1. PORTS OF DUDINKA AND IGARKA 2. AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY AT IGARKA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R004000160003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 25, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 13, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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tlisPERAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduCtion of this form is prohibited.
sEcRplcp.NR94., }TN, OFFICIALS ONLY
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COUNT
.SUBJECT
'USSR (Arctic)
1. Ports of Dudinka and Igarka
2. Aircraft Activity at Igar)sa
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
13 January 1954
11 50X1 -HUM
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DE
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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STATE
ARMY
NAVY -
SECRET CONTIkOL .5 OFFICIALS
Ad "
-
#x
FBI
qv ax"- V.- ? oh, oe ?
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The lower reaches of the Yenibey River extend through typical Arctic landscape.
The land on both sides was low andcovered with grass or moss, and there were
sandbanks down to the edge of the river. Occasionally there were a few fishing
huts or 'Samoyed tents, but there were no structures of significance. There 50X1-HUM
were more scrub, bushe8,and low trees .11:Driver. The first firs=
began to appear quite a Ways upriver.
compact settlements were vaiised-i-.Such as rabinaye andAna.hino (N69-44 485-36 Masts
and wooden towers were seen along the river in several places
6. North of Dudinka (N 69-25, E 86-10), there was a large oil-storage area. It
consisted of '20 to 30 tanks of different sizes. The tanks were up on the ridge
which was quite high at this point. There were a few houses around the areE50X1-HUM
7.
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Between the oll-stOrage area and the city there was a large coal pile.
the quantity of coal was about 50,000 tons. From the 50X1-HUM
river there was a kind of pier area, probably for loading
no vessels were seen at 50X1-HUM
coal pile down to the
and unloading coal.
the pier.
8. For the most part, the settlement at Dudinka lies on the slope down to the 50X1-HUM
Yenisey and Dudinka Rivers. It consisted primarily of wooden houses but some
of the larger buildings were evidently stone or cement.
Dudinka had 25,000 inhabitants and had two restaurants and some small inns.
9.
The port area of Dudinka consisted of a permanent dock with four cranes. See
Sketch No. 2. The cranes could be used for loading and unloading ships of any
size. In addition, there were smaller cranes in the port area. See Sketch
NO. 3 for cranes. in Dudinka. The small craliesameared to be located a short
inland.9, and. they were used to move the cargo into
the loading area..
the other pier (not the
Igarka several times
one with the four
distance
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a large paddle-boat was at 50X1-HUM
cranes). The paddle-boat called at
A large tug, several 50X1-HUM
10.
lighters,and some small _boats were observed at
the same time.
there were also several smaller,
vessels in the naroor,
at anchor in the
as
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river.
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well as several small vessels at the piers andothers
Outside the harbor there was a large dredge.
In the harbor area there was a railway track,
and trains were seen
there was
a railway
from Dudinka to Norilsk (N 69-20, E 88-08) and
Valek (N 69-25, E 88-20).
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Valek was a city not far
from Norilsk.
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11.
Along the east bank of the Yenisey River., a little south of the Dudinka River,
there was a runway 'whichextended in an approximatelynorth-sbuth direction.
It was approximately 1200 meters long, and the surface consisted of gravel and
sand. The runway 'wassurrounded by grass on both sides and there were some
small deciduous trees nearby. On the ground along the runway there were several
cables or heavy wires which were joined by couplings spaced at equal distances
from each other. The coupling 'points Seemed like low tubes about 20 to 30 cent-
imeters in height. Lights could not be seen on the. tubes but they appeared to
serve as supports for the landing lights along the runway. The control tower
was located a short distance from the runway, on the opposite side from the river.
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It was an unpainted wooden building with a small tower and
were some small houses in the vicinity, no
resembling hangars or repair shops. Between the river and the
lams of "the runway, there were two Soviet DC-3-type aircraft,
were painted green with white numbers on the back part of the tail.
The airfield was so low in relation to the river bed
that it must be affected by the rise in the water level
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a short distance north of Dudinka
river bank. Occasionally
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_a windsock. There
building5oxi -HUM
southern -ter
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Both aircr&.,..
of the Yeni.sey River.
12. The pine foresti principally fir trees' began
and Vas the most dominating feature along the
small compact settlements, consisting of from five to twenty gray,un-
Tainted.log houses. 50X1 -HUM
13. The harbor in Igarka was visited by a large number of river vessels. Thee5ox1 -HUM
vessels Were engaged primarily in shipping lumber. $afte of the tugs observea
were very large; they resembled seagoing tugs which are used in Western Eurone.
but most of them were the usual size. The tugs SVIR and PRAVDA SEVERA wer?50X1 -HUM
seen several times. A large paddle-driven passenger 'ship obviously made sched-
uled- runs to Igarka. This vessel was seen in Dudinka late in the evening
and in Igarka when it went up
the river. It was seen again at the dock at Igarka
The ship was estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 tons. 50X1 -HUM
14. Several nautical miles outside Igarka on the east side of the river, just before
the river makes a sharp turn, there was an antenna between eight masts. The
masts were placed in a four-and-four position, with two rhombic antennas and
two antennas which resembled Adcock antennas, 50X1 -HUM
15. no signs of railways in Igarka or in the neighbor-
hood of the city. The Soviets usuaily50X1-HUM
used steam whistles on every occasion (sic), and in the harbor area no steam
yhistles were heard from shore except from the one on the crane at Pier No. 4
and the one at the sawmill. No steam or smoke was, observed. 50X1 -HUM
16. Only one
was seen.
