PORT OF ODESSA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05218707
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: May 3, 2022
• Case Number: F-2021-02351
• Publication Date: October 3, 1955

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United Rates within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
IS, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation ,of which in an manner W an tlimmtheelmd person Is prohibited by law.
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COUNTRY USSR (Odessa Oblast)
SUBJECT Port of Odessa.
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
SOURCE:
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REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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3 October 1955
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10
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SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
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1. While underway toward Odessa informant'S ship met, off Cape
Fontana, a motor patrol boat with features and dimensions resembling the fast
motor launches of the Italian Revenue Service (Guardia di Flnanza); it had a
steel hull, and one machine gun of approximately 8 MIR caliber on the bow; its
speed was estimated at 20 knots. The motor patrol boat approached from sea-
ward, passed close aboard the ship's bow, apparently to read its name, and
proceeded toward shore. It then reversed course and headed toward the sea.
Between Cape Fontana and Odessa there were four masopry'structures of light-
house type,about 30 meters high and a mile apart,Along the Coast. Farther
inland,there were two very high steel openwork towers of radio antenna type
approximately 120 meters tall.
2. The ship anchored in 04essa harbor Also
anchored there was a Soviet motor 'Lanxer or approximately 10,000 tons, loaded,
and smart looking enough to be of new construction. It was equipped with
radar similar to that on Italian freighters. This motor tanker was lying be-
tween two tankers; the first was a motor barge of an estimated 1,500 DWT, with
a flat steel hull suited to river shipping. The other was a steam tanker with
a capacity of approximately 1,300 DWT and was half loaded. At 1700 hours,a
motor boatcAme alongside and transferred the pilot and a womsn physician. This
vessel carried a three-man crew and two soldiers who stayed aboard. The motor
boat returned to port as soon as it had delivered the pilot and the doctor.
The doctor checked the practique and the certificate of rat extermination and
then gave the ship a clean bill of health; the ship thennbegan tb enter the
inner harbor, and. at 1745 it berthed . The inspection party, composed of two
policeman, two customs agents, one representative from the port captain's
office,and a young miss from the Inflot agency, then came aboard. The pclice
checked the seamen's booklets and the crew's list. NotICApg from the photo-
graphs in the booklets that two of the sailors were very young, the police
asked for other identification with more recent photographs; identification
papers were then shown. The customs agents sealed a camera and the radio
telephone, checked the currency by listing it under the master's signature, (b)(1)
leaving the currency in care of the master and carloed off the list. The (b)(3)
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port captain's representative was dressed as a civilian. He wrote the date
of arrival on the crew's list. The police kept the crew list and six copies
of the ship's muster list together with the seamen's booklets; after two
hours the police sent a pistol-armed soldier aboar&with the seamen's booklets
and passes to go ashore. The crew was free to leave the ship with no re-
striction as to numbers. provided they returned to shit) by 2400, with emergency
extension to 0100.
Sometimes
no curfew was indicated. The sentries wore a light brown uniform, a blouse
with a closed collar, a long loose cloak of the same color, a forest green
cap with visor and a red star for insignia, and black boots. A red cloth was
sewed to the collar of the cloak, an a sort of collar patch.
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3. At 2015,two grab buckets, each of 10 toms capacity, began loading small-sized
anthracite coal. These bucket cranes were mounted on openwork towers 10 meters
long with a jointed jib, at the end of which the buckets wereattached.; the entire
device traveledron tracks' which extended along the WhartLoading.tmerations
were interrupted from 2400 to 0600,because,ef ship's needs;
2,372 tons of coal had been loaded. In port, were berthed:: three Soviet
medium tonnage steamships transferring cargo; one Soviet steamship of old
construction, of 8,000 NT, empty and idle, without radar, with a direction
finder antenna; a Soviet Liberty ship in good dondition, empty and idle,
without radar; a Soviet steamship of old type, of 3,000 MT, unloading coal;
steamship SECOND� SAN GIORGIO which loaded coal; motor ship ESPRESSO of the
Genoa maritime district, which unloaded lemons taken on in Palermo. These
lemons were stored in the warehouse on the wharf facing the berth and quickly
reloaded on refrigerated railroad cars. "A passenger st'eimshiO with a steel
hall and a capacity. of 100 NT, in a derelict condition,with a large floating
crane alongside WS3 also in port.
