PROBABLE PROPELLANT STORAGE FACILITIES, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010036-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: December 1, 1970
• Content Type: REPORT

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NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
PROBABLE PROPELLANT
STORAGE FACILITIES, USSR
[T
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GROUP I: EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
DECEMBER 1970
COPY NO .~ ,
6 PAGES
PIR-075/70
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1. Twelve probable missile-propellant storage depots have been
identified in the USSR. All are larger than bi-propellant storage
facilities at airfields which have ASM support facilities, but the
layout is similar. The 12 storage depots have construction features
that are consistent with storing missile propellants, and each is
large enough to serve more than one operational missile facility.
2. This report describes the characteristics of the depots and
provides a location map and an annotated photograph of a representative
depot.
3. Twelve probable liquid-missile-propellant storage depots have
been identified at or near petroleum storage facilities in the USSR
(Figure 1). These depots are in areas which contain relatively high con-
centrations of facilities associated with surface-to-surface missiles
(SSMs) and surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). The one exception is at
., F,NLAM1D~
~.~ ? S'ftRUGI; KRASSNYWE '
BELITSA
ItOGACHEVO
? NAVOLOKI
? --'^'' 1 CHINA
AF(:FIANISFAN
SOVETSKAYA GAVAN ?,
VARFOLOMEYEVKAr
CHINA '~+..
M G O L I A ON i. /
FIGURE 1. PROBABLE PROPELLANT STORAGE FACILITIES, USSR
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Bolshaya Berestovitsa near the USSR-Poland border, and that installation
probably serves Soviet missile forces in eastern Europe. Identifying
information on the installations is as follows:
Geographic
Coordinates
Aktash Petroleum Products
Storage
Belitsa Probable Missile
Propellant Storage
Bira Bi-Propellant
Storage Facility
Bolshaya Berestovitsa
POL Storage Facility
Dzhankoy Petroleum
Products Storage
Pridorozhnoye
Kyzyl-Arvat Petroleum
Product Storage SW
Navoloki Petroleum
Products Storage
Perm Missile Propellant
Storage & Distribution
Facility
'Rogachevo Petroleum
Storage
-Sovetskaya Gavan
Petroleum Storage
Vanino
Strugi Krasnyye Missile
Propellant Storage
Facility
Varfolomeyevka Bi-
Propellant Storage
39-54-09N
065-54-39E
53-4o-30N
025-23-30E
48-59-50N
132-28-50E
53-05-50N
023-56-IOE
45-47-31N
034-25-10E
38-57-40N
056-14-30E
57-27-o4N
04l-56-44E
57-49-OON
056-25-OOE
56-24-o6N
038-15-43E
49-05-42N
140-17-58E
58-11-20N
029-00-30E
44-17-OON
133-28-OOE
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r TOP SECRET RUFF
4. The 12 probable missile-propellant storage depots have separate
facilities for the storage, handling, and distribution of two types of
liquids. At each depot, a loop road serves the aboveground storage area
and a separate loop road serves the underground storage area. Varfolo-
meyevka Bi-Propellant Storage Depot (Figure 2) is typical of the storage
depots. These depots are similar in design to the smaller bi-propellant
storage facilities at airfields which have ASM support facilities.
5. The installation at Sovetskaya Gavan was first observed on
photography of August 1960 and was probably complete at that time. The
other 11 facilities were constructed between 1962 and 1966, with most of
the construction taking place between 1963 and 1965. No significant
changes have been observed at any of these sites since 1966.
6. Although it is impossible to determine from photography what is
being stored, it is probable that the aboveground storage tanks contain
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red fuming nitric acid (RFNA)lor a member of its immediate family of
oxidizers. If so, it is probable that underground storage tanks contain
a hydrocarbon or amine type of fuel. The properties of these two types
of liquids would require storage facilities of the kind present at these
depots. Furthermore, RFNA and its associated fuels are the primary pro-
pellants for a number of Soviet missile systems.
7. The probable missile-propellant storage depots would be capable
of handling RFNA and associated fuels used by a number of Soviet missile
system:2 the AS-4 KITCHEN, AS-5 KELT, SA-2 GUIDELINE, SS-1 SCUD-A, SS-4
SANDAL, and the SS-5 SKEAN. Transportable oxidizer storage tanks for
the SA-2 missile system3 have been observed at three of the depots:
Kyzyl-Arvat, Navoloki, and Sovetskaya Gavan. Probable oxidizer trans-
porters for the SS-4 missile system have been observed at Dzhankoy.
Railroad tank cars have been seen at all 12 depots, but specific identi-
fication features were lacking.
8. Stringent security measures suggest that sensitive materials
are being stored. The depots are double fenced and have security patrol
roads and guard towers. Depots that are collocated with POL storage
facilities are separately fenced, but they share administration, housing,
and maintenance facilities.
9. The separation of the liquids being stored probably indicates
that they are highly reactive to one another. Liquid transfer from the
road and rail spurs is carried out at separate transfer points for above-
ground and underground storage areas. The presence of possible vehicle
decontamination buildings and rail car decontamination buildings suggests
that at least one of the stored liquids is corrosive or otherwise highly
toxic.
10. The aboveground storage area contains two or more groups of
four horizontal tanks. Each group is under a light-toned gable roof
supported by posts. The lack of walls and the placement of storage tanks
above ground indicate the need for maximum ventilation to prevent buildup
of heat and accumulation of toxic gases. The groups are connected by an
extensive network of aboveground pipes. These pipes have numerous ex-
pansion joints and appear to be large in diameter, probably because they
are covered with heavy insulation. The relatively easy access to both
the tanks and pipelines indicates a need for periodic repair or replace-
ment of equipment used in storing a highly corrosive liquid.
11. The underground storage area at each depot contains one or more
groups of earth-covered horizontal tanks. These tanks are provided with
access hatches, but the number of tanks in each group cannot be determined.
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lox]
A small control building or pumphouse in the area apparently has under-
ground pipelines to the tanks. The relative inaccessibility of the pipe-
lines and tanks indicates that they are used for a noncorrosive fuel
which poses little threat from accumulation of toxic fumes. Probably they
are placed underground for passive temperature control and reduction of
fire hazards.
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MAPS OR CHARTS
US Air Target Charts, Series 200, scale 1:200,000
DOCUMENTS
1. FTD. T68-47654, Pro erties of Soviet Liquid Propellants, Mar
69 (SECRET
2. FTD. Identification of Propellants, Facilities,
and Capabilities -- Eurasian Communist Countries, 30 Jul 69
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3. USAMC Redstone Arsenal. MIS-30-63 Ground Support Equipment for
Soviet Missile Systems, Dec 63 (SECRET),
NPIC/IEG/WGD/WURB Project 1432510H
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