SEVERODVINSK SHIPYARD 402 STRATEGIC WEAPONS INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, USSR AUGUST 1969

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04563A000200010057-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 57
• Publication Date: August 1, 1960
• Content Type: REPORT

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Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
NATIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
CENTER
SEVERODVINSK SHIPYARD 402
STRATEGIC WEAPONS INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES
USSR
AUGUST 1969
ARCHIVAL RECORD
PLEASE RETURN TO
AGENCY ARCHIVES, BLDG. A-18
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COPY NO.......
11....... PAGES
GROUP 1. EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
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PREFACE
This publication has been prepared in accordance with NPIC responsibilities for third-
phase imagery exploitation under the National Tasking Plan. It has been compiled in
response to basic readout requirements and basic presentation instruction as approved by
the Committee on Imagery Requirements and Exploitation (COMIREX), US Intelligence
Board.
The scale of the photography used in this report varies; overall interpretability is
good to excellent. All pertinent imagery available has been utilized.
Measurements, previously reported, are accurate to within
whichever is greater.1
It should be noted that information contained in this study was derived solely from
the interpretation of overhead photography and is not intended to constitute all-source,
finished intelligence.
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Severodvinsk Shipyard 402
64-34-42N 039-49-09E
ABSTRACT
Severodvinsk Shipyard 402 is one component of four closely related installations that
together provide complete facilities for the construction, conversion, and maintenance of
Soviet naval ships, particularly submarines. The shipyard itself is primarily concerned
with the construction of submarines, but some conversions and repairs are performed.
This report on Shipyard 402, the heart of the Severodvinsk Complex, mentions the re-
lated installations of the complex only briefly.
INTRODUCTION
Severodvinsk Shipyard 402 is located on the north edge of the city of Severodvinsk,
on the southeastern coast of the White Sea (Figure 1). The closest city of significant
size is Arkhangelsk which lies 18 nautical miles (nm)to the east. The shipyard occupies
the southern bank of the Nikolskoye Estuary which separates it from other components
of the shipyard complex.
Environment
The terrain surrounding the shipyard is flat tundra which extends to and beyond low
rolling hills to the south. The highest point within 20 miles of the yard is a 413-foot hill
to the southwest. The yard is linked to Arkhangelsk by rail and all-weather road, and
Arkhangelsk is linked by rail and air service to population and industrial centers of Euro-
pean USSR. Waterborne transportation to and from Severodvinsk is restricted somewhat
by ice from late October to mid-April. Vessel tracks have been seen extending into the
White Sea as late in the winter as the end of January. If there is a period when Severod-
vinsk is isolated from seaborne transportation because of ice, the available photography
indicates it would be a period beginning in February and ending in March. Movement of
vessels within the estuary, however, is not halted completely, even in the coldest periods.
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF SEVERODVINSK SHIPYARD 402, USSR
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Related Installations
The following installations are adjacent to Severodvinsk Shipyard 402 and, with it,
form the Severodvinsk Shipyard Complex:
a. Severodvinsk Naval Repair Facility Yagry Island
b. Severodvinsk Nuclear Submarine Special Support
Facility and
c. Severodvinsk Naval Base West
A fourth installation not part of the shipyard complex, is Severodvinsk Naval Missile
Support Facility
BASIC DESCRIPTION
Physical Features
Severodvinsk Shipyard 402 is roughly rectangular, slightly more than 2 nm long by
one-half mile wide, and occupies approximately 640 acres. It has approximately 7,200 linear
feet of quayed shoreline available for berthing and fitting-out (Figure 2). The dominant
structure in the yard is Construction Hall No 1, which is wide
(item 46).
Production Capabilities
Shipyard 402 is the most prolific producer of submarines in the world. It has produced
diesel- and nuclear-powered submarines, cruise-missile and ballistic-missile submarines,
and the new Polaris-type Y-class nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine (Y SSBN).
It has also been involved in the H-class SSBN conversions and the lengthening of the N-
class nuclear attack submarine ( SSN).
Current programs include the construction of the Y-class SSBN, 402/J probable SSN,
and the conversion of the H-III SSBN. Also underway is the final fitting-out and delivery
of the C-class SSN and the J-class cruise-missile submarine (J SSG), built at Gorkiy Ship-
yard 112, and the V-class SSN, which is produced at Leningrad Shipyard, Admiralty 194.
