MODERNIZATION OF GROUND FORCES IN THE NORTHERN GROUP OF FORCES, POLAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000200140001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 4, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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Secret
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Imagery analysis report
Modernization of Ground Forces in the
Northern Group of Forces, Poland (S)
Secret
Z-20099/80
IAR-0150/80
OCTOBER 1980
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Recipients of Z-20099/80, IAR-0150/80
Modernization of Ground Forces in the Northern Group of
Forces, Poland (S)
Imagery Analysis Report
Dated October 1980
SUBJECT Replacement of pages
Please replace pages 3 and 4 and page 7 with the attached. Figures 2 and
6 were transposed.
WNINTEL
Z-20099180-1 SECRET IAR-0150180-1
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was last seen
between F_
and was observed at Bialogard 202 on several occasions
It is possible that the chemical defense equipment observed at
Borne 201 (Area 2) is a part of the chemical defense battalion which had moved to Bialogard 202 from
Szczecinek 204.' The area, formerly occupied by the chemical defense battalion at Szczecinek, contained
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Other Construction Activity
9. (S/D) Construction activity was observed to the west of the SCUD brigade area on 25X1
Two probable vehicle story e buildings in the early stage of construction and footings for another building were
observed on in this area. Building construction was observed at Szczecinek 204 and Bialo- 25X1
gard 202. At Bialogard 202, a 32-bay, double-depth vehicle storage building was observed in the early stage of
construction on It was almost complete on A 16-bay double-depth vehicle storage 25X1
building had been constructed at Szczecinek 204 by the date of the latest available imagery of 25X1
this area. The significance of the construction activity at Szczecinek 204 and Bialogard 202 is not known at this
time.
10. (S/D) No other significant activity was observed in the other combat support units of this Soviet
tank division.
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(SAD) All available satellite imagery acquired from
tion of this report.
1. NPIC.L
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Pact Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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MODERNIZATION OF GROUND FORCES IN THE NORTHERN GROUP OF FORCES, POLAND (S)
1. (S/D) An analysis of satellite imagery acquired from
indicates a major upgrading of major units of the Northern Group of Forces. The Soviet SCUD brigade of
the Northern Group of Forces has been upgraded, the maneuver elements of the Soviet tank division
headquartered at Borne, Poland, have been upgraded and augmented, and one of the combat support units
of this division has probably been relocated.
SCUD Brigade Upgrade
2. (S/D) The Northern Group of Forces Soviet SCUD Brigade, which is housed at Borne Army
Barracks Sulinowo 201 is in an area immediately south of the former SCUD area.
Movement from the former SCUD area is probably the result of a need for expansion of the brigade to
accommodate 18 SCUD transporters-erectors-launchers (TELs).' On ongoing construction
activity and some vehicular activity was observed in the new SCUD brigade area. Facilities in the new
SCUD area consisted of an 18-bay vehicle storage building, a maintenance building, and two probable
launch battalion support areas. Each of the probable launch battalion support areas consisted of two 29-
bay, double-depth vehicle storage buildings. A third probable launch battalion support area was in an
early stage of construction. It will also probably contain two 29-bay, double-depth vehicle storage build-
ings. Assuming that the third probable launch battalion support area will be completed, the new SCUD
area will have a covered vehicle storage capacity for over 400 vehicles. The former SCUD area (recently
razed), which housed a probable 12-launcher SCUD brigade, had a covered vehicle storage capacity for
approximately 300 vehicles. Vehicular activity observed in the new SCUD area included three SCUD
resupply semitrailers and other support vehicles (Figure 1). Chemical defense equipment was observed at
Borne 201 for the first time on (Figure 2). This equipment is possibly the chemical defense
platoon of the SCUD brigade. As recently as o chemical defense equipment was observed.
Maneuver Elements Upgraded and Augmented
3. (S/D) The maneuver elements of the Soviet tank division are garrisoned at Borne Army Barracks
Sulinowo 201 (Figure 3) and Borne Army Barracks 203 Figure 4). The upgrading and
augmentation of units include the upgrading of a motorized rifle company of at least one of the two tank
regiments housed at Borne 201 to a motorized rifle battalion and the augmentation of both tank regiments
with a towed howitzer battery and the observation of one possible multiple rocket launcher (in one of the
tank regiments). This type of activity is similar to that which was recently identified in Czechoslovakia at
Milovice Army Barracks Headquarters Northwest 201 and several divisions within the
USSR.
4. (S/D) On 28 BMP armored personnel carriers were observed in one of the tank
regiments at Borne 201 (Figure 5); and six BMP were observed in the other tank regiment. Construction of
a probable 16-bay, triple-depth vehicle storage building was observed in the early stage of construction on
imagery of
5. (S/D) On at least four D-30 towed howitzers were observed in one of the tank
regiments and a battery of six D-30s was observed in the other tank regiment on imagery of
Another battery of six D-30s was observed in the ammunition storage area at Borne 203 on
(Figure 4). The possible multiple rocket launcher was observed in one of the tank regiments at Borne 201
Other Augmentation
6. (S/D) Further augmentation, not necessarily similar to that seen at Milovice and elsewhere,
includes the introduction of new medium tanks.
7. (S/D) Four probable T-64/-72 medium tanks were identified in the motorized rifle regiment of
Borne 201 (Figure 6) on This was the first identification of probable T-64/-72 tanks in
the Soviet Northern Group of Forces.
Unit Relocations
8. (S/D) The chemical defense battalion at Szczecinek Army Barracks 204 which is
subordinate to the Soviet tank division headquartered at Borne 201, moved to Bialogard Army Barracks
Schleeberger 202 The chemical defense battalion
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was last seen at Szczecinek 204 on and was observed at Bialogard 202 on several occasions
between It is possible that the chemical defense equipment observed at
Borne 201 (Area 2) is a part of the chemical defense battalion which had moved to Bialogard 202 from
Szczecinek 204.3 The area, formerly occupied by the chemical defense battalion at Szczecinek, contained
an unidentified unit on
Other Construction Activity
9. (S/D) Construction activity was observed to the west of the SCUD brigade area on
Two probable vehicle storage buildings in the early stage of construction and footings for another building were
observed on in this area. Building construction was observed at Szczecinek 204 and Bialo-
gard 202. At Bialogard 202, a 32-bay, double-depth vehicle storage building was observed in the early stage of
construction on ~ It was almost comple
building had been constructed at Szczecinek 204 by
A 16-bay double-depth vehicle storage
date of the latest available imagery of
this area. The significance of the construction activity at Szczecinek 204 and Bialogard 202 is not known at this
time.
10. (S/D) No other significant activity was observed in the other combat support units of this Soviet
tank division.
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(S/D) All available satellite imagery acquired from
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1. NPIC. L
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IAR-A057/79, Probable Uperadine nfSoviet SCUD Brigade Borne, Poland IS), Oct 79 (TOP
IAR-0054 80 nent.s...Milovice, C:echo.slovvakia ITSC'i, Apr
3. AFSSO. IRC/INIOER, Chemical Defense Battalion Located at Borne Army Bk.s Sulinon;; 201. Poland, 271442Z Jun
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to Warsaw
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