SOVIET DIVERSION BRIGADES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000500010010-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: May 1, 1977
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
SOVIET DIVERSION BRIGADES
PI R-010/77
MAY 1977
Copy 13 3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
(WNI NTEL)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
NOFORN- Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals
NOCONTRACT- Not Releasable to Contractors or
Contractor/Consultants
PROPIN- Caution-Proprietary Information Involved
USIBONLY- USIB Departments Only
ORCON- Dissemination and Extraction of Information
Controlled by Originator
REL This Information has been Authorized for
Release to . .
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78T05162A000500010010-5
Top Secret RUFF
SOVIET DIVERSION BRIGADES
1. Photography and collateral sources' suggest that each military district in the Soviet
Union may have a diversion brigade.
2. Soviet airborne forces are generally regarded as the elite of the Soviet Army. They
are specially selected, politically reliable, highly trained troops that are kept in a constant
state of readiness. In addition to the regular airborne troops, there are other special forces
with airborne characteristics, known as diversion brigades.'
3. Diversion brigades may comprise 200 to 500 specially selected men' from regular
airborne troops. They would be tasked for commando-type operations deep in enemy
territory, special operations for the KGB, reconnaissance, and sabotage. Regular training
may be conducted by the GRU.*'
4. Nine Soviet installations have been identified which have photographic signatures
similar to those at the confirmed diversion brigade barracks at Furstenberg (Figure 1 and
Table 1). Figure 2 shows Soviet airborne training devices.
Diversion Brigade Barracks
25X1
25X1
6. The "recce man's" path obstacle course is seen in many ground force training areas
and with some special units, such as diversion brigades. It is designed to teach recon-
naissance techniques. The course is 625 meters long and usually contains 24 obstacles, mak-
ing it the longest Soviet obstacle course. The obstacles simulate three tactical exercises:
combat engineer tasks in penetrating the forward edge of the battle area, blowing up water
obstacles, and securing objectives in the enemy's rear area.'
7. Chuchkovo Army Barracks AL 1 in the Moscow Military District 25X1
has a jump-training area consisting of a jump tower and a Knyazev trainer (Figure 4). A
"recce man's" path obstacle course is in the barracks area. The army barracks appears to
house a battalion-sized unit and lacks special purpose vehicles and equipment.
8. Ussuriysk Army Barracks AL 4 has harness stocks, a Knyazev 25X1
trainer, two aircraft mockups, and a jump tower (Figure 5). Additionally, reports' state that
paratroopers live in this barracks and they are under the control of the GRU. Again, there is
a small unit and a lack of special purpose vehicles.
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78T05162A000500010010-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
Top Secret RUFF
9. Feodosiya Army Barracks Goncharova AL 11 has a "recce man's"
path obstacle course, but no jump tower or trainer. It does, however, have a drop zone with a
jump target (Figure 6). Parachutes and aircraft have been seen here on occasion. As in all of
the previous cases, there is a lack of special purpose vehicles and equipment.
10.
Each installation houses a battalion-sized unit, has a jump-training area, and lacks special
purpose vehicles and equipment. All of these installations have access to a "recce man's"
path, either within the barracks itself or in a nearby training area. Although none of these
barracks have all of the signatures enough photographic evidence ex-
ists to say that each of these units has the same role.
2 KAZLY-RUDA ARMY BKS AL 1
3 MARINA GORKA HO GDS TK DIV/AB AL 2
4 YASLAV HQ MRD/AB AL 1
5 KIROVOGRAD ARMY BKS CENTRAL AL 1
6 CHUCHKOVO ARMY BKS AL 1
7 FEODOSIYA ARMY BKS GONCHAROVA
AL 1
8 LAGODEKHI ARMY BKS E AL 1
9 CHIRCHIK ARMY BKS AL 9
10 USSURIYSK ARMY BKS AL 4
54-48-12N 023-27-30E Susp Baltic
50-06-26N 026-50-04E Poss Carpathia
48-30-55N 032-15-30E Poss Kiyev
54-14-34N 041-30-20E Prob Moscow
45-04-04N 035-11-OOE Poss Odessa
41-27-02N 069-33-20E Prob Turkestan
43-49-30N 131-54-50E Prob Far East
Top Secret
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
Top Secret RUFF
J
U.S.S.R.
