THE 12 RIFLE REGIMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 5, 2006
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: June 13, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO124001000
FEB 1952 51-4AA
AL
CLASSIFICATION SEC/ br 1-'. rS o OFFICIALS ,S ONLY
INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO.
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT The 12 Rifle Regiment D f
DATE OF
INFO. 16 May to 2.4 November 1951
PLACE
ACQUIRED 'T'urkey, Istanbul,
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVE-
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY. AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
25X1 2.
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1? The 12 Hadzh.i Dimi tur Regiment' (12 Uad h.1 D trovski Strelkovi
Polk) had an approximate 'total of 550 men composed of 1929, 1930, and. 1931
classes. It was activated sometime immediately prior to 16 may 1951 and was
allegedly "two-thirds understrerrt 25X1
the unit was actually a
training regiment for training cadre personnel for service in other units of the
Bulgarian army.
Breakdown (Refer Appendices A and B on pages 11 and 12)
composed of the following units o.
The headquarters of 12 Rifle Regiment
DATE DISTR. 13 June 1952
NO. OF PAGES 14
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
stationed in Elkhovo, was
a., Signal company, approximate strength 35 men, equipped with uAdd.entified
types of radio and telephone equipment;
CLASSIFICATION
EC
-prgpelled gun battery, armed with two g IMD t Ni. -----
No Change in class, [J ~1/
0 Derla3s S";d
tics. &F.an To; TS S
o ID 1 OFFiCTALS
we:
NAVY X NSRB DISTRIBUTION
AIR X FBI
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25: CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6
-2-
Reeondaissance platoon, approximate strength 15 men;
Antiaircraft. platoon, approximate strength 10-15
aircraft -machine gun;
men, armed with one a
e> Sniper platoon, ..aiproximate strength 12 men;
f.. '?Shap -ri' engineer platoon; and.
g. Musie platoon, approximate strength 12 men,
44 The .1 Rifle Battalion, stationed approximately 2-3 kilometers west of Lesovo,
had the following compo nt parts
platoons of three sgads each, armed with two heavy and four light machine
guns;
platoons of three squads each, armed with two heavy and four light machine
guns;
3 Rifle. Company,
SECRE `/cow oL - WS. OFFICIALS 09ml-Y
approximate strength 30-45 men, composed of three
"approximate strength 30-45 men, composed of th.re+
approximate strength 30-45 men, composed of three
each, armed with two heavy and four light machine
platoons of three
guns;
25X1
25X1
d. 1 Heavy Machine Gun Gompay strength 30 men, composed: of -three
platoons of three squads ea , gyAzu with nine heavy machine guns
1 Mortar Battery,
armed with six mortars;
f.. 1 Antitank, Battery,
armed with two antitank "ri.f'les
g, Service. Platoon, equipped with one horse-drawn mobile field kitchen and
six horse--drawn wagons; and.
51
The 2 Rifle Battaltt on statiox
had the following
25X1
*y of Golyam Dervent
4 Rifle company, approximate strength 30-45 men, composed of three platoons
of three squads each, armed: with two heavy .and four light machine guns;
5 Rifle Company, approximate strength 30-.45 men, composed of three platoons
of three squads each, armed with two heavy and four light machine guns;
6 Rifle Company, approximate strength 30-45 men, composed of three platoons
of three squads each, armed with two heavy and four light machine guns;
2 Heavy Machine. Gun Company, approximate strength 30-45 . men, composed of
three platoons of three squads each,, armed with nine heavy machine guns;
SECRET'/CONTROL - %V OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/05/25: CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
SECRET/CONTROL - LtOS OFFICIALS ONLY
-3-
9.
f. 2 Antitank Battery, armed with two -antitank 'rif'le
2 Mortar Battery armed_ with sixmoortars;
Service Platoon, equipped with one mobile field kitchen and six horse-
drawn wagons; and.
