SPECIAL-PURPOSE BARGES ASSOCIATED WITH SOVIET NUCLEAR SUBMARINES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: November 1, 1970
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
t-+-
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
SPECIAL-PURPOSE BARGES
ASSOCIATED WITH
SOVIET NUCLEAR SUBMARINES
GROUP 1: EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
NOVEMBER 1970
COPY NO A "
6 PAGES
PIR-072/70
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4
TOP SECRET RUFF
SPECIAL-PURPOSE BARGES ASSOCIATED WITH SOVIET
NUCLEAR SUBMARINES
1. The Soviet naval task group which recently visited Cienfuegos, Cuba,
delivered two special-purpose (SP) barges. These barges,
have been identified at Soviet naval bases
serving nuclear submarines and nuclear submarine support vessels. The barges
are believed to be used primarily for transporting and disposing of low-level
radioactive liquid waste from operational nuclear submarines. Thirty-nine of
these SP barges are known to exist.
2. The two SP barges were transported to Cuba as deck cargo aboard an
Alligator-class landing ship tank (LST) from the Severomorsk Naval Base of the
Soviet Northern Fleet (Figures 1 and 2). They were off-loaded, probably at
Havana where heavy-lift cranes are available, and towed to Cienfuegos (Figure 3).
As of the latest available photographic coverage
the barges were still in Cienfuegos Bay, but the Soviet ships had
departed.
3. The assessment of the primary function of the SP barges comes from their
direct association with operational nuclear submarines and nuclear submarine
support vessels and their lack of association with any other type of ship.
Examples of such associations are illustrated on Figure 4. Additional factors
indicating a role in the transporting and disposing (dumping at sea) of low-
level radioactive liquid waste are the following: the heavy-weather bow and
narrow lines of the barges; the apparent extensive ventilation and hose-coupling
systems on the deck; the presence of the barges in the USSR at Paldiski Probable
- 1 -
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
L0A]
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
TOP SECRET RUFF
FIGURE 3. SP BARGES AT CIENFUEGOS NAVAL BASE, CUBA
2 -
TOP SECRET RUFF
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4
TOP SECRET RUFF
Installation
(BE No)
PACIFIC FLEET
Petropavlovsk Sub
Base & Ship
Repair Yard
Bay
Petropavlovsk Ship--
yard & Naval Base
Seldevaya
Amur 199
Sovetskaya avan
Submarine Base
Primary
Function
Operating
Repair
New
Construction
No First
Seen
Nuclear submarines
here
3 1967 Probably supports
Petropavlovsk
Submarine Base,
Tarya Bay
-- -- Nuclear submarine
construction
1 1968 SP barge seen at
the unidentified
underground
facility east of
base
Dunay Sub Base & Ship Operating 2 1967
Repair Yard Razboynik
Bay
Dunay u Base Operating
Konyushkovka
Strelok Strait Sub
Base Pavlovskogo
Bay
Shipyard
Support Facility
Operating 1 1967
Repair -- --
Repair --
Probably gets support
from Dunay Sub Base
Razboynik Bay
Nuc subs are decontami-
nated before
arrival
Not yet operational.
When complete will
have own waste dis-
posal system and
will decontaminate
nuclear submarine
here for repair
Total SP barges in Pacific Fleet 7
(Sep 70)
BALTIC FLEET
Paldiski Naval Base operating 3 1968 SP barges here prob
serve as waste dis-
posal system for
Paldiski Prob Nuclear
Fuels Reprocessing
Plant. A Vala AOSR
seen here, 1968
Operating
1
1968 An
SP barge here for
6 mos, prob from
Leningrad Shipyards
New
Construction
Ne
Paldiski
w SSN construction
only. No opera-
tional SSN; no nu-
clear repairs made
Total SP barges in Baltic Fleet
BLACK SEA FLEET
MEDITERRANEAN & EGYPT
Naval Bases and
So
viet Mediterranean
Ports
squadron has nu-
clear submarines but
no SP barges observed
CUBA
Cienfuegos Naval Base
Operating
2
1970 Fi
rst seen on
(Sep)
Alligator LST
Total SP barges in Cuba
2
-4-
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
Installation
(BE No)
NORTHERN FLEET
Rosta Naval Base &
Ship Repair Yard
Sevmorput
Chelnopushka Shy
Repair Yard
Base
Base
Litsa Guba Submarine
Base North
TOP SECRET RUFF
Table 1 (continued)
Primary
Function
Repair
Repair
Operating
Operating
Operating
Operating
Litsa Guba Submarine Operating
Base South
Andreeva Bay Nuclear Repair
Submarine Sunaort
Fac
Pala Guba Naval Base Repair
& Ship Repair
Yard
Amur 402
Base West
Nuclear support to
submarines based at
Litsa Guba
1967 Major repair work on
ships systems,
including nuclear
submarines
New -- -- New construction of
Construction nuclear submarines
Operating 2 1968 Primarily surface ships
Severodvinsk Nuclear Repair
Submarine Special
Support Facility
Severodvinsk Shipyard
Yagry Island
Ship Repair Yard
Operating
Total SP barges in Northern Fleet
First
Seen
2* 1970
(Aug 70)
6 1966
(Aug 70)
2* 1970
(Aug 70)
1967
SP barges loaded on
Alligator LST
Y SSBN seen on two
occasions
Y & H SSBN. Before
Aug 70, 8 SP barges
here
Surface ship base. SP
barges on Alligator
LST
H SSBN or G SSB on
occasion
Various nuclear sub-
marines have been
seen
11 1967
(Aug 70)
1967
to support sea trials.
Transient base for
all submarines. SP
barges are kept here
when not in use.
-- Facility hqs own waste
disposal system and
decontaminates nu-
clear subs in com-
plex for repair
-- Nuclear submarines are
decontaminated before
arrival
1966 No major work is done
on ships here
*Two on Alligator LST moved to Cuba in September 1970.
Nuclear Fuels Reprocessing Plant I I where no other low-level waste-
disposal system is apparent; and their considerable weight, indicating extensive
shielding necessary for handling radioactive materials. The need for such a
disposal system is real. It is the practice of the U.S. Navy to dispose of low-
level waste from operational submarines in this manner.
4. The accompanying table summarizes the result of a comprehensive search
on KEYHOLE photography for SP barges. All major naval bases and shipyards in
the Soviet Union, Egypt, and Cuba were searched. Installations searched which
are not included in the table are those at which no nuclear-powered submarines,
nuclear support vessels, or SP barges have been seen. The table presents the
locations of the SP barges, the number seen at each location, and indications
of specific associations with nuclear submarines.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78TO5162A000100010033-4
- 5 -
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
LJ/\ I
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4
TOP SECRET RUFF
This report is based on all available KEYHOLE and OLD HEAD photography
from January 1966 through November 1970.
NPIC/IEG/WGD/WURB Project 150625NA
-6-
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
LZDAI
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4
TOP SECRET
TOP SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/02 : CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010033-4