CHRONOLOGY OF EXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANT PLANT 850 AND THE ROCKET MOTOR TEST FACILITY STERLITAMAK, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP02T06408R000600010008-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 3, 2003
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: September 1, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

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CHRONOLOGY OF
EXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANT PLANT 850
AND THE ROCKET MOTOR TEST FACILITY
STERLITAMAK, USSR
Declass Review by
NIMA/DOD
SEPTEMBER 1967
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CHRONOLOGY OF EXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANT PLANT 850.
AND THE ROCKET MOTOR TEST FACILITY, STERLITAMAK, USSR
INTRODUCTION
This report, one of a series of chronological develop-
ment studies of Soviet solid propellant production plants
and their associated rocket motor test facilities, is con-
cerned with Explosives and Propellant Plant 850 (BE
53-40N 055-57E) and the associated
Rocket Motor Test Facility 53-41N
055-58E) at Sterlitamak, USSR. The 2 facilities (Figure 1)
are located approximately 4.5 nautical miles north of
Sterlitamak. In the report, the facilities will be referred
to as the Double Base Propellant Plant and the Test
Facility, respectively (Figures 2, 3, and 4). The 2 facil-
ities are rail served and secured. Item numbers referred
to in the text are keyed to Figure 4 and Table 1.
The nitroglycerin production area of the Double Base
Propellant Plant contains 4 nitration lines. Two of the
lines appear to be older Schmid/Meissener-type continuous
nitrators and appear to be identical to those recently
identified at Solikamsk Double Base Propellant Produc-
tion Plant 1/ The other 2 lines
appear to use the newer Biazzi-type continuous nitration
process and appear identical to those identified at Kamensk-
Shakhtinskiy, Perm, Biysk, Solikamsk, and Krasnoyarsk.
1-5/ The Double Base Propellant Plant also contains a
typical Soviet nitrocellulose production area (items 24-29)
and a probable nitrocellulose production area (items 149-
156) which includes a nitric acid facility and an acid
recovery system similar to those found at the above-
mentioned plants. A large double base processing area
contains facilities that provide a capability for the extrud-
ing and casting of solid rocket motors of various sizes.
Numerous probable machining and finishing buildings are
also located within the double base processing area.
Supporting elements within the Double Base Propellant
Plant include a possible cellulose separation plant which
is supported by the wood pulp processing facilities that
are located at the south end of the Double Base Propellant
Plant. A storage area, located directly northeast of the
Double Base Propellant Plant, is secured by a double
fence and contains 13 rail-served rocket motor/propellant
storage buildings and 2 small revetted buildings possibly
used for igniter storage (Figure 2).
Recent ___________photography obtained in
has allowed a detailed functional analysis of the
Double Base Propellant Plant and the Test Facility. A
line drawing of the Double Base Propellant Plant and
the Test Facility (Figure 4) is color coded to indicate
the construction chronology of most of the structures
in the 2 installations. Table 1 is keyed to the line drawing
and presents relevant data for all major structures.
The table is divided into 2 sections corresponding to
Burykaaganovo
- Road
+-+ Railroad
NAUTICAL MILES
y/ .//Rep=
EXPLOSIVE5 AND
PROPELLANT PLANT
I 8NO AND ROCKET
MOTOR TEST FACILITY
FIGURE 7. LOCATION MAP.
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the Double Base Propellant Plant and the Test Facility.
Steamlines and rail spurs are not included in the color
coding due to a lack of sufficient early photography to
follow their development from 1962-1967. Perspective
and plan views of the casting and mixing building (item
105, plant area), the large horizontal test cell (item 1,
test area), and the large assembly/checkout buildings
(item 18, test area) are presented in Figures 5-7, respec-
tively.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CHRONOLOGY
1944-1962
The Double Base Propellant Plant was not present on
photography of the site. It was first
observed on ___________photography of The
nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose production areas and double
base processing area were essentially complete on this
photography. The plant had a conventional double base
extrusion capability at that time.
The Test Facility, located at the north end of the com-
plex, contained several significant structures which were
probably complete. The large horizontal static test posi-
tion and the associated H-shaped high-bay assembly/
checkout buildings (items I and 18, test area) were the
most significant structures in the Test Facility. Similar
assembly and checkout buildings have been identified at
Biysk and Krasnoyarsk. 4, 5/
1963
The significant construction during the year was
centered in the completion of numerous propellant process-
ing structures whose probable function is the machining
and final processing of double base propellant grains.