Equipment
6. Each soldier was issued one complete uniform, dark brown with red collar tabs
and piping, and one set of fatigues which were not replaced until completely
worn out a
7. Each soldier was issued individual engineer equipment co: isti.ng of shovel
and pickaxe ,
8. Each soldier and officer was issued a gas mask,of either the Dreger Bulgarian
-type or the Uema Czechoslovak type, which were carried each Monday and. Thursday
for a short while and later only during chemical warfare training and on guard
duty. A sketch of the gas masks follows;
Hema
Czechoslovak Gas Mask
0
UI ~
Bulgarian. Ge,s Mask
equipment was as follows a
as Three un1dentified, motor vehicles;
Vintoavka rifle, 70,62 caliber, issued only to Rifle Company personnel;
c, Sudaev machine pistol, '7.,62 caliber;
Degtyarev carbine, 194+ model, 7-62 caliber;
e. Sniper rifle with telescope attachment, issued only to Sniper Platoon;
f, Unidentified carbine, issued to Signal Company)
Zenichni antiaircraft machine gun, 7.62 caliber;
h. Degtyarev light machine gun, 7.62 caliber;
SECRET.'/CQ:NTROL - -UPS. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
SECRET/CONTROL 1%B,. OFFICIAL ONLY
i. Maksim heavy machine gun, on 19 model Sokolov, mount, 7.62 caliber
J., Unidentified mirtar
k. Unidentified. self-propelled gun; and
1a. PTF -41 antitank rifle, 1.4,5 caliber.
Basic Training
1o, 25X1
25X1 a basic indoc -riuati:on course a 25X1
El.khovo garrison. This course consisted of
Daily close order drill;
Calisthenics;;
es on army rules and regulations;
d.. Barracks discipline; and
Political training about socialism, conmuniam,, and the USSR,,
25X1 11.. The schedule l
training period was. as follows
as 5a00 a..m,, reveille;
500-5-020 a m. , calisthenics;
52O-53c. am.. personal hygiene;
-5-.40 aaIna , bed-mS i ~ ;
5340-6,.1 a 21 .s breakfast
6610--6a3G a ma, clean-up;
69&o-7 O0 apm ., ix apection by the company4's corm .ding . officer and briefing
on the day ' s schedule;
700 aem$-121O0 no a, lectures in class or drill ground (sic);
noon -2ii P4-,m., dinner and rest period;
2 0-5 00 P.M,, lectures in class or drill ground. (sic);
k.. 5400-7 04 pair,, free period;
1, 740-8,00. Pm x, supper;
81:0-0-9100 p.m.., rest period, and
9000, roll call, and lights out..
SECRET/CONTROL - u.s. OFFICIALS ono
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
SECRET/COM'ROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
-5-
12. On Sunday and holidays, reveille was at 6:00 a.m. and general clean-up of the
barracks and barracks area was the only activity.
TKnit or Post-Basic Training
13. summer maneuvers
at:.Chavdar camp site in a forest area approximately ee ometers east of
Boyanovo village, Elkhovo district. The daily schedule during this period was
as follows
a. 5:00 a.m., reveille;
b.. 5:00-8;W a.m., personal hygiene, breakfast, and brJ-efing on the days
schedule;
c. 8QQ a.m.--1:00 p..m., lectures in class or practical field training;
1400-3-.00 Ik..m,., dinner and rest period;
14.,
;e. 3,00-6:00. p.m., lectures in class or practical field training;
f. 6&0O-6o-30 p.m., cleaning and inspection of weapons;
g. 6x30-7;00 p.m., calisthenics or political training;
h. 7:00-7330 p..m., supper;
i. 7-30-9:00 p.m., rest period; and
J. 9:.00 p.m., roll call and lights out.
tthe following training:
a. Close order dril.1, one or two hours daily; 25X1
b. Arms and weapons familiarization, both theoretical and practical, from one
to three Maure'each or every other day;
0 the use and assembling-dissembling of the Degtyarev carbine, Degtyarev
light machine gun, and Maksim heavy machine gun; teams of three soldiers
each were supposed to field strip a heavy machine gun in eight seconds but
practically none of the teams was successful; instruction was also given con-
cerning the use and effective fire power of the heavy 1930model armor-
piercing cartridge which has a maximum range of 5,000 and is effective
up to 600 meters on land, 500 meters in the air, and 200 meters against
armored. targets, and the light, 1908-model 7.62 caliber ammunition which has
a maximum range--Of 3, meters; the light cartridge is no longer in use by
the Bulgarian army;
c Chemical warfare, two or three hours a week; each soldier and officer was
issued a gas mask of either the Kreger Bulgarian type or the Hema Czehco-
slov'ak type, but no actual gas mask practice drills or defensive chemical
warfare training was given; the entire chemical warfare training was very
brief, soldiers were uneducate(i and
E111t rateeand consisted mainly of basic history and. uses of the Phosgene,
Diphosgene, and Iperit poison gases; the gas 25X1
SECRET/CONTROL -- U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
SECRET/CO1 ROL - U.p.S OFFICIALS ONLY
-6-
mask alon e would be effective protection;
I
I
poison gas would be the principal weapon used in the "next war" 25X1
Tactical, 10 hours each weekA consisting of both practical and theoretical
attack and. assault combat training, but no defensive combat training;