In addition, Shipyard 402 probably provides support and materials to other components
of the shipyard complex which are involved in the conversion programs for the G-class
SSB and H-class SSBN, and the nuclear refueling of H-, E-, and N-class submarines and
the nuclear icebreaker Lenin.
Shipbuilding Sequence
Construction Hall No 1 (Figure 2, item 46) covers two building docks with two build-
ingways in each, permitting simultaneous construction of eight Y-class SSBNs. A model
of this building and the associated elements that contribute to the flow of construction is
shown in Figure 3. View A, showing the roof removed, has eight submarines on the ways.
Preassembled Y-class pressure hull sections enter the construction hall on a rail
through a door at the rear, or east, end (view B). These sections, complete with internal
decks and probably some other basic equipment installed, are stored or staged in an area
served by a transverser until needed inside the construction hall. As many as 24 sections
have been seen in this area at the same time.
Frames and bent plate are assembled into cylindrical pressure hull sections in the sub-
assembly building (Figure 2, item 40) which, unlike most of the structures in the yard, is
a fairly recent addition (1964). The utilization of a facility able to preassemble and move
large, extremely heavy sections containing internal decks and basic equipment (such as
machinery foundations, reactor containment vessels, and large pumps and valves) would
greatly reduce the way time of a ship under construction.
Supplying the subassembly building, as well as other components at the yard, are no
less than 15 fabrication shops, machine shops, and forge and foundry buildings, including
one large main fabrication building with a roof that covers nearly 0.75 million square feet
(Figure 2, item 24).
Newly constructed submarines are moved from the construction hall out into the shal-
low portion of the main launch basin as shown in view C of the model. Once the ship is
outside, a number of rectangular flotation devices (usually eight or ten, not shown on
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the model) are attached to the hull. The basin is then flooded (view D), enabling the ship
to float free of the dollies and to be moved by tugboats to the deep portion of the basin.
Finally, the basin is drained down to sea level, the floating caisson gate is opened, and
the ship is moved to the fitting-out quay. This procedure is, in general, reversed for sub-
marines being put into the shallow portion for repairs, the difference being that sub-
marines to be repaired are not placed on transfer dollies but on standard docking blocks.
These blocks do not straddle the rails and are not as high as the transf er dollies; therefore
the ship requires fewer flotation devices (usually four) to float it into a position over the
blocks. The basin is large enough to permit the moving of Y-class submarines in and out
without disturbing ships not being moved. To date, ways A, B, and C have been used for
repairs. Ways A and B have bow staging scaffolds attached to the construction hall door
caisson. The scaffolds provide access to the deck of the ships being worked on as well as
to the construction hall.
Construction Hall No 2 (Figure 2, item 88) at the west end of the yard has a single
set of launch rails but probably has two buildingways inside, and a fabrication section
(item 87) is attached to the south side. Hall 2, commonly referred to as the diesel shed,
apparently does not use the preassembled hull section mode of ship construction as exten-
sively as construction hall no 1 does; consequently, ships probably spend a much greater
amount of time on the buildingway. A detailed line drawing compares the front of hall 2
with the front of hall 1 (Figure 4).
Ships are moved from hall 2 on transfer dollies to the top of the side launchway. At
this point, special launching cradles are positioned under the ship to hold it upright and
level as it is lowered down the incline into the sheltered launch basin (Figure 5). The
launching cradles vary in shape for the type ship to be launched. It is possible to reverse
the sequence in order to place a ship in the construction hall for repair or modification.
The main fitting-out quay located between the two construction halls is approximately
2,800 feet long. It is served by two large fitting-out shops, several small shops, two rail
lines, and five cranes. A large floating dock is also located perpendicular to the quay.
Berthing spaces have been assigned to all the quayed shoreline in the yard, the main fit-
ting-out quay having been assigned numbers I through VI, east to west. There is appar-
ently no specific berthing sequence anew submarine follows while outfitting; ships have
been observed in different positions during their fitting-out phase, but no pattern of movement
has emerged. Nor does there seem to be a pattern in the orientation of ships to the quay.
Whether the submarine is port- or starboard-side to the quay seems to be of little signi-
ficance. In all cases, however, at least one rectangular support barge is positioned between
the fitting-out quay and the ship.