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4. informant's ship was about to depart when suddenly, at(b)(3)
point 1 -on sketch No. 1 ,something emerged which informant believed was the
bay of a short-range submarine. By consulting Jane's, he saw that this bow
was similar to that of "Coastal Submarines -- Later:' "M" Type" (page 319 of
the 1954-1955 edition). This bow had no stays and emerged about six meters
at an angle of 70 degrees; informant was unable to note torpedo launching
tubes from his distance and ppsition. The sea was calm and no whirlpools
were noticed in the water around the bow. Two naval motor boats stood by with
about ten passengers,each wbp,mmtThed the water. The pilot aboard informant's
ship volunteered no explanation while departing from harbor but fearing inter-
ference to the submarine he asked for a tug. However, the captain of informant's
ship insisted against the tug and it was not called.
5. In the' open storage area facing the port exit, there were rows of new, heavy
Soviet motor trucks. Packed_cases of various material was lying near the trucks.
Armed soldiers guarded both the trucks and the cases; one of the sentries stood
on a wooden tower in a wooden booth in the center of the storage area.
6. The wharves which informant saw were equipped with railroad tracks, electric
cranes, almost all of the modern luffing type, on tracks with current outlets
ashore, drinking water, electric power outlets, and mooring bitts. The port
was fairly well lighted.
7. Before departure, the Same inspection party which had boarded upon arrival
conducted the outgoing inspection; it removed the seals from the radio-
telephone set and camera, aecured_ the passes, checked the currency, returned
themuter list and the practiquesand then left the ship.
informant disembarked the pilot outside the harbor.
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considerable land traffic was noted in the port surroundingeop)
and many ships, mostly Soviet were busy loading cast iron ingots and small
trucks. A British ship or two were unloading bags Which presumably contained
chemical fertilizer, while Greek and Turkish ships were berthed at pierside to
load or unload general cargo. The small trucks which were ready for loading
numbered about 200; they were military vehicles and slightly larger than jeeps;
painted dark green and had a tailboard. On several preceding occasions, piles
of cast iron ingots awaiting loading, presumably for sometime because they
were rusted, have been on the piers.
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the former Italian battleship GIULIO CESARE (now (b)(3)
NOVOROSSIYSK) entered Odessa and proceeded to the repair yard. Three coastal
destroyers were anchored in the sant repair yard. A.nuaber of medium-power
tugboats were observed. On 3 April, a submarineOeft the port of Odessa; it
had no stay*, was armed with a 40-ma gun,and liceiAte number 628 on the side
of the conning tower; its displacement was not over 300 tons. This submarine
was headed-4eward the Crises; its speed was eight to ten knots. After consulting
Jane's, informant said that it was like nummui. Submarines -- Later "M" (page
319 of the 1954-55 edition) with slight variations in the construction of the
conning tower and its deck equipment (see sketch No. 2, page 8 ). The snorkel
was not observed; there were five men on the conning tower resting on the edge
in such a manner as to aiyear to be hiding something.
the motor oil tanker EVA PERON, an Argentine
ship of 13,000 DWT, equipped with radar, was lqld.ing crude petroleum for trans-
port to Buenos Aires. It departed on the aornlzg of 4 April.
in Odessa were: the $S RAPALLO;which loaded
J902 tome of fuel oil; a Soviet steam tanker of 1,000 DWT equipped with radar
reiembling that on Italian freighters; three Soviet river tankers with capacity
of 2,000 DWT each, loaded; a floating drydock (No. .2 on Bketeh.No. 1) O'l
with a Soviet freighter docked.; a floating drydock (No. 3 on the sketch)
with,a Soviet passenger steamer, POBEDIA.,Claes,docked,evapped with.radar;
a floating drydock (No. 4 on the sketch) with the Soviet steam tanker SERGO
of 8,000 DWT docked; a floating crane (No. 5 on the sketch) with fixed jib,
double purchase, one of which (as set on the top and the other, at 1/4 of the
jib length beginning at the upper end. The pulleys had three steel cables;
its estimated lift was 200 tons. Two floating targets equipped with three
radar, screens; a floating crane (NO. 6 on the sketch) ,:with jointed jib, self-
proOgiled, estimated lift 80 to 100 tons; the Soviet stela freighter KIATURI,
with a gross capacity of 21000 GRT; three floating cranes (No. 7 on the sketch),
with an estimated lift of 20 tons; two motor patrol boats whose characteristics
and dimensions resemble those of the fast motor launches of the Italian revenue
service i.e.,ateel hull, a single (approximately eight ma caliber) machine
gun forward, speed estimated at 20 knots wereskoimpart. The3attirtidtawele
Soviets for coastal patrolling. A floating drydock (No. 8 on the sketch) wit
a motor patrol boat resembling the two above, and two river tankers, loaded,
with a capacity of 2,000 DWT each, were also in port.