In addition, 2 sets of rail-served "offset" buildings (items
2 and 3, plant area) were either complete or close to corn-
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 Item
Function/Description
DOUBLE BASE PROPELLANT PLANT
1 Tank
2 Prob temperature conditioning bldgs
3 Prob temperature conditioning bldgs
4 Support bldg
5 Support bldg
6 Pods barracks
7 Peas admin bldg/laboratory
8 Support bldg
9 Puss curing/assembly bldg
10 Poss curing/assembly bldg
11 .'dotor storage/assembly bldg
12 Motor storage/assembly bldg
13 Tank
14 Prob control bunker
t9 Motor storage/assembly bldg
16 Poss curing/assembly bldg
17 Guardhouse
18 Prob acid plant
19 Prob acid plant
20 Prob acid plant
21 Prob acid plant
22 Cooling tower
23 Prob ammonia storage section
a Prob pumphouse
b Prob ammcuia tank
c Prob ammonia tank
d Prob ammonia tank
e Prob ammonia tank
f Prob ammonia tank
g Prob off-loading point
24 Cellulose recovery/preliminary treatment bldg
25 Prob acid mixing bldg
26 Prob nttrator
27 Puss boiling tub house
28 Final nitrocellulose processing bldg
29 Byproducts recovery bldg
30 Nitrocellulose processing bldg
31 Nitrocellulose processing bldg
32 Cooling tower
33 Nitrocellulose processing bldg
34 Support bldg
35 Laboratory/support bldg
36 Storage bldg/warehouse
37 Double base processing bldg
38 Double base processing bldg
39 Double base processing bldg
40 Double base processing bldg
41 Storage bldg
42 Double base processing bldg
43 Double base processing bldg
44 Double base processing bldg
45 Support bldg
46 Double base processing bldg
47 Double base processing bldg
48 Vertical storage tanks
49 Support bldg
50 Ingredients preparation bldg
51 Ingredients preparation bldg
52 Support bldg
53 Support bldg
54 Support bldg
55 Ingredients preparation bldg
56 Support bldg
57 Nitrocellulose processing bldg
58 Pecs acid recovery bldg
59 Nitrocellulose processing bldg
60 Storage/control bldg
61 Vertical tank
62 Support bldg
63 Support bldg
64 Support bldg
65 Acid preparation/storage bldg
66
67
(iS
Support bldg
Ingredients preparation bldg
Ingredients preparation bldg
69 Ingredients preparation bldg
70 Acid premix bldg
71 Nitrator/separator bldg
72 Neutralizer bldg
73 Nitroglycerin magazine
74 Nitroglycerin magazine
75 Nitroglycerin magazine
76 Neutralizer bldg
77 Nitrator/separator bldg
78 Nitratar'cparniorbMg
79 Xutruuuor/seprirator bldg
SO Ncu(,ntlizer bldg
Si Prob processilIgtcontrol bldg
62 Double base proresuung bldg
83 Double base processing bldg
84 Foss nilmeellulose processing bldg
85 Storage bldg/warehouse
86 Prob nitroglycerin processing bldg
87 Nitrocellulose processing bldg
88 Double base processing bldg
69 Support bldg
90 Flow control bldg
91 Double base processing bldg
92 Support bldg
93 Support bldg
94 Nitroglycerin flow control bldg
95 Support bldg
96 Support bldg
97 Flow control bldg
98 Double base processing bldg
99 Double base processing bldg
100 Double base processing bldg
101 Double base processing bldg
102 Double base processing bldg
103 Double base processing bldg
104 Double base processing bldg
105 Double base casting and mixing bldg
106 Donble base processing bldg
*All lengths and widths are overall measurements; all heights are to the highest part of the structure.
Complete when first observed unless otherwise noted.
