POSSIBLE SOLID PROPELLANT MISSILE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PLANT KARABASH, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200080065-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 14, 2000
• Sequence Number: 65
• Publication Date: May 1, 1962
• Content Type: REPORT

ILLEGIB
Approved For Release 2000/08/04: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200080065-4
Approved For Release 2000/08/04: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200080065-4
 PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT
I
POSSIBLE SOLID PROPELLANT
MISSILE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PLANT
, KARABASH, USSR
NP I C/R-77/62
May 1962
Declassification review by NIMA/DOD
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NPIC/R-77/62
INTRODUCTION
A large industrial installation near Karabash USSR constructed
probably 3 to 5 years ago, is being expanded.
solid propellant missile engine manufacturing
and testing plant when compared with like installations in the US. An
extensive study does not show any apparent association of the plant with
the Karabash
Copper Combine. The installation, however, could have an association
with missile-related industries in Zlatoust and Chelyabinsk.
The possible solid. propellant missile engine manufacturing plant,
covered by TALENT photography of
and KEYHOLE photography
is located at 55-25N 60-12E (Figure 1). The plant is
just south of Karabash, 20 nautical miles (nm) south-southeast of Kyshtym,
22 nm northeast of Zlatoust, and 45 = northwest of Chelyabinsk. The
plant, which encompasses a secured area 3 nm north-south and 1.7 nm
.east-west, lies in an area of heavily wooded low hills in the Central Ural
Mountains in Chelyabinskaya Oblast.
The plant is secured by a fence, and an internal fence separates the
Possible Manufacturing Area and Possible Missile Engine Test Area "A"
from the support and housing areas (Figure -2). Other security measures
and heights of structures are ! not determinable, due to the small scale of
the photography.
his plant, which is 3 nm south of the Karabash Copper Combine
is served from Kyshtym by a single-track rail line
that makes connections north to Sverdlovsk and southeast to Chelyabinsk..
Road connections are with Kyshtym to the north-northeast, with Chelyabinsk
to the southeast, and with Miass and Zlatoust to the southwest. Air
support could be provided by Chelyabinsk Airfield. Adequate power for
the operations at the plant could be supplied by the Urals power grid via
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. POSSIBLE
SOLID PROPELLANT KARABASH
MISSILE ENGINE
MANUFACTURING PLANT
V
MAGNITKA'
SA-2 SAM SITE
-ti----I~- RAILROAD. DOUBLE TRACK
--i-----~- RAILROAD, SINGLE TRACK
ROAD
----- TRAIL
Lake
Irtvash
a
lij
CJ
M-
Lake
Uvi1'dy,
,
Lake
Argazi -
KULUYEVO
a 0 5 10 to 20
I I I
NAUTICAL MILES
I
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF THE POSSIBLE SOLID PROPELLANT MISSILE ENGINE ANUFACTURING
PLANT, KARABASH, USSR.
a substation in Karabash. Water probably is supplied by pipelines from
local lakes. Facilities at two locations within the installation provide
housing for about 400 families and about 790 single personnel.
POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING AREA
The Possible Manufacturing Area (Figure? 3) lies in the southeast
portion of the installation and measures approximately 8,400 by 3,300
r
61? 00'.
LID
BOLT HOY KURASH
`\\
bAReGAYASH
I.
I
e
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NPIC/R-77/62
FIGURE 2. POSSIBLE SOLID PROPELLANT MISSILE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PLANT,
KARABASH, USSR rt
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feet. This area, is marked by its wide dispersal of facilities; wide-radius
turns at all road intersections; and a security fence separating it from the
support, storage, and housing areas. Water probably is supplied by
pipelines from nearby lakes, and power is supplied from a substation in
Karabash, probably by overhead power lines. The location of these
probable power lines cannot be determined, however, because of the small
scale of the photography. Heat probably is supplied by the possible
heating plant for the complex (Figure 5, item 7), but pipelines are not
discernible. The well-laid-out and dispersed network of all-weather roads
in the Possible Manufacturing Area is significant in that all approaches
to.. buildings and all intersections. have wide-radius turns such as would
be needed for special vehicles hajling -trailers carrying heavy loads.
