and in enhancing analysis of them. In recent years, the Soviets have
increased their reliance on mobile signal and commandant units to ensure control of deployed
troops and armament. New formations of both types of units at all command levels are evidence
that this trend will continue.
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FORWARD EDGE OF BATTLE AREA
i
ALERT
DEPLOYMENT
F AREA
pill In 00 19000006
FORWARD CP
20-40km/80-150km
REAR
CONTROL POST
STAFF PERSONNEL TRANSPORTED
BY JEEP, SEDANS, AND BUSES
*APPROXIMATE DISTANCES FOR
CPs AT ARMY AND FRONT LEVEL.
(DISTANCES FOR ARMY LEVELS
ARE THE LOWER SET OF FIGURES.)
THE MAIN AND RESERVE CPs ARE
GENERALLY DEPLOYED THE SAME
DISTANCE FROM THE FEBA.
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(S/WN) All available satellite imagery acquired through
this report.
was used in the preparation of
2. CIA. FIRK-311/00347-77, The 6th Army Headquarters (V/Ch 71577) in Petrozavodsk, Leningrad
Military District, 14 Mar 77 (CONFIDENTIAL/WNINTEL)
3. DoD. 2 218 9306 80, Cegled (4710N-1948E), U/1 Corps Headquarters and Service Battalion (U), 13 Nov
80 (CONFIDENTIAL)
4. DoD. IR 2 240 6113 82, Organization of Soviet FRONT Headquarters (U), 15 Mar 82 (CONFI-
5. DoD. 2 218 5168 78, KALININGRAD (5443N-2030E), 11th Guards Tank Army Headquarters (C), 21 Apr
78 (CONFIDENTIAL;
6. US Army. AST-11005-100-81, Soviet Cold Weather Operations (U), 6 Feb 81 (SECRET
7. DoD. 2 240 0060 80, "Babochka" Communications System (U), 23 Apr 80 (CONFIDENTIAL
8. DIA. DST-1150S-103-80, Military Shelters-Foreign (U), 15 Dec 80 (CONFIDENTIAL
9. US Army. TB 381-5-17, Foreign Materiel Catalog (FOMCAT), vol 17, General Equipment, Nov 77
(UNCLASSIFIED)
10. DoD. IR 2 218 1840 81, Baltic Militry District Transportation Battalion (U), 211313Z Jan 81 (CONFI-
DENTIAL)
IAR-6-79, Moscow Command Staff Signal Units (S), Jan 80 (TOP SECRET
12. DIA. DDB-1100-UR-81, Ground Order of Battle: USSR (U), Jan 81 (SECRET
*Extracted information
***Extracted information is SECRET
DoD. IR 2 218 1841 81, High Level Army Rear Services Command Post (U), 270910Z Jan 81 (CON-
FIDENTIAL)
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are
Warsaw Pact Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation
The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of
welcome. They may be directed to
NPIC, (for graphic illustrations) at NPIC, an
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