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Table 1. Description arud Dimensions o/ Structures at the Double Base Propellant Plant and Test Facility, Sterlitamak, USSR
(item numbers are keyed to Figure 4) r
Explanatory Notes
May contain fuel oil; appears ventilated
May be used as rocket motor storage/curing; 3 southern parts complete id
northern completed in~
Construction well advanced when first observed
May be final assenibly bldg tar a double base casting line
Pass a boiler connected to heating system; covered by earthern bank
Processing control/personnel bunker associated with this item
Height of bldg indicates vertical tanks associated with acid plant
2 columns
rob present; poor interpretability of photography precludes positive
identification
arch-covered tank; diameter approx
arth-covered tank; diameter approx
Earth-covered tank; diameter approx
Earth-covered tank; diameter approx
Earth-covered tank; diameter approx
Rail served
Rail served; connected by 6-pipe gallery to item 26
Connected to item 26 by pipeline, height given is For low-bay section
Contains 2 high-bay sections
Connected by conveyer to double base processing area
Connected by conveyer to item 28
3 columns
C-shaped revetment probably indicates sensitive storage
Small fenced area adjacent to bldg may contain transformer equipment
Connected to item 50 by conveyer
Offloading facility suggests acid/glycerine handling
Connected to item 78
Presence of fractionating column indicates poss acid recovery
High stacks and associated luuried tanks support identifucatron
C-shaped revetment with protected entrance indicates sensitive
storage/control function
Contains rail offlonding points indicating receiving of nitroglycerin
ingrediants
Probably utilized as a compressor bldg providing logistical
support to nitration facilities
Associated with item 66 and connected to vertical cylinders
adjacent to items 68 and 69
Heavily revetted; connected by conveyers/pipelines to items 50,
70, and 80
Heavily res tied; connected by conveyers/pipelines to items 70
and 80
Heavily revetted
2 Small horizontal test cell
Appears identucal to item 57
Appears identical to item 84
Rail served
Connected by pipeline with nitroglycerin area and double base
propellant processing and casting area
Possibly controls nitroglycerin flow to double base casting facility
Item
Function/Description
107 Double base processing bldg
106 Storage bldg
109 Lag storage bldg
110 Lag storage bldg
111 Double base processing bldg
112 Support bldg
113 Double base processing bldg
114 Double base processing bldg
115 Double base processing bldg
116 Double base processing bldg
117 Lag storage bldg
118 Double base processing bldg
119 Poss boilerhouse
120 Lag storage bldg
121 Storage bldg
172 Earth-covered bunker
123 Lag storage bldg
124 Lag storage bldg
125 Lag storage bldg
126 Lag storage hldg
127 Lag storage bldg
128 Support bldg
129 Lag storage bldg
130 Lag storage bldg
131 Lag storage bldg
132 Lag storage bldg
133 Lag storage bldg
134 Lag storage bldg
135 Lag storage bldg
136 Lag storage bldg
137 Support bldg
136 Support bldg
139 Poss cellulose preparation bldg
140 Cooling tower
141 Poss cellulose preparation bldg
142 Pose cellulose preparation bldg
143 Poss cellulose preparation bldg
144 Tank
145 Storage/compressor bldg
146 Support bldg
147 Foss glycerine bldg
148 Support bldg
149 Prob cellulose treatment bldg
150 Prob cellulose treatment bldg
151 Prob acid recovery bldg
152 Water timer
1553 Prob nitrator bldg
154 Prob byproducts recovery bldg
155 Final nitroglycerin processing bldg
156 Nitrocellulose processing bldg
157 Support bldg
158 Storage bldg
159 Puss admin bldg
160 Warehouse
161 Warehouse
162 Warehouse
163 Support bldg
164 Storage/shop bldg
165 Storage/shop bldg
166 Support bldg
167 Support bldg
166 Foss wood pulp processing bldg
169 Conveyer feed bldg
17(1 Unloading bldg
171 Tank
172 Prob pumphouse
173 Tank
174 Tank
175 Tank
176 Tank
177 Wood pulp processing bldg
178 Wood pulp processing bldg
179 Support bldg
180 Shipping/storage bldg
181 Shipping/storage bldg
182 Shipping/storage bldg
183 Shipping/storage bldg
184 Shipping/storage bldg
185 Shipping bldg
186 Shipping/storage bldg
187 Shipping bldg
186 Cooling tower
189 Support bldg
190 Foss light fabrication bldg
191 Shipping bldg
192 Shipping bldg
193 Shipping bldg
194 Shipping bldg
195 Prob packing bldg
196 Support bldg
197 Support bldg
198 Support bldg
199 Support bldg
200 Support bldg
201 Guard barracks
TEST FACILITY
1 Large horizontal test cell
3 Poss observation bldg
4 Control bldg
5 Poss batch/quality testing bldg
6 Test support bldg
7 Support bldg
8 Support bldg
9 Support bldg
10 Guardhouse
11 Postfiring inspection bldg
12 Postfiring inspection bldg
13 Poss boilerhouse
14 Prob prefiring storage bldg
15 Small test position
16 Pumphouse
17 Tank
18 Assembly/checkout bldgs (5)
a
b
Propellant processing and extrusion bldg
Casting section on W is heavily revetted and measures
(see Figure 5)
Propellant processing and extrusion building
Explanatory Notes
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Partially protected by earthern barricade
Associated with small earth-covered bunker
Appears to be in miuistage of construction
Associated with snuall earth-covered bunker
