MISSLE LAUNCHERS, SARY SHAGAN LAUNCH COMPLEX A

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000500020055-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 6, 2012
• Sequence Number: 55
• Publication Date: April 21, 1965
• Content Type: MF

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ILLEGIB
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A.i ;TON:
THROUGH: Chief, Requirements Branch, Reconnaissance Group, CGS
FROM:: Chief, Photographic Intelligence Division, CIA
SUBJECT: Missile Launchers, Sary Shagan Launch Complex A
REFZR7-NTCES: (a) Requirements Supplement 1 to C-RR3-80,551 and
C-RR3-80,730
(b) CIA/PID Projects 3000-5 and 30005-5
Supplement 1
1. This memorandum is in response to paragraph 3 a. of your requirement
dated 31 March 1965, which requested descriptions and mensuration of the missile
launchers at each of the launch positions at Launch Sites 1-through 6-at Launch
Complex A, Sary Shagan, USSR. This report also supplements interoffice memorandum
report :,/EB 121/65, dated 12 April 1965. As work on requirement
C-RR4 l,715 Project 307L0-4) was nearing completion, an advanced microstereo-
scope was made available, enhancing the photo analyst's capability to detect
image details previously near or beyond the threshold of detection. Its use
required the reaccomplishment of some of the graphics for requirement C-RR4-81,
715, and has'-sulted in the detection of additional significant details, which
are included in this report. Photo Densitometric analysis of critical areas
will also be undertaken on an experimental basis. The correlation of isodensity
trace analyses and photo analyses hopefully offers a new and useful tool in the
exploitation of photography, however, a base of experience in the analysis of
iscder_sity traces of known objects must be established before the technique can
be exploited with confidence.
2. With reference to the two requirements written in September and October
1963 (C-RR3-80,551 and C-RR3-80,730) attention is invited to the fact that the
interruptions which have prevented completion of these projects were the result
of more urgent requests from ORR and OSI, which have fully occupied the photo
analyst assigned to the projects. Essential information requested in the original
requirements has,,been in part compiled and has been on numerous occasions studied
and discussed du37ing consultations and briefings in which the requesters and the
photo analyst participated. Attention is also invited to the fact that assigned
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/06: CIA-RDP78T05439A000500020055-8
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SUBJECT: Missile Launchers, Sary Sihagan Launch Complex A
M EB P9,165
photo analysts have been working under an ever increasing burden of requirements,
necessitating the expenditure of mo t of their week-ends and holidays in an
attempt to satisfy tre requirements for quality photo analysis. Added to the
requirement of detailed analysis is the periodic interruption of new missions
which require that the project anal rat perform iy ieaiate read-out in support
of the Office of Current Intelligen e and provide numerous briefings and consulta-
tions for ORR and OSI analysts on a variety of installations. The periodic influx
of new missions and new requirement also creates a special updating problem in
the preparation of inter-office men random type reports. When preparing a So
called "hard-copy" report, a cut-of date is mandatory in view of the nlm.ber of
different divisions involved in the publication proce.,s.- However, it is believed
that an inter-office memorandum rep rt should be more current. Consequently,
when a project requires the expendi ure of a large number of man-hours, receipt
of supposedly more urgent requireme. is causes long interruptions which quickly
lower the percentage of completion, necessitating the expenditure of many more
manhours than would have previously been required to complete the project. The
problem of priorities is now receiving close attention and it is hoped that an
equitable solution can be found.
3. The photography utilized in satisfying this requirement is KH-7 Mission
due to the excellent contrast between shadows and surrounding surfaces,. however,
high contrast conditions make other; interpretations more difficult. Measurements
have been made by the CIA/PID project analyst, using scale factors derived from
mensuration performed by NPIC/TID. These measurements should not be construed as
being mensuration data compiled by the NPIC Technical Intelligence Division.
Where meaningful mensuration could not be accomplished, dimensions are not shown.
Where the objects resolution or orientation with reference to the sun precludes
analysis, a description is not included. The identification of objects as
launchers or launchers with missiles is possible-only through the recognition
of gross characteristics and correlating these with size and location criteria.
::Tnenevar sufficient detail can be detected to permit some description, a line
drawing, with dimensions is included. Horizontal dimensions and heights are
considered accurate with a confidence factor of plus or minus four feet or five
percent, whichever is larger. Angles of elevation are considered approximate
only, with a possible plus or minus margin of error of 15 degrees. All dimensions
derived from measurement of shadows have been converted to true dimensions, with
the exception of the possible missile in the ready position, launch site 4,
launch position 3 (Attachment -4).
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SUBJECT: Missile Launchers, Sary Shagan Launch Complex A
M/EB 129/65
a. Launch Poi i '-ion 1: A tau.^her, possibly with a missile in place,
is elevated at z .. ar.glc of approxir'.nteY0 degrees .
ition 1A: A suspect launcher approxir..ately
P
os
b. Launch
is positioned in the center of a semi circular pad approximately 100 feet in
diameter, contiguous to the site circumferential access road, between launch
positions 1 and 2.
c. launch Position 2: A launcher is seen in a near horizontal position.
