MISSILE-FIRING SUBMARINES REPORTED AT SEA-ROCKET PROGRAM GROWING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74-00297R000200030036-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2013
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: June 23, 1959
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT _ ????,.01
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/11/08: CIA-RDP74-00297R000200030036-1,
Soviet
r , Missile-F4ing Subma epotted
At Sea?Pocket Program (ft owin0
_
By HANSON W. BALDWIN
New evidence of Soviest mis-
sile progress has reached the
United States.
Soviet submarines capable of
launching ballistic missiles, the
first of their type in the World,
have been reported operating at
sea in recent months. At the
I same time Soviet long-range
missil?. launchings have in-
creased this spring
and about twenty
missiles have now
been fired at
ranges of 3,500
miles or more.
This progress was expected
and it has not resulted in any
alteration in the United States
evaluation of Soviet missile ca-
pabilities,
Soviet subnAgen.: *apparently
converted jot niissilp launching,
were repdrted several months
ago. A converted submarine of
the long-range W deo, was re-
cently photographediaff Iceland.
The superstructure NUS extraor-
dinarily large, PoSiribly sixty
feet in length, and after the sub-
marine had surfaced a tarpaulin
was hastily pulled over the stern
to conceal vertical - launching
tubes for what are believed to
be 500-mile-range ballistic mis-
siles.
Atomic Engines Reported
News
Analysis
may be in place later this year.
No launching sites for opera-
tionally ready intermediate-
range ballistic missiles, with
less than 1,500-mile range, have
been reported in the East Euro-
pean states.
There have been no signifi-
cant Soviet advances in piloted
aircraft. The Soviet bombing
fleet consists of more, than
1,000 medium bombers and
about 150 heavy bombers, which
can be used as tankers. The
training program, particularly
in air refueling, has-been
speeded up, but the tbtakffort
is not comparable to thq,of the
United States Strategic Air
Command.
A new bomber, previously re-
ported, has been seen, but ap-
parently only iLsingle prototype
is operating. It has beeq de-
scribed as similar to the super-
sonic Convair B-58, put with a
very long fuselage. some be-
lieve it may be intended as a
test bed for a nuclear power
plant, but there is no evidence
that a nuclear aircraft engine
has yet been flown.
Balance Is Unchanged
The latest evidence of Soviet
progress in military technology
has not altered material' the
power balance of the *ted
Other new submarine types States and the Soviet Un .
'are either in construction or in The first United States inter-
operation, including at least two continental ballistic missile, the
that are believed to be atomic- Convair Atlas, has had a num-
powered. The first Soviet nu- ber of recent failures in the
clear-powered ship, an ice- first test firings of the opera-
breaker, has not yet ventured to tional model. Some, of these
sea, an indication that the So- were there what 'is called "ran-
viet marine nuclear reactor may dom" failures; two were of the
have encountered some diffi- same type. Changes and modi-
culties. fications involved are slight but
More impressive than the ad- will take time; consequently the ?
vent of the anticipated new target date for the first opera-
types of stibmarines has been tional Atlas has., been delayed
the accelerated submarine-train- from July 1 to September or
ing program. For the last three October.
years the far-ranging deep-sea The United States Navy is far
cruising activities of the Soviet ahead of the Soviet Union in
isubmarine fleet have doubled the development, construction
each year. Before 1956 the So- and operation of nuclear sub-
viet submarine navy was essen- marines. But the Soviet ballistic-
tially a coastal fleet; its ships missile-firing submarines have'
rarely cruised the high seas. preceded United States models
Now Soviet submarines are to by six to nine months. The
be found in all the waters of the George Washington, first of
world. They operate under maxi- nine submarines being built to
mum security, with numbers carry the Polaris ballistic mis-+
will not
and identifying data obscured, sile, will not be commissioned
and with careful reins on their until December, and she
communications, be operational, except on an
? Since March the Soviet bal- emergency basis, until the au-
listic-missile range with launch- tumn of 1960.
ing point near the Caspian Sea The test program .of the Po-
C- has fired about three to four laris, despite some anticipated
long-range missiles a month. Of failures, is proceeding satisfac-
the twenty fired at ranges of torily, and will increase be-
3.500 miles or more, only one tween now and next autumn to
has achieved a 5,000-mile tango. between two to four firings a
One apparent satellite 18.11;411%g month, with a total of about
attempt was a failure. ' sixty shots scheduled. The first
There is no ence that th ris to be fired from ship-
Soviet Unioo., an operation- a
ally ready fete ontinental bal- t Surface ship, the Observe-
ta
will be launched from the
tti
listic missile. ,althouh a few tion Island. probably in July.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/11/08: CIA-RDP74-00297R000200030036-1