SOVIET MILITARY PERSONNEL IN CUBA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00429A000400040016-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 19, 2004
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: March 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

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NPIC/R-1129/63
March 1963
SOVIET MILITARY PERSONNEL
IN CUBA
NGA Review Completed.
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WARNING
This document contains information affecting
the national defense of the United States,
within the meaning of Title 18, sections
793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended.
Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is
prohibited by law.
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 SECRET
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SOVIET MILITARY PERSONNEL
IN CUBA
NPIC/R-1129/63
March 1963
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NPIC /R-1129/63
Supplement
March 1963
SOVIET MILITARY PERSONNEL IN CUBA
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This supplementary report, prepared under NPIC Project JN-337/62,
has been issued in order to clarify the intent of NPIC/R-1129/63, Soviet
Military Personnel in Cuba. Although it is clearly evident that it is
impossible to determine from aerial photography the actual number of
troops housed in military camps, it is, however, possible to ascertain
the capacity of all housing facilities in these camps. It is not possible
at all times to determine whether all such facilities are actually being
used for this purpose. In view of this, the first two paragraphs of the
original report should read as follows:
Soviet troops in Cuba are stationed at various military installa-
tions, including military camps, airfields, SA-2 SAM sites, and cruise-
missile sites. The purpose of this report is to determine from aerial
photography the peak troop capacity of four armored military camps--
Artemisa, Holguin, Remedios, and Santiago de las Vegas-- and five
other confirmed or suspect Soviet military camps- -Camaguey, Mayari
Arriba Pinar del Rio, Playa Baracoa, and Torrens (Figure 1).
I I the above nine military camps had
an estimated total capacity of 10,946 personnel. Of this estimated
total, 4,924 could be billeted at the four armored camps, with the
remaining 6,022* at the other five camps (Table 1). This estimate
is based on a detailed analysis of both high- and low-level aerial
photography.
*Most of the estimated capacity of 3,238 personnel at Torrens is believed to be for
Soviet forces; however, the percentage for non-Soviet personnel cannot be determined,
nor can the extent to which the housing facilities are being used for administration as
opposed to billeting.
The substance of the above footnote is repeated on page 13, column
2, and the same modification should be made there.
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INTRODUCTION
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Soviet troops in Cuba are stationed at var-
ious military installations, including military
camps, airfields, SA-2 SAM sites, and cruise-
missile sites. The purpose of this report is to
determine from aerial photography the peak
Soviet troop strength at four armored military
camps -- Artemisa, Holguin, Remedios, and
Santiago de las Vegas -- and five other con-
firmed or suspect Soviet military camps --
Camaguey, Mayari Arriba, Pinar del Rio, Playa
Baracoa, and Torrens (Figure 1).
I a total of 10,946
Soviet personnel were estimated to be present
at the above nine military camps. Of this total,
4,924 were found at the four armored camps,
with the remaining 6,022 personnel* at the other
five camps (Table 1). This estimate is based
on a detailed analysis of both high- and low-
level aerial photography.
*The majority of the estimated 3,238 personnel billeted
at Torrens are believed to be Soviet; however, the per-
centage of non-Soviet personnel cannot be determined.
PINAR
DEL RIO,
I
Armored military camps
? Military camps
50` 0 50 100.
STATUTE MILES
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF SOVIET MILITARY CAMPS IN CUBA.
Determination of troop strength was based
primarily on the extent of billeting facilities
observed. Soviet facilities can be identified by
the distinctive size and shape of Soviet tents
(Figure 2). In several camps, permanent bar-
racks are being constructed to replace the tents,
indicating a degree of permanency at these in-
stallations. Estimated troop capacity of the tents
and barracks is based on an allocation of 40
square feet of floor space per man. Low-level
photography aided greatly in determining tents
and structures not used for billeting purposes.
A detailed study was also made of Soviet
equipment present at the camps to determine
if military units of specific size couldbeidenti-
fied (Table 2). At each of the four armored
camps, a medium tank battalion and an assault
gun company were identified by the type and
number of tanks and self-propelled guns obser-
ved. Support and other equipment and weapons
identified at these camps do not correspond to
the established TO & E of known units, how-
MAYARL
ARRIBA
GUANTANAM0 ''
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Military
Camp
Squa General Purpose Tents Pyramidal Tents
Est Troop Cap
(16 per tent)
Est Troop Cap
(7 per tent)
Holguin 64 1,024
Remedios 49 784
Santiago de las 36 576
Vegas
32 224
17 119
10 70
Est Troop Cap
(4 per tent)
74 296 ---
49 196 12
4 16 2
Camaguey 46 736 27 189
Mayari Arriba --- --- --- ---
Pinar del Rio 6 96 2 14
Playa Baracoa 21 336 10 70
Torrens 44 704 20 140
3 12 --V
25 100 27
Dimensions
(ft)
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1,544
1,099
500 1,162
--- 1,105
971 971
60 290
ff. ._
Apprcw!ed Fo eleas j[2005/(#/22 : CC-RDP-VT0042PA0004l04001I-5 Ur. . 1 11-- !';--- a
Floor Space
(sq ft)
Est Troop Cap
(40 sq ft per man)
U/C
U/C
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S
NPIC/R-1129/63
T-54 tanks
30
31
32
32
125
PT-76 tanks
--
3
--
--
3
SU-100 self-propelled guns
9
9
9
9
36
SNAPPER antitank rocket launchers
8
--
9
--
17
FROG one-round rocket launchers
2
--
2
--
4
Antiaircraft artillery guns
15
15
14
15
76
Field artillery pieces
4
5
8
3
20
Mortars
3
7
6
--
1.6
FROG transporters
5
--
8
4
--
--
--
--
17
BRDM APC
2
--
7
5
14
Eight-Wheeled APC
51
4
5J
Tracked Prime Movers
1
11
10
8
--
1
--
--
20
51
Cargo trucks
94
269
202
43
24
50
34
16
1.51
883
Utility trucks
10
18
26
11
18
2
3
3
21
112
POL trucks
16
7
--
7
1
--
30
10
71
Vans
1
4
26
--
32
23
4
--
160
250
Radars (mobile)
1
1
2
1
5
--
--
--
5
15
Miscellaneous or U/I
1
3
34
14
13
37
60
181
343
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NP IC /R -1129/63
ever. Therefore, troop strength could not be
determined on this basis. No determination
of the size of military units could be established
at the other five camps.