There is direct road connection to Possible Missile Engine Test Area
"A", which also is within the internal fence. Following is a detailed
description of the facilities within the Possible Manufacturing Area (item
numbers correspond to those on Figure 3).
Item 1. Possible casting and in-ground oven. This is a possible
rail-mounted movable building that measures 125 by 85 feet and-may be
moved aside for inserting.and withdrawing. engines. It also is a drive-
through building and is located along a loop road off the main service
road. The dispersal radius _ to the nearest vital structure (item 2) is
approximately 1,100 feet. No heating pipelines are discernible.
Item 2. Possible casting and in-ground oven. This is a possible
rail-mounted movable building that measures 125 by 85 feet and may
be moved aside for inserting and withdrawing engines. It also is a drive-
through building and is located along a loop road off the main service
road. The dispersal radius to the nearest vital structure (item 3) is
approximately 900 feet.
Item 3. Possible oxidizer grinding station. This is a drive-through
building that measures 270 by 70 feet and is served by a loop road off
the main service road. The dispersal radius to the nearest vital structure
(item,4) is approximately 800 feet.
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 I. Pose Casting N' In-C round Oven 128? s 88
2. Poss Caeting end to-C round Oran 128'-x 88'
8_ poea Oxidizer Crlading Statlon 770' s 70
4. Pcan (:aid izer Drying Station 180' x 98'
8. Concrete Apron - 880' o 208'
8. 'Poe, Fuel-Additives/Prop Station 180' 110'
7.? Poes Control Bunker 95' x 80
8. pose Revetted Solid ProDeilaat Mlxer 888' x 90'
Ststlon
9. Prop Hardetaad Area
0. Poes Revetted Ceatlns Station 280' s 88
1. pose Control Bunker 9b' z 40'
2.
. pp Solid Propellent Miser Statlon 108' s e0'
4. poss Motor Case Recovery Stattoo 128' x 88'
'.8. Poss NJ?, Proc se/Trlmming station 290' 110'
I6. I~0' R"Ide
7. Pose Osldizer Prep Station 210' 9 80'
9e POSSIBLE CHEMICAL STORAGE AREA '
IC. pose Liquid Storage Took ripe 260' Di.. B
UNIDENTIFIED ACTIVITY AREA
20 U/I Structure 870' x 180
Si. . U/I Structure 1 08' s 70
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NP IC/R-77/62
Item 4. Possible oxidizer drying. station. This building measures
180 by 95 feet and is served by a loop road off the main service road.
The dispersal radius to the nearest vital. structures (items 3 and 6) is-
approximately 800 feet.
Item 5. Concrete apron. This apron measures 350 by 205 feet and
probably is used for parking associated vehicles used at items 4 and 6.
Item 6. Possible fuel and additives preparation station. This station
measures 180 by 110 feet and is served by a loop road off the main service
road. The dispersal radius to the nearest vital structure (item 4) is
approximately 80D feet.
Item 7. Possible control bunker. This possible control bunker
measures 95 by 50 feet and probably is for remote control of the possible:
solid propellant mixer station (item 8). An associated parking apron is
adjacent to the bunker off the service road. The dispersal radius to the
nearest vital structure (item 8) is approximately 500 feet.
Item 8. Possible revetted solid propellant mixer station. This
station is located on the side of a hill cut. No structure is visible, but
it could be obscured by earth mounding. A probable earthen revetment
approximately 535 by 90 feet is along the northeastern side of the area.
The, dispersal radius to the nearest vital structure (item 7) is approximately
500, feet.
Item 9. Probable hardstand area. Within this area are four circular,
probably paved hardstands that are off the main service road. Two of
the hardstands measure 85 feet across and the other two measure 75 feet
across.. These hardstands probably are used for vehicles that transport
propellants between. the possible mixer stations (items 8 and 13), the
possible revetted casting station ' (item 10), and the possible in-ground
ovens (items 1 and 2).
