NEW SOVIET ARTILLERY WEAPON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05694A000200250001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 7, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 17, 1955
• Content Type: IM

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PHOTO fl ELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
NEW SOVIET ARTILLERY WEAPON
GP/I_95
(Project 71.186)
17 May 1955
Declass Review by NIMA / DoD
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
S-E_C..R E T
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17 May 1955
NEW SOVIET ARTILLERY WEAPON
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
This memorandum reports completion of a request from Chief, Applied
Sciences Division, OSI, dated 16 May 1955 for pertinent dimensions of a
new large caliber, field artillery weapon imaged in ground photographs
of the 1955 Nbscow May Day Parade. In order to expedite the request, a
copy was hand-carried by OSI/ASD/G, who stated that the
following specific dimensions were primarily requested:
a. diameter of muzzle (immediately behind the muzzle brake)
b, length of tube (including muzzle brake)
c. length of breech ring
d. length of muzzle brake
e. diameter of tube immediately forward of breech.
The requester stated that the prime mover was also new, so that the
dimensions of the wheels were not known. Soldiers seated in the prime
mover imaged in the photography and the following dimensions,were cal-
culated based on the tenuous assumption: that 8 inches is the distance
This project was completed on a
"crash" basis. No time was available for research. The dimensions were
supplied to see following page) with a note that if the wheel
size of the prime mover could be ascertained, a more accurate estimate
of the size of the weapon could be determined. delivered a
copy of our memorandum to OCI. ORR/I/WA,
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also requested and received a copy from us,
informed us that the prime mover was a standard model
and the rim diameter of the wheel is 82.98 cm. Using this measurement
to determine scale, we re-checked our original measurements and found
25X1A them to be very accurate. were
contacted by phone and informed that as a result of re-checking our measure-
ments on the basis of the known wheel diameter our original measurements
were accurate plus or minus 2 or 3 percent.
Photo References:
25X1 C dated 1 TLy 1955
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Soviet Gun/Howitzer Observed at
1955 May llay Parade
Breech Ring Length - 20.6"
Breech Gate - 10.3"
Breech Ring Depth - 43.4"
Tube Diameter at Base - 22.6"
Tube at Muzzle Brake Collar (Diameter) - 12.3"
Diameter Nuzzle Brake at Collar - 14"
Diameter Muzzle Brake at Muzzle - 16.5"
Tube from Breech Ring to Muzzle Brake Collar - 25 ft.
Length of Muzzle Brake Collar - 8.5"
Overall Muzzle Brake Length - 2' 11"
Overall Trail Spade to Muzzle - 40'
Overall Trail Spade to Pintel - 10' 8"
wheel Diameter - 4' 8"
Axle to Axle Length - 24' 8"
Note: The above size estimates, probably accurate to ? 10%,
are the result of hoto rammetric measurements on photo
number 1-26, ted 1 May 1955?
The measurements are se a as that 8" is the
If the size of the
wheels of the prime mover could ascertained, a more
accurate estimtee of the size of this weapon could be
determined.
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S-E-C-R-E-T ),r
NOFORN
PHOTO INTELLmENCE 1EMORANIXIM
(supplement #3 to GP/Z-76, dated 1 April 1955)
GP/I-93
(Project 71?174)
19 }Y 1955
date
INilEXED
CODED
CiiECKED
RELEASED
ORAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
s-E-C-R.Z..T
NOFORN
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S-E-C-H-E-
NOF'ORN
PHOTO =Ell 'mENOE MEMORANDUM
MATSU SITUATION STUDY
LUNG-T]EN AP
(Supplement OP/1.76, dated 1 April 1955)
This memorandum is a supplement to 4P/I.76, which was submitted in
in reply to a request by OCI for information on military installations
in the Matsu Area as determined by a study of tbq ?atest available
photography.
This supp4.ement reports the results of D/GP study of photography
25X1 D
of
Lung-Tien Area*
of the airfield being constructed in the
25X1 D
This airfield was first seen b D/GP on photography dated
25X1 D
It appears to.
in the early stages of construction. Apparently
no airfield exist 1. o this site previously.
The field is located about 2.75 miles south of the town of Lung Tien.
(25?37QN/119?270E)
The field can probably be reached by road (and one ferry crossing
at Ma-tou i) by traveling south about 40 miles from Foochow. Neither
Lung..Tisn nor the airfield are on the main N-S roads but are probably
accessible by secondary roads. The A/F is located approx. 10 miles east
of the main highway. Photographic cover of these; secondary access roads
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S-D' -C-R?E-T
NOPM
is not available, so their actual existence or condition cannot be verified.
Construction work seems to be in the slag a of preliminary
grading and drainage. Only the barest outline and shape of the field are
visible. It will be a single strip NE.,S%,.and a very'rough a .amation
of.its intended length could pat the field in the 6-7000' category.
Duch evidence of :Intensive work on the field is apparent. There are
many barracks type buildings visible. They are apparently newly built,
presumably to house the construction workers. At there were
about 135 such buildings, each measuring about 20 x 80 feet in size.
Other allied construction work is also apparent on the photography.
There is a drainage canal of considerable sloe under construction to the
north and east of the field. Also, several new roads in the general area
are either constructed or in'tho process. There seem to be a general
improvement of thr, road leadiy north from the field in the direction of
Lung-Tien. There are two beach access roads visible, by means of which
construction materials are being transported to the field proper, approxi.
mately one mile to the west. It is possible that the material is either
being brought in by boat, or being obtained from the beach area, or both.
Anti-aircraft defenses in the area are particularly well developed,
especially considering-the apparent early stage of construction of the
25X1 D. airfield. On there are 64 anti-aircraft weapons distributed
in a symmetrical pattern about the strip. Of these 16 are medium AA and
48 are ligilt AA. Also apparent are some associated AAI emplacements.
Very rough estimates of completion date, by using only the single
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5-B-C-R-E-T
25X1 D.
25X1 D
25X1 D
photographic coverage, with comparison generally to the Lit-Cdao field, would
See Enclosure $1 Izi mosaic of photography of
Photography of reveals continued expansion of construction
activity in the airfield and adjacent area.
Specifically, more extensive grading and leveling operations on the
runtaay are noted. Piles of material, presumably rocks, gravel, or sand
are now located alongside the strip.
Aircraft revetments are in the process of construction on the north
side of the runway. There are indications of 14 in various stages of
completion. Also, a taxiway, on the north side of the strip, k nd parallel
to it #%-Is being started.
Dr=i .dirge are obeerved in the area, particularly along the beach
in the vicinity of the beach exits. In the largest group are approx. 14
new buildings f'sheds, each about 15 x 23 feet.
The main drainage canal on the north east end of the field is not
yet completed, though work is progressing.
No additional defenses are found on the more recent photography.
25X1 D See Enclosure #2 for mosaic of photography of
S.E-C. R. E..T
NOFORN
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GPI -9)1
May 1955
This memorandum reports the publication and distribution of
a large acetate and ozalid overlay showing new road construction
in Southeast China.
S -
date
C~r -n
Gva~-D
CHECKED
R ASED
yl k:LIA
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