Except for a small section, the east quay is used primarily for berthing shipyard sup-
port craft. It is in two segments totaling 3,900 feet. C-class SSN and J-class SSG, built at
Gorkiy Shipyard 112, undergo final fitting-out near the center of this quay. This quay also
has a cargo handling capability, and its extremities have direct access to.open and covered
storage areas in the shipyard.
Prior to delivery, and probably at least once during the fitting-out phase, submarines
that are built, fitted-out, or repaired at this yard, are degaussed. This operation takes place
at a permanent facility immediately outside the main launch basin gate (item 75). The fa-
cility consists of a small rectangular building that probably houses generating and control
equipment, a paved apron and pier approach, a short pier, and five mooring buoys. Aug-
menting the permanent features are two rectangular barges, one of which has a small low
structure at one end and usually remains tied to the end of the pier. The other has a
group of four cylinders, possibly cable drums, in its depressed center and a small shack
at one end. Also associated with this facility are two identical small rectangular floats,
each of which has a small square platform in the center. One of these floats has been
observed on each side of a Y-class SSBN that was being degaussed.
Ships using this facility are usually oriented on a heading of
reciprocal, true. The magnetic headings respectively are
and Sekstan-class degaussing deperming ships (ADG) have been
seen at this facility, presumably assisting in the operation. From available photography it
appears that ships do not leave the shipyard after being seen on the true
heading, and that the ships seen on the heading of always leave.
Located adjacent to and immediately north of the degaussing facility is a separately
secured facility whose function is unidentified (items 77-81). It has a crane-served quay
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]] ~7s
81
.-, 50 79q] 80
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Table 1. Data on Structures at Severodvinek Shipyard 402
(loser numbers are keyed to Figure 2)
It.. F...lit. Dieren.iooe (ft) Floor. Floorepaoe Roof Type
L W (eq ft)
It.. Funotioo Di meneione (ft) Floors Floorspace Roof Type
L W (.q ft)