Other methods of determining troop strength
from aerial photography were also explored, in-
cluding a correlation of the number of personnel
with mess, training, and recreational facilities.
No consistent correlation factors could be deter-
mined.
A detailed list of all weapons and equipment
observed I lat each of the
nine military camps follows. (Small quantities
of equipment and some billeting facilities may
not have been observed because of dense foliage,
protective canvas coverings, or camouflage.)
ARTEMISA MILITARY CAMP
Artemisa Military Camp is located 3.3
nautical miles (nm) northwest of Artemisa at
22-50-54N 82-48-30W (UTM 17QLR144278 on
AMS Series F 723, Sheet 3684 IV). The camp
consists of a billeting area, a motor park, a
secured FROG (free-rocket-over-ground) park,
a 57 mm antiaircraft artillery battery, a 14.5
mm antiaircraft artillery battery, and -a per-
manent barracks area under construction (Fig-
ure 3).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
30 T-54 tanks
9 SU-100 self-propelled guns
8 SNAPPER antitank (at) rocket launchers
2 FROG rocket launchers
6 57mm antiaircraft artillery guns
9 14.5mm antiaircraft artillery guns
4 57mm antitank guns
3 120mm mortars
51. eight-wheeled APCs
2 BRDM APCs
5 FROG missile transporters
8 motorcycles with sidecars
94 cargo trucks
10 utility trucks
1. van
5 truck-mounted treadway bridges
1 AT-T prime mover with dozer blade
1 T-54 tank chassis with mounted crane
1, motorized grader
1 rotary trench digger on AT-T
1 FIRE CAN radar
12 field kitchens
2 tank transporters
1 wheeled backhoe
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llolguin Military Camp is located 1.6 nm
cast-northeast of llolguin at 20-53-48N 76-
14--00W (LJ'IM 18QUU718111 on AMS Series L
723, Sheet 4978 1). The camp consists of a
billeting area, a motor park, a taccurcd storage
area, a 57 mm antiaircraft,trtil]cry battery, a 30
mm antiaircraft artillery battery, and numerous
scattered personnel trenches (Figure 4).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at I he camp:
31 'I'-54 Lanka
AT -L Iracl ed prime inov, rti
3 P't'-76 ( ank
9 S11-100 aelf-propolli d gun.,
113'I1R-501) AP C
iS inn nrttiinnk gun,a
3 tank retrievers
?fi9 cargo trod,
l utility trnckn
4 Yana
IiiOmm morltir.a
9 twin-30mm 4'xech antialrcrafi a.rlillera guns
1 it P01, trucks
74 cargo Irailor.s
6 57mun antiaircraft a.rtillerY guns
5 truck-noun(ed trcadwn.v bridges
I FIRE CAN radar
1 AT 1, with dozer blade
I height rang.Ifindor
1 rob ira bench digger oil
\T-I'
it generators
tracked prima mm or
A'1'-s tracked prime nun'ors
FIGURE 4. HOLGUIN MILITARY CAMP
-6-
1? field kitchen,;
Iii molorcv'clos with aidecarC
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REMEDIOS MILITARY CAMP
Remedios Military Camp is located 3.7 nm
soudlwest of Remedios at 22-27-12N 79-34-
57W (U'LM l7C?lR 459835 on AMS Series L 723,
Sheet 4283 [I). lhe camp consists of a billeting
area, a motor park with adouble-fenced parking
:3'! '1'iiI ifln1(,
9 St; I(II) s(If-propoll(d gull,
9 tiN.AI'I I?It 1'I rock(( launchers
FItO(x lock m luunnccrs
h fl(Id anillc ry pie((,
6 100nuu mortar-
iiimm antiaircr,tll artillorA Hun=
IitCht wirin.ircruht ertiller~~ ,gun=
h'IItli CAN rndnr,v
1 height r.urgefinder
1 genera t:rr
1 eight-wheeled 1P('.s
r' ItIDNI AM h IltO( ni.5vil( Irrn.tiport(r+
I %V'1' -S tracked prime nx>or
ma-
-)I, stn>rage area, a secured
area, a secured P(
storage area, a 57 ntni antiaircraft hattery,
and 12 barracks under cri>nstruction (figure 5).