thip was flown over by
ywo seaplanes. Tasty were single-seater, single-engine, radial piston-prop,
mono-planes with a speed of about 2001 kilometers per hour. These aircraft
flew in formation at 1,000 meters on a southerly 'course. Judging from the
noise of the engines and their speed, informant belief/youf they were low-powered
craft probably use* for coastal patrolling.
spotted an aircraft over the city during the night. three mastrphl h+
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rive or six MIG jet fighters flew from a southerly direction over the Gulf of
Odessa.
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a motor patrol boat armed with a forward gun came in and out of the
harbor several times towing a target for naval gunfire; shortly before informant's
ship entered the outer harbor and an hour later, three-gun salvoes were heard.
The motor patrol boat towing the small target was escorted by another armed
with two (small caliber) AA guns 0 one forward and one aft, and two heavy machine
guns aft between the bridge and the gun. Neither.' of these boats bore a hull
number; their tonnage was approximately 200 tons.
14. Soviet merchant ships in Odessa
included.:
a. F POMONSSA (sic), harbor service tug of approximately 250 tons, with a
steam engine, a black hull, a white superstructure, and a high yellow
funnel.
b. VOSTOK, a freighter of approximately 8,000,DWTOfith four hold's, engine
amidships, a black hull, a white superstructure, and a funnel with red
band. It unloaded small cases on 13 May and left the port an the morning
of 14 May. It was equipped with radio and RDF.
c. LIPETSK� a motor ship of approximately 9,00 DWT, with engine amid-
ships, a black hull, a white superstructure, a black funnel with a red
bandifor passenger and freight service.
d. SUKANTN, a_passenger Ship of approntimite4 0,000L,DWT,Atith engine amid-
ships, a 4.ight gray hull and superstructure, and two high raked funnels,
very similar to the Old CI' TA DI SIRACUSA. It also had radio and RDF.
e. BUG, a motor ship of approximately 1,000 DWT, with engine aft, a black
hull and white superstructure; two holds, which unlOaded sand and left
port on the morning of the 14th. It bad radio only.
f. SEDOV, a motor ship of approximately 800 DWT, with engine aft, a white
hull and superstructure; for passenger and freight service. It had both
radio and RDF.
g. SAMARKAND, a petroleum tanker of approximately 16,000 DWT, with a draft of
eight meters, and a length of 165 meters. It was a very recent super-
tanker, with a gray hull and white superstructure. It had radio, RDF,
and radar.
h. BELORUSSIYA, a steamship of approximately 6,000 DWT, with engine amid-
ships, a black hull, a white superstructure, and a black funnel with
red band. It was an obsolete type with four holds, and WWI equipped
with radio and RDF.
1. GRUZIYA, a motor ship liner of approximately 8,000 DWT, with engine amid-
ships, a white hull and superstructureiand radio and radar. It was a
_ recent type of vessel.
15. On the inner side of the outer breakwater were the following ships:
a. UKRAMAI, a motor ship of approximately 5,000 DWT, with engine amidships,
for passenger service, with a white hull and superstructure,and radio
and RDF. It was of a fairly recent type.
b. PN5, a liquid fuel barge of approximately 1,200 DWT.'
C. KOBZAR (sic), a tug of approximately 600 tons, with a black hull, a white
superstructure, a black funnel with a redband, and .a steam engine
ships. It had radio and RDF, and W. with ;stylus and L antennas. This
was a modern vessel which patroled the coast daily.
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d. SOLICBELA (sic), a seagoing tug of the sane tyva as above, with a black
hull, a -white superstructure, and a black funnel with red band. It had
the same radio and radar equipment as c. above. It WA a modern vessel,
and took turns patrolling When the above-mentioned tug was in port.
e. P R ZHEVALSKIY, a seago/ng tug.. of approximately 700, tonal With:Ziesel engine
amidships, a low funnel of the motor ship type, a light gray hull, a white
superstructure, and radio, RDF, and radar of the same type as the two \
vessels above. It also was of a recent type.
f. KLAIFEDA, a tupertamker of approximately 16,000 DWT, with a light gray
hull, a white superstructure, and radio, RD?, and radar. It was of a
recent type,, and was completely empty.
g. MkIlik, a sort of barge of approximately Boo DWT� with a black hull, a gray
superstructure, and engine aft,
h. F. LOKON020V� a harbor tugboat of approximately .300 tons, with a black hull,
a yellow and white superstructure, and a high yellow funnel with red band.