Construction continuing at NE corner of bldg
Contains 3 cooling columns
Multilevel vented roofs; connected by conveyer to item 143
Contains 6 horizontal tanks along N side
Served by 2 rail spurs
Connected to item 155; contains distillation columns along sidEd
Connected by conveyer/pipe gallery to item 155; pipeline passes
over item 154
Similar in appearance amid ocadiomu triu u'ir
Multilevel structure fed by large conveyer svsteut
Feeds conveyer system for item 168
Earth-covered puss byproducts/slurry tanks
Earth-covered pass byproducts/slurry tanks
Earth-covered pons byproducts/slurry tanks
Adjacent to rail spnr
Adjacent to rail spur
Contains 2 columns
Numerous U/I objects, poss raw materials adjacent
Adjacent to rail spur
Rail spur extends to front end of test cell; height only va] id for SE end
(see Figure 6)
Appears to be similar in design to small test cells at Krasnoyarsk and
Biysk; apparently not complete
Protected by C-shaped revetment
Connected by control cabletray to both test culls (item i and s)
Protected by C-shaped revetment
Contains high-bay section on W side
Tall cylindrical stack on W side
Protected by triad of lightning rods
Proh microscale test position
Proh associated with earth-covered tank
Total roof cover is
(see Figure 7)
Has high-bay vertical checkout section; pens used for vibration testung
Prob associated with barrage-type rockets
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d
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19 Tank
20 Tank
21 Foss observation bldg
22 Test control bldg
Total roof cover
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COLOR-CODED TO SHOW DATE APPARENTLY COMPLETE
*--~-I Railroad
Road
Fence
-w- Wall
Conveyer/pipeline
-s---- Steamline
a Tank
- Semiburied tank
aU Bunker
Revetment
Building under construction
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NITROCELLULOSE
PRODUCTION
AREA
VERTICAL
CYLINDERS
S
FIGURE 4. LAYOUT OF DOUBLE BASE PROPELLANT PLANT AND TEST FACILITY.
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/ WASTE PROPELLANT
DISPOSAL AREA
A
140
1111 !(i~
:\ 1111r;
DOUBLE BASE PROCESSING AREA
110 109
HORIZONTAL
TANKS
149 I 150
153 PROBABLE II
NI ROCELLULOSE
PR DUCTION AREA
184 185
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FIGURE 5. PERSPECTIVE VIEW AND DIMENSIONS OF THE DOUBLE BASE CASTING BUILDING (item 105, plant area).
pletion. These buildings are thought to be probable
temperature-conditioning buildings used to condition rocket
motors prior to firing.
1964
A large double base mixing and casting building (item
105, plant area, and Figure 5) was completedb
This construction may allow the production of somewhat
larger motors than those previously produced by the
conventional extrusion method. A small separately secured
area located just east of the Test Facility was also com-
pleted. This area is possibly used fordisposal of propellant
waste or as a destruction facility forfaulty motors. Similar
areas are found at Biysk, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, and Kamensk-
Shakhtinskiy rocket motor test facilities. 2-5/
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1965-1967
0
FIGURE 6. PERSPECTIVE VIEW AND DIMENSIONS OF THE LARGE HORIZONTAL TEST STAND (item 1, test area).
Construction during this period was limited to the
completion of 2 large buildings (items 9 and 10, plant area).
The late construction of these buildings may indicate an
association with the large double base casting and mixing
building (item 105, plant area, and Figure 5). Frequent
(coverages during this time period allowed
for a positive identification of the small horizontal test
cell (item 2, plant area) as being similar, when complete,
to those previously identified at Biysk and Krasnoyarsk.
6/ This test cell may be related to the previously com-
pleted construction activity at the offset and mixing and
casting buildings. No evidence of test activity or items
of solid propellant hardware has yet been observed at the
Sterlitamak facilities.
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FIGURE 7. PERSPECTIVE VIEW AND DIMENSIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY/
CHECKOUT BUILDINGS (item 18, test area).
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MAPS OR CHARTS
ACIC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0165-15
DOCUMENTS
2. NPIC.
Illdvanced Solid Propellant Production Area, Chemical Combine No 101, Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, USSR, Dec 66 (TOP SECRET
3. NPIC. Chronological Development of Selected Solid Propellant Facilities at the Munitions and Chemical Combine K. Kirov No 98,
Perm, USSR, Feb 67 (TOP SECRE
4. NPIC. Chronological Development of Solid Propellant Rocket Motor Test and Propellant Production Facilities, Biysk, USSR, Dec 66
(TOP SECRE
5. NPIC. hronological Develo rnent a the Krasnoyarsk Solid Propellant Rocket Motor Test and Production Facilities, Krasnoyarsk,
USSR, Apr 67 (TOP SECRET
6. NPIC. olid Propellant Rocket Motor Test Facilities and Probable Solid Propellant Production Facilities, USSR, Jun 65 (TOP
SECRET
REQUIREMENT
CIA. C-D15-82,973
NPIC PROJECT
11212/66 (partial answer)
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