Item 10. Possible revetted casting station. This is a drive-through
building 'that measures 230 by 85 feet. The building has an earthen revet-
ment on the east and south sides that measures approximately 45 feet
wide. The station is road served off the main service road. The building
i
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is located approximately 2,100 by 1,900 feet, respectively, from tjle two
possible mixer stations (items 8 and 13). The dispersal radius to the
nearest vital structure (item 11) is approximately 300 feet.
Item 11. Possible control bunker. This possible control bunker is
for the remote* control of the possible revetted casttng station (item 10)
and measures 95 by 45 feet. The dispersal radius to the nearest vital
structure (item 10) is approximately 300 f'et.
Possible solid propellant mixer station. This building
is located on the lower slope of a wooded hill in a possible excavation.
The building measures 105 by 60 feet and is served by the internal'
road network. The dispersal radius to the nearest vital structure (item 17)
is approximately 850 feet.
Item 14. Possible motor case recovery station. This is a drive-
through building that measures 125 by 85 feet. It is served by a loop
road off the internal road network. The dispersal radius to the nearest
vital structure (item 15) is approximately 250 feet.
Item 15. Possible motor processing' and trimming station. This
is a drive-through building that measures 290 by 110 feet and is served
by a loop road off the internal road network. The dispersal radius to the
nearest vital structure (item 14) is approximately 250 feet.,
Item 17. Possible oxidizer preparation station. This is a drive-
through building that measures 210 by 80 feet and has a side entrance
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NPIC/R-77/62
for vehicle servicing. The building is served by a loop road off the
internal road network. The dispersal radius to the nearest vital structures
. s (ittirrs 13 and 15) is approximately 850 feet.
POSSIBLE CHEMICAL STORAGE AREA
The Possible Chemical Storage. Area is located adjacent to the
Possible Manufacturing Area, to which it is connected by road, but it
is outside the security Fence that separates the Possible Manufacturing
Area, and Possible Mis He Engine Test Area "A" from the rest of the
plant. The area is heavily wooded and measures approximately 3,100
by 1,000 feet.- A desription of facilities- follows (item numbers are
keyed to Figure 3).
_?
Item 18. Possible chemical storage station.- This is a revetted,
drive-through building that measures 230 by 85 feet. The dispersal
radius to the nearest vital structure (item 10) is approximately 900
,feet. The area also contains 13 other storage-type buildings that measure
from V( 0 by 35 feet to. 135 by 60 feet.
Idem 19. Possible isolated liquid storage tank. This tank is 60 feet
in diameter and is served by a dead-end road that -leads into an isolated
wooded area. 25X1 D
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NPIC/R-77/62
Item 21. Unidentified structure. This structure, measuring 105
by 70. feet, is in an excavation that has been dug away to the east and to
the north.
Item 24. Possible circular earth-mounded bunker. This possible
bunker measures 180 feet in diameter d is positioned 220 feet directly
in front of 'item 23, so that any entry into item 23 involves going around
the bunker.
POSSIBLE SOLID PROPELLANT MISSILE ENGINE TEST AREA "A"
Possible Solid Propellant Missile Engine Test Area "A", measuring
3,000 by 1,760 feet (Figure 4), is in the southwest part of the complex
in an isolated, heavily wooded section at the base of a low hill. It appears
to be - the original test area for the complex. All three possible test
bays are served from the Possible Manufact ring Area by an all-weather
road with wide-radius turns at road intersections and approaches. The
area is within the fenced portion of the plant that also container the Possible
Manufacturing Area.
Items 1, 2, and 3. Revetted possible missile engine test bays. These
possible missile engine test bays -measure 95, 135, and 110 feet across,
respectively. - All three test bays probably are earth revetted. Each
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NPIC/R-77/62 ?
engine test bay is road
internal road network.
probably -is used for
medium-thrust engines.
Item 4. _ Possible
served off an entry road that is connected to the
Each test bay probably is concrete surfaced'and
vertical and/or horizontal firings of low- and
control bunker. This possible control bunker
measures 55 by 35 -feet and probably is for the remote control of firings
at the three adjacent possible missile engine test -bays. The bunker is
approximately 380 feet from the center bay and mss served by a road
from the internal road network.