1 Coal dressing building
I
Gable
46 Construction Hall N. I
Monitored
2 Heat and power plant
3
Monitored/flat
47 Storage
Flat
3 Control house
3
Flat
48 Storage
Gable
4 Control house
2
Flat
49 Deign/admin
Flat
5 Unidentified
1
Flat
50 Storage
Q -'t
set
Unidentified
I
Flat
51 Administration
Hip
7 Storage
I
Flat
52 Adminiatratioo
Hip
8 Fabrication, with offioe
1/4
Barrel vault/flat
53 Administration
Hip
action
54 Ades or station
4
Hip
9 Fabrication
1
Flat
55 Administratioo
Hip
10 Storage
I
Gable
56 Main entrance
Hip/flat
I1 Fabrication/.forage
1
Flat
57 Unidentified
Flat
12 6teamplant
Flat
58 Fabrication
Monitored
13 Rail stock repair barn
I
Arched
59 Design/admin
2
Flat
14 Machine chop
I
Monitored
60 Design/admin
Flat
15 Machine chop/foundry
1
Monitored
61 Fabrication
Monitored
16 Machine .hop
I
Monitored
62 Fabrication
Monitored
17 Machine chop
I
Monitored
63 Fabrication
Monitored
18 Engineering/admin
4
Flat
64 Firehouse
Hip
19 Deign mold loft
2
Monitored
65 Winch house
Flat
20 Fabrication, with office
1/4
Manitared
66 Unidentified
Flat
action
67 Unidentified
Flat
21 Fabrication, with office
1/4
Monitored
68 Unidentified
Hip
cation
69 Fitting-ont chop
1/3
Monitored
22 Maohine chop
1
Flat
70 Maohine chop
Gable
23 Machine chop
1
Monitored
Ti Machine shop
Cable
24 M.I. fabrication building
1
Wait ored
72 Storage
Gablo
25 Storage
1
Arched
73 Deefgn/admin
Flat
26 Design/possible photo
I
Flat
74 Fitting-..t chap
1
Monitored
lofting
75 Degaussing control/
Flat
27 Unidentified
1
Flat
generating
28 Pattern shop/woodworking
1
Monitored/Slat
76 Unidentified
I
Flat
29 Unidentified
1
Flat
77 Unidentified
1
Flat
30 SWrage
I
Flat
78 Unidentified
6/3
Flat
31 Maohine .hop
I
Flat
79 Unidentified
1
Flat
32 Yard entrance (2 buildings)
33 Fabricntion
1
I
Flat
Monitored
SO Unidentified
91 Onidenti Pied
2
3
Flat
Flat
34 Fabrication/foundry
I
Monitored
82 Deefgn/admin
2
Monitored
35 Machias shop
1
Monitored
83 Design/admin
3
Flat
36 Design/admin
3
Flat
84 Design/admin
2
Flat
37 Superstructure saboneembly
1/2
Flat
85 Machine shop
1
Flat
38 Forge/foundry with offioe
1/3
Monitored
86 Unidentified
1
Flat
eotfon
87 Fabrication .action
1
Monitored
39 H.ideoti fled
1
Flat
88 Conetruotion hall
1
Flat
40 Hull section subassembly
1
Monitored
89 Maohine chop
Flat
41 Unidentified
1
Flat
90 Machine shop
1
Flat
42 Yard entrance (2 buildings)
I
Flat
91 Storage
I
Gable
43 Design/admin
2
Flat
92 Design/ad.!.
2
Flat
44 Fabrication
I
Monitored
93 Winch house
Flat
45 Fabrication/foundry
1
Monitored
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CONSTRUCTION HALL NO, 1
(FIG 2, ITEM 46)
HULL SECTION
STAGING AREA SfB
a b"?
SHALLOW BASIN
map
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ITEM 46. CONSTRUCTION HALL NO. I
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ITEM 88. CONSTRUCTION HALL NO. 2
FABRICATION
SECTION
(ITEM 87)
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ALL DIMENSIONS IN FEET
ITEM NUMBERS KEYED TO FIGURE 2
FIGURE 4. FRONT VIEW OF CONSTRUCTION HALLS 7 AND 2
NPIC M-6910
480 feet in length and six unidentified buildings, all connected by an elevated steamline.
Four of the buildings have roof vents, and one has a very tall stack on a square platform
at its center. There is no rail service, but all are served by a paved roadway. Various
types of submarines and surface ships have been observed at this quay. Although the un-
identified facility may be associated with the degaussing facility, it probably serves in
checking out and evaluating ship systems and in calibrating shipboard weapons-associated
electronic equipment.
Status and Activity
This shipyard has been highly active since first observed on KEYHOLE photography
during the eight years of observation. Most major changes to facilities have taken place
in the other components in the complex. Ship construction has always been at a very
high level.
Security
A wall completely surrounds the yard on the landward side. It has only four entrances
other than rail gates: one is apparently the main entrance and security checkpoint, two
are standard vehicle and pedestrian gates with two guard buildings each, and the fourth
is a small pedestrian entrance which serves the administration complex. Nine SAM sites
which surround Severodvinsk also protect the complex.
Associated Objects
Because of the significance and variety of order of battle at the shipyard, a separate
report published at the end of each quarter covers in detail the location, type, and ap-
pearance of major ships and hull components in the yard.2,3
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yr JCI,IX[ I n~H-uy/0055/69
FIGURE 5. LAUNCHING FROM CONSTRUCTION HALL NO 2
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. \ 1^ 1. l .\ . . I I ----- --,
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SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet M0092-22HL, 3d ed, Aug 66, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET/
1. CIA. DDI/IAR-83018, Severodvinsk Naval Base and Shipyard 402, Severodvinsk, USSR. Precision Plot,
Functional Analysis, and Berthing Space Delineation, Aug 67 (TOP SECRET 25X1
2. NPIC. RCA-09/0041/69, I (Severodvinsk Shipyard Complex, Order of Battle Summary, October- 25X1
December 1968, May 69 (TOP SECRET
3 NPIC. RCA-09/0054/69,
March 1969, Jun 69 (TOP SECRET
Severodvinsk Shipyard Complex, Order of Battle Summary, January-
CIA. IAS/ION Severodvinsk Shipyard 402, Feb 69 (TOP SECRET ~
CIA. IAD/PIR-67315. Severodvinsk Naval Base and Shipyard 402, Severodvinsk, USSR, KII Mis-
Dec 66 (TOP SECRET
REQUIREMENT
COMIREX BRJ/005-69
NPIC Project 210589
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