SOVIET 240MM SELF-PROPELLED HEAVY MORTAR M-1977 (TSR)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000500010054-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 20, 2011
• Sequence Number: 54
• Publication Date: March 1, 1978
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
Top Secret
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
I NTERPRETATION
REPORT
SOVIET 240MM SELF-PROPELLED
HEAVY MORTAR M-1977 (TSR)
Top Secret
MARCH 1978
Copy 1 l 3
PI R-012/78
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
(WNINTEL)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
NOFORN- Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals
NOCONTRACT- Not Releasable to Contractors or
Contractor/Consultants
PROPIN- Caution-Proprietary Information Involved
USIBONLY- USIB Departments Only
ORCON- Dissemination and Extraction of Information
Controlled by Originator
REL. ..- This Information has been Authorized for
Release to ...
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
Top Secret RUFF
SOVIET 240MM SELF-PROPELLED HEAVY MORTAR M-1977 (TSR)
1. (TSR) A 240mm self-propelled (SP) heavy mortar designated M-1977 has been observed
deployed with heavy mortar regiments of the heavy artillery brigades at Drovyanaya (Figure 1) and
Novosysoyevka in the Soviet Transbaykal and Far East Military Districts. The new heavy SP mor-
tar is replacing the older towed 240mm mortar and provides a significant increase in the mobility of
the heavy mortar regiments.
2. (TSR) Each heavy artillery brigade formerly contained 24 240mm towed mortars.
24 new heavy SP mortars were in the heavy mortar regiment area at Drovyanaya SSM
Mobile Missile Barracks AL 1/Headquarters and the towed mortars had been
removed three new heavy SP mortars were seen near the storage sheds in the
heavy mortar regiment at Novosysoyevka IRBM Launch Site 2 and no towed mor-
tars were observed. The armored command vehicle (ACRV) M-1974 (Figure 2) has been deployed
with the new SP mortar at both installations. At Drovyanaya, there was one ACRV M-1974 for each
four-tube battery.
3. (TSR) The 240mm heavy SP mortar M-1977 is mounted on a modified GANEF (SA-4)
missile transporter chassi The mortar barre
4. (TSR) The barrel of the heavy SP mortar has been observed in three positions: horizontal
on the chassis (probable travel mode; Figure 3); horizontal, extending from the rear of the vehicle
(probable loading position; Figure 4); and elevated, with the baseplate on the ground (probable fir-
ing position; Figure 5).
5. (S/WNINTEL) The deployment of the heavy SP mortar M-1977 has been concurrent with
the deployment of a new heavy SP gun as yet undesignated to Drovyanaya and Novosysoyevka.'
This new SP gun is replacing the older towed 203mm gun howitzer in the heavy artillery regiments.
A heavy artillery regiment and a heavy mortar regiment together make up a heavy artillery brigade.
MAPS OR CHARTS
SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, MPR 0201-4 and MPR 0282-22, scale 1:200,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
DOCUMENT
1. NPIC.OSR-002/78, Confirmed Df?Dlovment of A New - F~ropelled gun Alan the Sino-
Sot'iet Border, plan 78 (TOP SECRET RUFF
-1-
Top Secret
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
9 )( 1
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
Top Secret RUFF
-3-
Top Secret 25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
Top Secret RUFF
NPIC S-5181
-4-
Top Secret 25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7
Top Secret
Top Secret
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010054-7