LAUNCH AREA B, ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX, YOSHKAR-OLA, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200030001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 27, 1999
• Content Type: REPORT

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NPIC/B-41/61
= LAUNCH AREA B, ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX,
YOSHKAR-01A, USSR
Launch -Area B, first observed on October'1961 photography (KEYHOL.E
is th second road-served launch area. identified at the
Yoshkar-Ola ICBM. Launch Complex (Figure 1). The complex was initially
identified on June 1961 phdtography (Mission 9017). 1/ At that time .fhee'
was no evidence of this seEOnd launch area. It is s,ignifieant 'that the
features which permit identification of an ICBM launch area:can be con-.
Launch Area B, under. A ,struction (Figure 2,-' item 1), is located at
56-34N 48-16E, - 28,8.80 feet - 4.7 nautical miles (nm) -- east of =Launch.
Area A. This separation is consistent with that between, launch areas. at
other deployed ICBM launch complexes. 2/ 3/ Also, the launch area
conforms to to the same base- configuration as noted at other deployed
ICBM launch areas. The' 'distance between launch pad areas is about
1,000 feet, the orientation is approximately 335 degrees, or the same
as that of Launch Area A, and the, clearings for probable missile-ready
buildings are visible. However, poor image quality and the early stage
of construction preclude ,the identification of individual items.
About 2,650 - feet behind the launch area is a road-served 'cleared
-area- __(item' 2) measuring approximately 550 by 350 felt and containing
roaei forining a rectangular pattern. A structure, probably a drive-
a: "road'
through 'building, straddlds a i ctor of this road. No accurate measure-
ments of thin structure ` are possible, but a its estimiated size is 200 by
50 feet. `I-his road-se-rved cleared area may be associated with the
handling of re-entry vehicles o' nuclear weapons.
ears 1:
Cloud cover and darkness
prohibit observation of any similar patterns that may be present at the
other three launch areas. Although small scale and.darkness preclude
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YOSHKAR-ULA'
100% ~ ~ 4 m
YOSHKAR?01 iA AIRFIELD
COMPLEX SUPPOhT
FACILITY'
LAUNCH AREA A
ID ,
CLEARING
4--- ROAD
RAILROAD
NNEEM BUILT-UP-AREA
LAUNCH AREA B
c 1 00 0 10,000 20,000
11III11111 6 I 1 I
FEET
FIGURE 1, YOSHKAR?OLA ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX, Red shows construction between June 1961 and October 1961.
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NP',IC/B-41/61
detailed interpretation of the six areas with such a clearing, the clearing
associated with Lauiich Area B at Yoshkar-Ola is the 'only one in -which a
structure is apparent.
Another large cleared area - (item 3), located ne r the junction of the
launch area access road with the main 'rq%d serving the complex., is
probably the launch' support area
under construction. From this.jund-
tion _ a" road exxe*nds southeastward
-fob- about 4,000 feet. This road is .a
'strong indication ' that additional
launch areas, are planned in this
direction.
',A study of the Complex-Support
Facility reveals the construction of
approximately 15 buildings. and of
additional clearings since June 1961.
Additional clearings are apparent
..,at . Launch Area A also, but no
buildings can be identified.
Approxima ely 12 small clear-
ings, irregularly spaced and s*aped, -
serving the canag1ex. -Between 1 launch Area - A aid the Cp plex Support
? -Facility, an urcim' pxved road extends from a scarred area north of the
are located along the main road
site 12 nm southyPf the launch complex).
main road, crosses, eknain road a'ta right angle, rand appears to terminate,
on the sout4 pear the rail spur.
A det~iled search of the area within a 50-nm radius of the town of
,-Yoshlcar--Qla revealed no indication of- additional ICBM launch areas acid ao-
new SAM launch) sites (that is, other than the previously identified SAM
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LAUNCH AREA B (October 1967).
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SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, heat 0155-22A, 1st ed, Oct 59, scale 1:200,000 (S)
AMS. Series N501, Sheet 38-12, 2d ed, May 58, scale 1:250,000 (U)
A-MS. Series N501, Sheet 39-10, 2d ed, Sep 55, scale 1:250,000 (U)
DOCUMENTS
1. NPIC.
2. NPIC.
3. NP, C.
4. -NPIC.
R-2/62, ICBM Launch Complex, Yoshkar-Ola, USSR, Jul 61 (T$(*)
R-1/61, ICBM Launch Complex, Yur?ya, USSR, Jul 61 (TSCR)
)~-30/61, ICBM Launch Compl2ja Verkhnyaya Salda, USSR; Oct 61 (TSCR)
B-36/61, - ICBM Launch Comple*, Itatka, USSR, Ctct 61 (TSC11)
CIA. DDI/RR/E/R-63/61 (TSR)
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NPIC/B-41'/61
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