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17. All loading and stowing work on board ship was done by men of all ages. On
the dock some women and boys worked marking and tallying the cargo. There was
a stack of logs up on the hill along the river. The logs had been washed there
by the flood in the spring. The pier was saved from the floods by placing
heavy stones on its surface,
passenger car
18. twelve vessels were observed from a great
distance at about 25 nautical miles northwest of Belyy ,Ostrov (N 73-10, E 70-45)
in the Kara Sea. Nine were evidently fishing boats or small trawlers. They
had tall foremasts and a high poop deck with a small mast. The first vessel
in the formation was larger than the fishing vessels, and it had two masts of
approximately equal height. The next to the last vessel had a high foremast,
one gun or a small superstructure on the foredeck, a bridgel.and a housing
amidships. The last vessel in the formation was much farther away and was
difficult to describe. The eleven ships appeared to be moving in formation.
19. Radio Australia on about 9.45 megacycles was the only broadcast from the
Western World which was heard from Kanin Nos' (N 50X1 -HUM
E 43-18) to Igarka.
20.
Legend to the Sketch of lx,arka
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For purpose of clarity
the sketch is divided into 10 smaller areas from A to J.
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21. Area A. From Point C several cylindrical tanks could be observed. When passing)
they appeared to be five oil tanks of different sizes. In the vicinity of Point
7 there was a large wooden building with two low smokestacks, and a second
smaller wooden building. From the large buildings a continual drone was heard,
probably from. machines. One smokestack emitted smoke almost continuously, and
occasionally smoke came from. both stacks. There werearamber ef wooden postsaramodthe
batUings.--Poini 7 was a tower which was probably located_in the factory area.
5
22. Area B. Point 8 is the Control tower for the seaplane base. On top of t0 X1-HUM
--
tower there was a windsock. A repair slip extended from the river up over the
steep shore. a Catalina-
type aircraft was on the slip and three others lay in the river just outsidE50X1-HUM
There were no hangars and the overhauling of planes was probably done in the open air.
In addition,thete were a few scattered buildings in the area
not connected with the seaplane harbor. There was a 150)(1 -HUM
house with a tower on the roof directly beyond the control tower, a short distance
away from the river. The vegetation was very sparse in this area. 50X1-HUM
23. Area C. A comparatively small completely new wooden house was located near the
river. In the same vicinity there were several large old wooden houses and a
few other buildings. At the river edge there was a lighter which was used as a
pier. In addition, one or more lighters were anchored there often, just outside
the area. On 7 August 1953, a lighter with five large new busses anchored in
the river. The busses were red with gold stripes along the sides.
24. Area D. A short distance from the river, at Point 9 on the sketch, there was a
comparatively large building with a tower)with a signal mast on one end. No
signal flags, ballstor cones were ever seen on the mast. The house was probably
a public building. It was the only one which was or had been painted. Some
large letters had at one tirriP been painted on the facade facing the river. The
'letters were faded and illegible. The building was in parklike surroundings
with tall deciduous trees. From the river,.thie bnilding apPeared'to. be the most
impressive one in Igarka. Several comparatively large buildings.could'be seen behind
the trees. In Area D) there was also a small pier or possibly a sunken lighter
used as a pier. This was where large river veSsels usually tied up. On 31 July
19534a large gtey vessel, low in the waters docked at the pier. On the forward_
part of the vessel there was a large superstructure; directly aft of the Super-
structure there was a bridge which was much lower. The vessel had two sta 50X1-HUM
each stack had a small smokehood, and there was a green ring around each or tne
stacks, the vessel was a ferry.
The bulwarks around the after part of the ship appeared
to be solid,and it appeared that vehicles could only board the vessel from the
forward end. On the after deck some crates were observed. On the night of 4
August 1953, six small paddle-boats anchored just forward of the ferry. These
were about 100 tons -each. The paddle-boats appeared to be news and they were
painted grey with two red rings around each stack. The ships appeared to be
fitted out to accommodate passengers.
25. Area E, This area contained many unpainted houses of one or .two stories.
On the. ridge .above the level of the river there was a ship-vrecked lighter which
apparently had been washed there by a flood.