Military Districts
SOVIET DIVERSION BRIGADES
Items keyed to Table 1
Top Secret
10
?
NPIC. S- 784
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78T05162A000500010010-5
Top Secret RUFF
KNYAZEV TRAINER
17
JUMP TOWER
CABLE ZOOM
PARACHUTE HARNESS STOCKS
AIRCRAFT MOCKUP
Top Secret
am IMP I
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78T05162A000500010010-5
 25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
Next 3 Page(s) In Document Denied
Iq
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
Top Secret RUFF
MAPS OR CHARTS
SAC. USATC, Various sheets, scale 1:200,000
CIA. Sheet 502975 6-76 (542580, CONFIDENTIAL)
DOCUMENTS
1. CIA. Soviet Airborne Division, Diversion Brigades and Other Fragmentary Order of
Battle Information, 30 Sep 74 (CONFIDENTIAL/WARNING NOTICE - Sensitive Intelligence Sources
and Methods Involved)
2. DIA. DDI-1100-2-75, Soviet Ground Force Organizational Guide, Jun 75 (SECRET/
Defense, Ground Forces, Naval, and Security Forces, May 75 (TOP SECRET RUFF
REQUIREMENT
Project 12120OND
Top Secret
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
List of Conversion Factors by Classification
MILLIMETERS
0.0394 INCHES
KILOGRAMS
2.2046
POUNOS)AVOIR.)
CENTIMETERS
0.3937 INCHES
POUNOS)AVOIR.)
0.4536
KILOGRAMS
INCHES
25.4000 MILLIMETERS
SHORT TONS
0.9072
METRIC TONS
INCHES
2.5400 CENTIMETERS
METRIC TONS
1.1023
SHORT TONS
FEET
0.3048 METERS
METRIC TONS
0.9842
LONG TONS
FEET
YARDS
0.0003 KILOMETERS
0.9144 METERS
LONG TONS
1.0160
METRIC TONS
METERS
METERS
3.2808 FEET
0.0005 MILES)NAUTICAL)
METERS
1.0936 YARDS
KILOMETERS
KILOMETERS
3280.8400 FEET
0.6214 MILES(STATUTE)
KILOMETERS
0.5400 MILES)NAUTICAL)
LITERS
0.2642
GALLONS
MILES(STATUTE)
1.6093 KILOMETERS
LITERS
0.0063
BARRELS(POL)
MILES)NAUTICAL)
6076.1154 FEET
LITERS
0.0010
CUBIC METERS
MILES)NAUTICAL)
1.8520 KILOMETERS
GALLONS
3.7854
LITERS
MILES)NAUTICAL)
1852
0000 METERS
.
GALLONS
0.1337
CUBIC FEET
GALLONS
0.0238
BARRELS)POL)
GALLONS
0.0038
CUBIC METERS
UNITS OF AREA
BUSHELS
0.0352
CUBIC METERS
CUBIC FEET
7
4805
GALLONS
IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLY BY TO OBTAIN
CUBIC FEET
.
0.1781
BARRELS)POL)
SQUARE CENTIMETERS 0.1550 SQUARE INCHES
CUBIC FEET
0.0283
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE INCHES 6.4516 SQUARE CENTIMETERS
CUBIC YARDS
0.7646
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE FEET 0.0929 SQUARE METERS
BARRELS(PDL)
158.9873
LITERS
SQUARE YARDS 0.8361 SQUARE METERS
BARRELS)PDL)
42.0000
GALLONS
SQUARE METERS 10.7639 SQUARE FEET
BARRELS)POL)
5.6146
CUBIC FEET
SQUARE METERS 1.1960 SQUARE YARDS
BARRELS)PDL)
0.1590
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE METERS 1.0000 CENTARES
CUBIC METERS
1000.0000
LITERS
SQUARE METERS 0.0002 ACRES
CUBIC METERS
264.1721
GALLONS
SQUARE METERS 0.0001 HECTARES
CUBIC METERS
35.3147
CUBIC FEET
ACRES 4046.8564 SQUARE METERS
CUBIC METERS
28.3776
BUSHELS
ACRES 0.4047 HECTARES
CUBIC METERS
6.2898
BARRELS)POL)
HECTARES 10000.0000 SQUARE METERS
CUBIC METERS
1.3080
CUBIC YARDS
HECTARES 2.4711 ACRES
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5
Top Secret
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/13: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000500010010-5