SER 24, a type of landing craft of approximately 300 tons, with the hull
and superstructure painted a amoky gray, i.e., navy gray.
J. KURGAN, a motor ship of approximately 6,0000T, with a black hull, white
superstrueture, engine aft, tear hold*/ and radio and :RDF. of AL
recent type. It arrived an the morning of the Ihth ant unloaded coal.
k. KIZIATABN (sic), a steamship of approkimately 800 DWT, with angina aft,
a black hull, and a white superstrustpre, It had five olds type Of hitches.
1. IVAN FRANK�, a largo river passenger vessel of 2,500 to 3,000 DWT, with
two upper Leeks, engine amidships: and sida-vhaelertyptepropulsion. The
hull and sueerstructure were white. It was towed out of the inner harbor
and. left moored in the outer barter near Oars= on
tne northern site.
m. POLTAVA, a harbor steam tug of 200 to 250 tons, with a Mick hull, white
superstructure, and a yellow funnel with bleak hand.
n. ADMIRAL MUM, a steam tug of ippretimately 500 total with 'a black hull,
white kupetstructure, and a black funnel with blue band. it had radio
and RDF.
o. MEIN, 4 steamship of approximately 4,500 DWT, with four holds; ten booms,
of which four were aft, four forwart,and two over the midships machinery;
a black hull; white superstructure; and a black funnel with red. band.
It was of recent construction with radio and RDF.
p. MN; 415250, a type of repair ship of approximately 800 DWT, painted navy
gray dolor. It had the engine aft, a blue flag at stern and on the mast
with two red stars on a white rectangle in the' upper corner., It was
equipped with a direction finder placed somewhat forward.
q. PECHORA, a tug of approximately 250 tens serving the port. Its steam
- engine was in disrepair. It had a black hull, white'amperStructure, and
a black funnel with red band. It was towed by a mailer tug.
r. M. NUZUTOV (sic), a,seagoing tug of approximately 1,000 tons, with a diesel
engine amidships, a law funnel of the motor ship type, a black hull, and
a white superstructure. On 14 Miayoit UMW, the large river boat out of
the inner harbor at 1600 and then proceeded northward alone.
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s. SPAVYASK (sic), a passenger ship of 4,000 DWT, with engines amidships, a (b)(3)
light gray hull and superstructure, and a gray funnel with red band t
was of an obsolett type, equipped with radio and RDF. It arrived
loaded with passengers.
t. PUCHKOV (sic) a large harbor motorboat of approximately 50 tonsjin local(b)(1)
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service.
u. ROSSIYA,a motor liner of approximately 14,000 DWT, with engines amidships,
four lower and two upper decks, white hull and superstructure, and a white
funnel with red band. It had radio. RDF. and radar . It was of a recent
type. It entered the port with a load of passengers. (WO)
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v. NAMAKOY (sic), an empty oil tanker of about 14,000 DWT. This was a super-
tanker, with hull and superstructure painted gray, equipped with radio and
radar. It left the port and. headed south.
w. SVET, liquid fuel barge of approximately 1,200 DWT.
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x. TO-620 a fuel barge of the same type as above.
y. PL-19, a large motor patrol boat or coast guard boat of approximately 450
tons, painted dark gray. It had two small-caliber elongated guns, one for-
ward and one aft, and four heavy machine guns amidships. It was berthed
at the warship pier near three destroyers.
16. Ave were two groups of antennas on the breakwater (see sketch No. 3, page 9 and
17. On 28 June at a point between Cape Fontana and Odessa, there were five or six
units in line headed for Odessa; the last of these units was towing a signal
made up of a float with two red flags, which was on the end of a cable approxi-
mately 100 meters long. What was possibly a cruiser was at anchor a half mile
northward of VorontsovMC4rMOle head, in approximate: . position N 30-50,
E 46-31. It had a displacement of some 7,000 tons, a raked bow, two funnels,
and four turrets, two forward and two aft.
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Sketch No. 1
Port of Odessa
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Sketch No. 2
Submarine near Odessa
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Flexiglass windshield
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