26. Area F.
piles of planks along the ridge, and a high smokestack which usually 50X1-HUM
-emitted smoke. (Point 1 on the sketch). The pier was built of solid logs and it was
probably staked securely to the river bottom. The surface consisted of at 50X1-HUM
least two layers of four?inch planks. The pier edge was not stratght but Zig-
zag. The westernmost section was at No. 4.
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Them) were several roadways from the saw-
mills down to the pier. They were built of solid logs which were staked down
in the ground and they had plank surfaces. These roadways extended at an angle
down toward the pier, and they were not perpendicular to the river edge. Un-
doubtedly the pier had at one time extended farther in a Westerly direction.
The remains of several roadways extended down toward the river at this place.
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27. Pier No. 4 was separated from the rest of the pier by a plank fence and it was
used only for-loading and unloading lighters. On this pier .a small steam crane
operated on rails.) which were sunken in the plank deck. The crane could turn 3600 and.
it had a radius of four meters. The lifting capacity was estimated at two or three
28.
tons. It could not be used for larger vessels since the undercarriage Was
very low. This crane capsized probably after 50X1-HUM
having tried to lift too heavy a load. During the afternoon of the same day
the tug.PRAVDA SEVERA.arrived with a lighter-crane in tow. This crane was also
steam-driven; it was the same type as the one on the pier but it was somewhat
larger. The crane was mounted approximately in the center of the lighter. There
were two large coal piles on the deck, one foreward and the other aft of the
crane. The crane had no undercarriage other than that which was necessary for
turning, and the crane was probably intended for loading and unloading lighters.
After much heaving, the crane was put back on the rails. A truck with a crane
on the. loading platform also arrived but it as not observed in use during the
operation.
Many times, particularly in the morning and afternoon) a red tank-truck and a
fire truck with a pump came down to Pier No. 4. A hose from the fire truck
was placed in the river and connected to the tank truck. A hose was also laid
out on the pier and one of the firemen sprayed the surrounding area/for MO
apparent reason. also saw female fire fighters with helmets and f50X1-HUM
equipment. Water was driven from the river by horse and carriage (sic). There
were three buts or sheds in the vicinity of the sawmill. 50X1-HUM
these huts formed the main entrance to the pier area, and that one of t5oxi -HUM
was the tally office. It was forbidden to smoke on the pier but small huts
were set up where smoking was permitted. However, this did not prevent persons
from smoking where and when they wanted, provided, they showed a little care every
time the fire guard came around.
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29, Area G. At Point 2 there was a. smokestack which emitted smoke occasionally.
Otherwise it was difficult to observe anything in this area from Point C. Pre
Viously there were some compact settlements in the area. observed pine
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trees toward the eastern horizon.
30. Area H. This area was on an island in the
airfield. The runway could not be seen
However, observed gold-red dust, which .whirled up in the air several time50X1-HUM
when aircraft took off or landed, it was d50X1-HUM
ficult to assume that the dust arose from anything other than a plane landing
on the. field. All planes, while arriving and departing, paSfd over Point 9.
During all landings,the planes disappeared behind, but not fanfrom/Points 4 and
5. the runway was not very long. On "Several occasi50X1-HUM
the planes were seen making new landing runs after having come in too high the
first time. The control tower was located atPoint 4 on thesketch. This was
a larger building which probably contained administrative offyces. The windsock
was on this tower. Points 3 and 5 on the sketch were two mast'
;
31.
Yenisey River
on which there was an
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Even from the top of the ship's charthouse, which on ar-
rival was about 17. meters above the river level, it was imtoossible to observe
the ground where the airfield was located. However the buildings and masts
could be seen easily. In the area south of the airfield there was an object
which resembled a three-armed windmill. The wings, or whatever they were, were
made of steel or metal since they reflected sunlight. They werenot observed
in motiOn. These may have been hangars or workshops but no planes were seen
in the neighborhood. There was considerable vegetation in the area consisting
mostly of small deciduous trees.
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32. the Soviet DC-3 type aircraft
J:lan. two engines and was low-winged; the wings extended straight out
from the body with rounded-off wing tips, slanting straight back frbm the tips
---tO the body. It had a cylindrical body-witb7a decreasing conical s'.iiape-aft--.?
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33.
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Its flat tail slanted backward and. was slightly rounded. Its tail fin slanted
backward on the fore edge. The tail rudder was straight with slightly rounded
corners,. The plane was painted dark green.
star engine.
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the single engine biplane observed at Igarka as having a
The under wing was a little shorter than the upper wing; both had
slightly rounded tips. There was one stay between the wings. The body and wings
appeared to be covered with canvas, and the plane was painted green.
3L.. Area I. No construction could be seen in this area) which was Covered with
close deciduous woods..
35. Area J, In this area, the land juts out into the river, It was bUilt to dock
lighters and tugs Many lighters were always tied up to the dock or were at
anchor in the vicinity.
1.
Comment: This settlement is probably Karaul (approximately N 70-05,
E 831O)'. '
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Are C.
Sketch No. Sketch of Igarka:
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YENISEY
RIVER
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