ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX KOSTROMA, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200210043-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2000
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: February 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/05/01 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200210043-3
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Approved For Release 2002/05/01 : CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200210043-3
 ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX
KOSTROMA, USSR
NPIC'R-8'63
February 1963
I
 An ICB\l complex consisting of five launch over an area of about 18 nautical miles (nm) in
areas, a complex support facility, and a rail-to- an east-west direction. Rail service to the
road transfer point is located in a forested area transfer point is provided by a spur line from the
northeast of Kostroma (Figure 1). The launch Kostroma-Galich rail line. Two SA-2 SAM sites
areas are served by access roads leading from are deployed in the general area of the complex.
the Kostroma-Buv highway and are dispersed One is located adjacent to Kostroma Airfield at
 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
57-48N 41-03E, and the other along the Kos-
troma-Buv highway at 58-14N 41-3SE. All
measurements contained in this report are ap-
proximate.
LAUNCH AREAS
Four of the launch areas (.-A, B, C, and D)
have a Type II (\1od b) confi;uration with a ready
building to the rear of each launch pad and all
are oriented on an azimuth of 295 degrees, f5
degrees. Launch Area E has a Type III con-
figuration and is under construction. Power
traces are evident to all launch areas.
Launch Area A is located approximately 15
nm by road from the transfer point and 1.3 nm
north of the Kostroma-Buy highway. It was first
seen in ~nd construction is now com-
plete. 1/ The access road enters the launch area
to the right of center to service the launch pads
and missile-ready buildings (Figure 2). The
ready building to the rr of the right pad mea-
sures about 170 by 125 feet and is canted at an
angle to the long axis of the la?:nch pad. The
ready building to the left, 170 by 105 feet, is in
line with the launch pad. Three buildings are
positioned along a line through the center of the
launch area to the left of the access road. The
structure at the forward end of the launch area
appears to be roughly L-shaped with an uniden-
tified object on top. The center structure, prob-
ably the control building, is 105 by 85 feet. To
the rear of it is a slightly smaller building with
a low object atop one corner. A horizontal
structure, probably a missile-erecting device
approximately 100 feet long. is centered on each
launch pad. In a vertical object at
the forward end of the structure on the' left pad
casts a short, faint shadow. A probable vehicle
stall is located just to the outside of the pads.
One other structure is located just off the road
halfway between the right ready building and the
launch pad. A security building is located along-
In the launch support facility for
Launch Area A contained at least six completed
structures, four of which were 150 feet long, and
foundations and construction for four additional
buildings. About 5.600 feet to the southeast is a
housing and construction camp containing 25 to 30
buildings and structures. -Nine of these buildings,
which are 120 feet long, probably are barracks.
Launch Area B is located about 16 nm from
the transfer point and 7 nm from the Kostroma-
Buy highway and is considered complete, al-
though only the ready building, 170 feet long, be-
hind the left pad has been constructed (Figure 3).
It is canted at an angle to the long axis of the
launch pad in the same direction as the one at
Launch Area A. For some unexplained reason,
the side edges of the roof of this completed build-
ing appear wider than that of other ready build-
ings. The width of the building could not be
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 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
line with the launch pad. Was visible behind the
right pad in IIlorizontal structures
are positioned in the center of the launch pads.
A vertical object was located at the forwardend
This object casts a heavier and longer shadow
than the one at Launch Area A. The estimated
height of this object is 95 feet. :!-- 10 feet. A
probable vehicle stall is located to the outside
of the pads.
Three buildings are aligned through the cen-
ter of the launch area to the left of the access
road. Possibly a fourth structure under con-
struction or a low earth-covered structure was
of the structure on the left pad in
25X1 D evident in The building at the for-
ward end of the site is approximately 125 by 100
feet, and the two further to the rear are slightly
smaller and of a somewhat irregular shape.
Another structure was under construction to the
outside of and at right angles to the road between
the right launch pad and the clearing for the ready
building. :A probable security building is located
near the access road as it enters the launch area.
Eight to 10 pieces of equipment were evident on
the access road through the launch area and near
The launch support facility for Launch Area
B containing at least 10 buildings is located about
2,500 feet to the rear of the launch area. Seven
of these buildings. ranging in length from 110to
125 feet and Of varying widths, are laid out in a
U-shaped pattern similar to that of some other
launch support facilities.
To the rear of the launch support facility
along a small stream are two additional support
areas. One of these probably is a construction
camp containing 9 to 12 buildings of varying
sizes, 3 of which are 130 feet long. Adjacent to
this camp is a cleared and scarred area that may
he used for parking of equipment. A housing
area nearby consists of 12 buildings of varying
sizes, 5 of which are 120 feet long.