The following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified It the camp:
D A l -I, tracked prim( n:11(10
(i lrrml: mtri(c(rs
i)02 cargo truck,-
3(i utilft~ irucks
1'0t, true k~
(.;I[ go I rn Ii LI
Ir (ruck-mounted tr'eIl l (\ Irridi l
S t-b I (ha-i:- wis h I 1111ted (rune
moiorizod gr:uler
1 rotnr~ 1'011(11 digl(or ,ui A'1' I'
a 1 1 1 1 1 k tifiod cehi(Ic
1= field kitchens
I nxrtorcU(les with 01 ((lrs
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SANTIAGO DE LAS VEGAS MILITARY CAMP
Santiago de Las Vegas Military Camp is
located 2.8 nm east of Santiago de las Vegas at
22-58-OON 82-20-25W (U'IM 1701-R626403 on
AMS Series L 723, Sheet 3784 IV). ihe camp,
located in a heavily wooded area, consists of
a billeting area, a motor park, a 57 into anti-
aircraft artillery battery, and a 14.5 mni anti--
aircraft artillery battery. Infantry, armor, and
probable elite badges and other minor insignia
were observed at the camp (I , igure 6).
the following is a complete list of weapons
and equipment identified at Ilse camp:
'I'- id fades
Ii -II-10O -ell'-propoIled suns
57111n nnlil 1111, gun,
1 ZPPS-1 untlainxsll ii rtfllcn guri-
157nun antiaircraft urliller,N't?un
I t'71Z1? ('.1N r.uia
I height rangefinder
5 RKI)MI APC~
1 llOG niis-do lrsnsporl--i-;
S IIIisniIi n?anrporter,l4
i, A'[-' Irtucked pritnie nioi ri
1:i cargo Irucki
I ulilit%- Iruclcn
aI unidonlificd m+Irccled yell Ian
1 unidentified track,-od rchi, -Il-
-I I lold IciIchons
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CAMAGUEY MILITARY CAMP
Camaguey Military Camp is located 4 nm billeting area, a motor park, and electronics
southeast of Camaguey at 21-21-11N 77-51- areas (l igure 7).
24W (U.lM 180'iL037637 on /vMS Series L the following is a co,mplet.e list of weapons
723, Sheet 4680 111). the camp consists of a and equipment identified at the camp:
a1 cargo trucks
{>FE:~ t pe rsrlan
I ROCK CAKE. -it1'o51? !
11([: radar
7 1101, lruck~
1 probalilo 5l'00N R1:5'I
radar
Nn n
I prohuble RLAT l A(`K
:rdar
1 (I(( roll ic.5 v;rI
I ml crov,acc? lower
d urri(I en(il'icd v(I ides 1)ir r r oI cyti ilrmr'nt
r r~~l~ll Y
NO
iEI i~~.~ ##~{EEggI ;HI41 d rq!~wl 11
ids Vh ` IHIII . q '
Ni . II~IIII~III
AN 111:111 I ; illl
ll" ~,+ II IGI C99u t~
!, ` V~ti II~'1 Vir
ipx~,,? I?~4 h~uu Il~llull~~~ , .
~~ Iy~iilt
III
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sli I,' I I r+~pP II III r9 '. II I ~ h !~9"II
? ~I if l I Vif q l1 I iI III i i iR4 ~ ~ 'I
Ili Ip~I y VV 1 1I1~ ~~ ~4Fi~~~~99~~l RIE., ~k1Nd~~,ddJl,~1 ~X~I .i ^iz. .wWMWYu
Mai"
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MAYARI ARRIBA MILITARY CAMP
Mayari A rriba Military Camp is located 2.6
nm north-northeast of Mayari nrriba at 20-27-
14N 75-31-12W (Ul N4 18QV'1'45761b on AMS
Series L 723, Sheet 5077 11). The camp con-
sists of a billeting area, a m o for park, an
:S'im m antiaircrafm arm illr~rv cun>
I car?o truck,
3 utilil~ truck]
11 uI]IIm died cmh(1 Ricca' of c?Iluipmenm
mw-ilc' mrnnrpormcr,
I unidonmiflod mrttnaponcr-
i AI:A%ii'?9 B prinmc 111(11 :
5 h0-1}'pc nntcmors
9 wircllno ~en ice trod:.,
open storage area, and an ar_ a containingprob-
able storage revetments (I ip are 8).
I he following is a complm'te list of weapons
and equipment identified at the camp:
It ((healed huckhoc',
1 -1'f-'l' (rirh dozer Made'
5 trucknmonnmod craura
14 cramps (crui=c-nmi~,=ile np~ 1
4 POI, tank, (horizonma.l)
10 (;tpproxinrtlcly) coucrcm0 :~rchol
15 (,ipproximl Im'l%) coacr