The portion which can be detected measures approximately 20 feet long. See Attach-
ment n-,nber 1.
d. Lainch Position 3: A possible SA-2 type launcher is seen in a near
horizontal position. It measures approximately
probable blast deflector can be detected.
e. Launch Position 4+: A probable missile can be seen erected at an
angle of approximately 35 degrees.
f. Launch Position 5: A launcher can be seen in a near horizontal
position.
5.
Launch Position 6: Unoccupied
None of the launch positions are occupied. T' e site is inactive.
6. Launch Site 3
a. Launch Position 1: A la:uncner
in a near-horizontal position. See Attachment 1.
b. Launch Position 2: A launcher, possibly the same length as the
launcher in position 1, is probably in a near horizontal position.
c. Launch Position 3: A la,,;ncher, possibly the same length as the
iti
`
near horizontal poson.
launcher in position 1, is probably in a
d. Launch Position 2+: A launcher approximately
in a near horizontal position. See Attachment 1.
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SUBJECT: Missile Launchers, Sary Shagan Launch Complex A
MEBl29/ 5
e. haunch. Position 5: An erector/launcher associated device, as
depicted in the !ine drawings, Attachments 1 and 2, is-located near the entrance
"t the opposite
115 feet
l
y,
y
lend of a long revetted,,position. Approximate
e: d of the z, ted pSSitioz, are two unidentified `but ^possibly similar objects,
Spaced apprUxirnarely --
5 feet high. The long.axis of the erector/laui-icher associated device is oriented
toward one of the two unidentified pbjects at the-opposite end of the revetted
position, as shown in Attachment 2. Contiguous.to the erector/launcher associated
device, on two and probably three sides, are rectilinear shapes with no detectable
height. An unidentified narrow striation points down the access road and terminates
approximately 55 fet-t from the erector/launcher associated device. It too has no
detectable height. Tn.rectilinear shaped areas on each side of the erector/
launcher associated device will possibly be served by an internal rail system,
the possible rail bed ?Or which forms an inverted "V" pattern down the length
of the revetted launch position. The possible rail beds depart from the recti-
linear shaped areas and converge a short distance away, forming a "Y" shaped
pattern, then spread o`uv to form the long inverted "V" pattern as they approach
the unidentified objects at the opposite end of the revetment. The possible rail
beds which form the inverted "V" pattern do not reach the two unidentified objects,
but appear to stop short between 5 and 20 feet away.
f. Launch Position 6: An erector/launcher associated device approxi-
mately 20 by 10 feet possibly has its long axis oriented toward a nearby vehicle
which is in close coi~Ltact and parked on the access road. (See Attachment 3)
The nearby vehicle either has a total length of approximately 50 feet or consists
of two 25 foot long-vehicles parked bumper to bunper. The variation in tone
favors an interpretation of two vehicles, however a single 50 foot long vehicle
which includes a transporter can not be ruled out. There is no evidence of
rectilinear shaped contiguous areas, with the area around the erector/launcher
associated device covered with snow. Faint, snow covered striations, as shown
on Attachment 3, indicate the presence of suspect rail beds. The degree of
confidence in a'rail bed interpretation here is low due to their faint appearance
and the fact that the southern suspect rail bed is oriented toward a small, square,
unidentified object rather then toward the erector/launcher associated device at
11 feet
atel
i
A
y
m
pprox
the launch point, as is the-case at launch position 5. ^
a
o
c
he - --
/ .r
~
a4na 11'V..L Nile ei e
?'~-
foot unidentified objects are located approximately 10 meet apart, in a manner
similar to launch position 5. Though this launch position is not revetted, the
curving access road, similar to that constructed for launch position 5, was
constructed at the tint that construction on'bol these new launch positions was
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/06: CIA-RDP78T05439A000500020055-8
SUBJECT: Missile Launchers, Sary Shagan Launch Complex A
7. Launch Site 4
a. Launch Position 1:
near horizont- = y oDsition-- (See
A launcher approximately
At~tacbment 1)
b. Launch Position 2: Al launcher. with a possible missile
is in a near horizontal position. (See Attachment 1)
c. Launch Position 3: A, launcher in a near horizontal position can be
seen oriented toward one of the "rabbit-ear" positions, at the end of which a
possible missile can be detected. The direction of the sun with reference to
the possible missile=s orientation precludes accurate measurements. Each measure-
ment shown on the attached graphic is a maximum measurement, with the actual
dimension varying in direct ratio to the height of the possible missile above
the ground. The dimensions shown on the graphic include the-possible missile
and its shadow. '(See Attachney4t 1).
d. Launch Position 4+:I possible launcher in a near vertical position.
The shadow falls off the pad onto round at a lower elevation, therefore its
height can not be determined.
e. Launch Position 5: A possible launcher in a near vertical position.
The shadow falls off the pad onto ground at a lower elevation, therefore its
height can not be determined.
f. Launch Position 6: A suspect launcher with a suspect missile in
a near horizontal position. (See Attachment 1).