Launch Area C is located about 11 nm by
the
road from the transfer point and 2_a nm from the
intersection of the road to Launch Area B. The
launch area Was in tie midstage of construction
as of o7ne missile-ready building.
170 by 125 feet. appears complete behind the
right launch pad and canted at an angle to the long
axis of the pad Finure 4). In the left
ready building, which will be in linewiththe pad.
appeared to be in an early stage of construction.
Construction of launch pads and the roads within
the launch area was not complete in
TWO objects, each about 90 feet 10n=, were evi ent
on the left pad. A probable control building, S5
by 95 feet, is centrally located just to the rear of
a scar between launch pads. Just forward of this
is a foundation 1100 by 50
feet. Two other sn1a11 structures, probably con-
struction sheds, are within the launch area.
The access road enters the launch area from
a southwesterly direction at right angles to the
launch pads. An intersecting road through the
area is offset to the right of center. This road
terminates In the woods to the rear of the launch
area with a smell structure at the terminus. A
similar arrangement of a road and structure in
the same loc_~t ion are observed at Launch Area
of the Teykovo IC_13\l Launch Complex. 2
Three buildings, 125 by 40 feet, have been
constructed at the launch support facility for
Launch Are -I (: south of the launch area. Clear-
ings for other structures and at least one other
building under- construction were evident in
1 lie initial construction camp is located to
the northwest and forward of the launch area.
This building area for housing and support of
construction workers contains at least 15 struc-
tures. eight Of which appear robe b2rrack-s-tvpe
buildings about 100 feet long.
251
25X1
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 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
Launch .\rea P. in a midstage of construc-
tier., is located approxima_ely 23 nm by road from
the transter point and 3.9 nm from the Kostroma-
Buy highway. The general signarure was ev~dent
25X1 D n II from the clearings for the loop
road system and a missile-ready building. but
no structures were evident within the launch area
(Figure 5). One ready building had been con-
structed behind the right pad at an angle to the
25X1 D long ax is of the pad as of late Because
of poor photography the dimensions ofthebuild-
ing cannot be determined.
:\ cleared area, lust south of the point where
the access road turns toward the launch area,
probably will be the location of the launch support
facility for Launch Area n_ _\ construction camp
of at least 17 structures of various sizes is lo-
cated near the access road to the southwest of the
clearing for the support area.
LAUNCH AREA E
Launch Area E has the Type III. silo con-
figuration and is located about 11 nni by road
from the transfer point. There was no evi-
dence of this area on
On photography from
a road and clear-
ing in the woods were evident,
650 feet
long and the start of an excavation approxi-
mately -4-10 feet long (Figure 6). The short
axis of the excavation is oriented on an azimuth
of approximately 300 degrees. A line of
trees remains along the south edge of the
excavation. One probable structure is lo-
cated south of the excavation near the ter-
minus of a power trace. Late in
on photography from the east
end of the excavation appeared to have been
squared off, and possibly two objects are
now within the excavation. There was still
no evidence of a notch in the side of the
excavation.
The rail-to-road transfer point is located iii'
a wooded area about 10 nm nertlheast of the com -
plex support facility. .\ branch line from the
Kostroma-Galich rail line extends 2.3 nm north
to serve the transfer point. Figure -1. .\ well-
engineered road from the Kostroma-Gal ich high-
way parallels the branch rail 1 one to the transfer
point and then continues north to intersect with
the Kostroma-Buy highway. From this inter-
section the existing highway is utilized as the
complex main road.
The branch rail line terminates in three
spurs in a wooded area at the transfer point.
The spur extending furthest to the north lies ad-
jacent to a loop road pattern. The two other
spurs appear to terminate slightly to the south.
.A housing area is located along the west side
of the road and rail and contains about 20 build-
in Ts. Fight of these appear to be multistory and
about 130 feet lang. The remainder are smaller
barracks-type buildings. South of the housing
area ' an area probably utilized for open stor-
age of equipment and supplies. It appears to be
fenced and contains one warehouse-type struc-
ture 205 feet long and four smaller buildings-
South of the terminus of the rail spurs that
constitute the transfer point are two other rail
spurs curving to the east which were previously
25
25
25X1
25
25X
25X1
25X
25X1
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 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
identified as the transfer point. Ti-ese spur .
however, appear to be for lo?istic = nd con-
struction support as evidenced by the absence of
_. =o J ro d r t i _ o nl -..u spurs .-.'.d the prusenue
_. concrete hatching plant near one spur.
The complex support facility is located on
the eastern edge of Kostroma and is road and rail
served. There was no evidence of this facility
on photography of except for a por-
tion of the road which enters from the Kostroma-
Galich highway. This road was either under con-
struction or an existing road was being len