A hardstand, probably for parking associated vehicles, that measures
75 feet across, is located on the road- from the Possible Manufacturing
Area to Possible Missile Engine Test Area "A".
POSSIBLE SOLID PROPELLANT MISSILE ENGINE TEST AREA "B"
Possible Solid Propellant Missile Engine. Test Area "B" (Figure 4),
measuring* 2,600 by 1, 200 feet, appears to be still under construction
and could be used for the testing of high-thrust, segmented missile
engines. In configuration, physical location, size, and associated facilities,
it is very similar to like US facilities. No internal security is discernible
on the photography. The area is road served from the internal plant
road network.
Item 5. Possible control bunker. This possible control bunker
could be -used for the remote control of the associated possible high-thrust
engine test stand (item 6). The possible bunker measures 85 by 55 feet.
Item 6. Possible high-thrust engine test stand. This large possible
test stand, possibly for vertical firing of large high-thrust, segmented
solid propellant missile engines, was still under construction at the
25X1 D time of the
KEYHOLE photography. This facility,
measuring 620 by 545 feet, is dug back into the heavily wooded hillside
and
I
1
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TO POSSIBLE
CHEMICAL
STORAGE
AREA
FENCE
4
+ 9 0'
POSSIBLE TES
AREA''A"
)a
POWER
.-LINE
(110 KV)
NPIC/R-77/62
I/
Jj WATER
PIPELINE
AREA
I OUTLINE
051
i
TO UNIDENTIFIED
ACTIVITY AREA
POSSIBLE TEST
AREA "B" 0
500 1000
1 Possible Engine Test Bay
W/Revetment
2 Possible Engine Test Bay
W/Revetment
3 Possible Engine Test Bay
ITEM
DESCRIPTION
SIZE
95' Wide
5
Possible Control Bunker
85' x
55'
350' x 205'
6 -
Poss High-Thrust Engine Test
620' x
545'
135' Wide
265' x 200'
7
Stand
4 Possible Midge
110' Wide
6
Possible Test Facility U/C
W/Revetment 230' x 155'
4 Possible Control Bunker 55' X 35'
e,
NPIC
FIGURE 4. POSSIBLE SOLID PROPELLANT MISSILE ENGINE TEST AREAS "A" AND "B".
missile engine test stand. Access to the test stand is by 'a road 85 feet
wide off the internal road network. The roadway extends into the excavated
hillside 280 feet to the west and makes a wide-radius turn to the south
that measures 220 feet. The dispersal radius to the nearest vital structure
(item 5) is approximately 625 feet.
Item 7.- Four possible buildings. The exact configurations and
measurements of these possible buildings cannot be determined because
of the extremely small scale and poor quality of the photography. They
possibly are associated with the possible test facility that is under
construction (item 8).
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NPIC/R-77/62
(item 7) is approximately 315 feet.
Item 8. - Possible test facility (under construction). The configuration
and measurements of this facility cannot be determined because of the
poor quality and extremely small scale of the photography. The structure
is located in an isolated wooded area within an excavation that measures
approximately 360 by 315 feet. The structure is road served from the
internal road network. The dispersal radius to the nearest: vital structure
SUPPORT AREA
A~large Su``port Area (Figure 5), measuring approximately 5,400
by 1,840 feet, lies in- the northern section of the plant. The entire area
is connected by a well-laid-out road network to all of $the other plant
areas, as well as to roads from the plant to Kyshtym, Miass, Zlatoust, and
Chelyabinsk. The single-track rail line from Kyshtym that connects with
the Sverdlovsk-Chelyabinsk rail line e-serves the plant holding yard (item 2)
and branches within the plant into two rail spurs, one of which serves an
unidentified structure (item 20, Figure 3). The area includes the following
facilities: ,
Item - 1. Possible storage and workshop section. This section
contains approximately 25 storage-type buildings, each of which measures
135 by 40 feet.. Approximately 43 support and/or workshop-type buildings
scattered throughout the area range in size from 250 by 55 feet to 55 by
30 feet.