Three similar erector/launchers, each approximately 16 feet long. The
lattice framework running over the erector boon can be detected, however its
true pattern can not be identifie4. See Attachment 4 and also repor
Y/EB 121/65,
9. Launch Site 6
Two similar erector/launchers, configured as they are at launch site 5.
10. Discussion
All the la-,nhc ers at launch sites 5 and 6 are probably similar to each
other, but are quite different from the launchers present at launch sites 1
through 4. The launchers at Launch Site 1 are probably all SA-2 launchers.
A FAti SO \G radar (model A, B,C or E) is identified in the launch site guidance
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M/2M 129/65
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S~JBJEOT: Missile Launchers, Sary Shagan Launch Complex A
M/EB 1297&5-
I area.. All te law-icher? c.t Launch i,ca 3 and Ware possibly similar to each
othar, with .he probao_' exception c-.: she device at la,.::ch positions 5 and 6,
Launch Site 3. Due to hie appear?4ic,_: of rectilinear contiguous areas at Launch
Position 5, the centrally located raised object near the access end of the
revetment *Is referred to as an;er etor/launcher associated device. The striations
which form the "V" shaped pact rn are probably rail beds and their configuration
suggests that rail mounted mis~il dollies can move from the access side of the
launch point toward either of the two objects at the opposite end of the position.
This configuration further suggests that each missile dolly can move forward
toward the launch position and trn n can move alongside the erector/launcher
associated device. Two concepts hen present themselves:
a. The missile would be (transferred to the launcher before the dolly
was shunted to the flanking position, or:
b. The dolly and missil together are shunted to the flankiing position
before erection takes place.
The latter concept would permit two missiles in firing position simultane-
ously, with possibly two additional missiles at the opposite end providing a
refire capabil ty. Such a system would give each launch position a total of
4 missiles. Ching the overlays prepared for your regairemeht C-RR4-81,715,
(Project 30740-4) it appears that Griffon missiles look reasonable when positioned
on each side of the erector/launcher associated device.
The former concept assumes that the empty dolly would be shunted to the
flanking position after the missile was transferred to the launcher. This
system would permit a lesser n-saber of missiles per position and would present
a problem in moving the missile from the dolly transporter to the launcher in
view of the position of the possible rail "Y". It is also reasonable to ask,
why shouldn=t the empty missile dolly be returned down the side of the "V"
toward. the other end of the position after the missile has been transferred
to the launcher? Of the three missiles, the Ganef, the Griffon, and the Galosh,
the first two would be difficult to transfer to the launcher due to their centers
of gravity, unless the launcher could move for,?-a.rd to accept the missile while
the dolly transporter was still parked on the opposite side of the possible rail
"Y". If the above is reasonable, it would seem to leave the Galosh or a yet
unseen missile as a possibility, though it is difficult to visualize a Galosh
being fired from such a launch position while a second Galosh was stored in such
*close proximity.
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SUBJECT: Missile munchers,'Sary Shagan Launch Complex A
invited to the different hypotheses discussed in memorandum report
M/E3 121/65.
be made regarding the defensive weapon the Soviets intend to deploy at the
Tallinn, Cherepovets, and Leningrad ANSI/SAM Launch Complexes. Attention is
N./E3 121/65, dated 12 April 1965, it is believed that detailed photo analysis
of additional coverage will be required before a highly confident judgement can
separate vehicles coupled together.
Considering the evidence presented in this report and in
M/EB 3-29/65
The mai_ components of Launch Position 6, Launch Site 3, are probably
similar to those seen in Launch Position 5. The erector/launcher associated
device appears to be oriented down one of the access roads and is lined up
with a long transporter or two smaller vehicles. The variation in tone and
height favors an interpretation of two smaller vehicles, however, it is rather
unusual that two vehicles should park in such perfect allignmer_t and in such
close proximity when there is sufficient space for both to approach the launch
point. Consegaently, it is suspected that this is one long vehicle or two
requirements, is considered complete.
,12. This project, in reply to paragraph 3 a of Supplement 1 to your basic
Enclosures:
:our line drawings (CIA/P?p/MEB-P-163/65
thru 166/65)
c
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16:/65
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5A??_ S .yG:.N, LAUNCH COZ':~' MC ;-
LAUNCH SIT-- 3, POSITION 6
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iL? RUFF
~tK Ord o
?^ch Sc
^? ~'.u N L dJN~ CO:-?LE{ A
the design of the latticc
supportin-r framework is
hypothetical.
: hic hzvc been de by the C /~PID project
re: s::: c c _Z for :. , ?IC/ 1 hey
.~ v i mCaSUrC.'i1CntS.
... -.._,~,jStw L'S-:~ ^..~?=- =,CtOrS vCriveA from
I- e g _ mensuna;.ion data compiled by the NPIC
^
s: culd no .,c co: s cG as ,,
.ec .'iiecl I.:tel.igc:.ce ion.
Approxir.:te Sc c: 1 inch equals 30 feet
C1~/PI/::3-P-166/67 TO? S C RL'.
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.. NCH. NO. 24