Item 2. Plant railroad holding yard. This railroad yard measures
1,600 feet to .and consists of 3 or 4 tracks. South of the yard, the
rail line branches into two spurs; one serves an unidentified structure
(item 20, Figure 3), and the other ends in an adjacent dead-end spur.-
A single-track rail line out of the north end of the holding yard connects
to the single-track rail line that also serves the Karabash Copper Combine
and extends to Kyshtym.
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NPIC/I -77/62
Item 3. Probable administration building.. This is a U-shaped
building, the cross member of which measures 180 by 40 feet, and the
two wings of which measure 40 by 40 feet each.
Items 4 and 5. Two unidentified
isolated buildings. One of the build-
ings measures 105 by 50 feet and the
other 65 by 40 feet.
Item 6. Possible drive-through B
building. - This building measures
125 by 85 feet. Interpretation of
the function of this building }s not'
possible from the KEYHOLE photog-
raphy. The dispersal radius to the
nearest vital structure (item 3) is
approximately 450 feet.
Item 7. Possible heating plant.
This building measures 255 by 110
feet. A possible coal pile is ad-
jacent to the building. No heat pipe-
lines are discernible, because of the
extremely small scale of the photog-
raphy.
Two housing areas, one of which
probably is being expanded, are ex-
clusively associated with the Possi-
ble Solid Propellant Missile Engine
- 13 -
ROAD
R&LROAD
FENCE
WATER PIPELINE
1
Possible Storage and
Workshop Section
2
Plant Railroad Holding
Yard
1,6001 Long
3
Prob Administration Bldg
180' x 40'
4
U/I Bldg
65' x 40'
5
U/I Bldg
105' x 50'
6
Poss Drive-Through Bldg
125' x 85'
7
Pose Heating Plant
255' x 110'
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Manufacturing Plant at Karabash. Housing Area No 1 (Figure 2) is located
approximately one nm west of the plant proper on the shore of .a small
lake. The area has the appearance of a typical ell Soviet housing
development and lies on the west side of a heavily wooded hill, which is
between it and the plant area. At the north end of the area there appears
to be a trace of a security fence that possibly extends along the north
end of the nearby lake. The housing area. is seed by an all-weather
road that runs along the lower slope ofa the nearby hill and connects
with the internal road network of the plant. Housing Ares No 2 (Figure 2)
is located approximately 1.5 nm- southwest. of the plant area and also is
connected to the internal road network of the plant by an all-weather road:
Housing Area No 1. This area measures approximately 4,400 by
1,470 feet and consists of 36 two-family houses; 7 single-story barracks-
type buildings, each 150 by 65 feet; 5 two-story apartment buildings, each
140 by 65 feet; 2 two-story V-shaped apartment buildings, the base of each
measuring 65. by 50 feet, and the two wings, 70 by 50 feet; and 8 single-
story apartment buildings, each 105 by 50 feet. These housing facilities
furnish accommodations for about 360 families and 445 single personnel.
The area also contains a boilerhouse, has an athletic field, and provides
boating on the adjacent lake.
Housing Area No 2. This lea, measuring approximately 4,650 by
1,200 feet, is located 1.5 nm southwest of the plant, and consists of 20
two-family houses; 2 single-story barracks-type buildings, each 200 by
65 feet; and 2 other barracks-type buildings under construction. These
housing facilities furnish accommodations for about 40 families and
345 single personnel. Several large clearings in the adjacent area
probably are for more housing units. A probable athletic field is under
construction nearby.
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Approved For Release 2000/08/04: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200080065-4
Approved For Release 2000/08/04: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200080065-4
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REFERENCES
A-
Series N502, Sheet NN 41-1, Series N501, Sheet 40-3, 1st ed, Nov 55, scale 1:250,000
(UNCLASSIFIED)
ACIC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0164-2A, let ed, Oct 59, scale .1:200,000 (SECRET)
ACIC. LTS Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0164-7A, 1st ed, Dec 59, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
.
REQUIREMENTS
CIA. DDI/RR/E/R-67/61
14.
CIA. DDI/OSI/R-187/61
NPIC PROJECT
JN-293/6T
r
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