two methods of attack, both beginning after "consider-
able" artillery fire against enemy positions; in the first method, shown
below, the attack, once started, is continued in the same formation until
enemy- positit have been breached.:
8 meters between soldiers
x x x x x (-individual soldier
after the attack begins, unit support arms and heavy machine guns are
broughtforrward to appropriate positions for maximum fire power and support,
and each attacking group takes whatever: cover is possible in case of heavy
enemy mortar and machine gun fire and continues firing and advancing; on
approaching within 10 meters of enemy lines, the attacking groups. should
make a bayonet charge; after breaching the enemy's first line of defense,
the same method of attack is carried out against any additional lines ; the
second, or alternate, method of attack as shown below is continued in the
same formation until the enemy positions have been breached.,
#2x x #6x #10x 4----individual soldier
#1x #3x #5x #'7x #9x #ilx
Marksmanship, actual firing during target practice only took place at
in sup position that the attacking group is composed of 11 men, 25X1
#1 and #11, the two wing men, advance 10, 20, or 30 meters
by the most suitable method, i.e., crawling, marching, or running, and #2
and #9, #3 and #10, etc., in succession, follow the first two men and ad-
vance 10, 20, or 30 meters until the enemy position is reached and a bayonet
charge can be made by the attacking group;
Chavdar; after initial dry firing, sighting, and range estimatt
fired four rounds with the Degtyarev 7-62 caliber carbine at 110 meters
toward"a head-to-waist stationary human silhouette target; the following
table was used, in judging fire results,
4 hits, excellent
3 hits, very good
2 hits, good
1 hit, poor
no hits, bad
d4 ring this exercise, only 10 sal.diers I obtained 25X1
poor results; fired 20 rounds with the Maksim 7.62 caliber
heavy machine gun at 100 and 200 meters, 10 rounds at each position, at
full-size human silhouette targets; the following table was used in judging
fire results tr
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
SEA/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
8-10 hits, excellent
5-8 hits, very good
4 hits, good
3 hits, fair
1-2 hits, poor
no hits, bad
of the poor showing, the deputy commanding officer of the division
during this exercise, only two soldiers obtained
very good ratings while the remainder receive a poor rating; as a result
inspected the company and stated his displeasure at
the firing results and instructed them to continue training with the heavy
machine gun at every available opportunity including their free time;
Medical, o
and how to dress wounds; thorough instructions were also given concerning
personal hygiene; and
25X1
25X1
to two hours each'week; the training was entirely theoretical
action to take whenever no medical personnel were
available during con+at, how to administer first aid, artificial respiration,
g. Political, one hour per week throughout the entire term of service; during
the lectures given by the political officer of the battalion,
socialist and co mmi.u. ist theory, the general advance and bui .. -up 4Y 25X1
25X1
dissemination
of information learned during lectures to uneducated and illiterate
soldiers
Communis Party leaders, their histories and ac r. ou , 25X1
Soviet weapons are superior to all others and military secrets were not to
be disclosed; there were discussions about communist theory and Party pro-
grams during free and/or rest periods, but these discussions were not volun
tary or spontaneous.
Other. Mil.itar Units at Chavdar
25X1
-15-6 unidentified regiments at Cbavdar,l 25X1
Al1 units were permanent
'
garrisoned at yambol,.Sliven, and several other unknown locations.
divisional headquarters were also at Chavdar.
16. I I light and heavy field artillery pieces, howitzers, anti-
aircraft an antitank guns in the Chavdar vicinity.. All units were
quartered in small 8-man. personnel tents which were supplied with electricity
from Yembol.
17. There were rumors that the unidentified unit permanently garrisoned at Yambol
would remain at Chavdar throughout the winter of 1951-1952.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6
SECRET/CONTROL - U.6 s OFFICIALS ONLY
Joint Field Maneuwers
25X1 18.
ordered to preparet for maneuvers to last one week.. The men were told to clean
their weapons, take two sets of underwear each, arrange their musette bags and
equipment in proper-order, and to carry out the forthcoming maneuvers and march
in a well-d:Lsciplined manner.
19. On approximately 4-5 October 1951, the unit began marching toward a forest area
immediately southwest.cf Yambolo The unit made a 2-day bivouac therev then
met unidentified units for the maneuvers at a point approximately two kilometers
south of Golyam Monastir and made practice attacks as described above in para-
graph .14d
20. At the contact poi t, I I support rifle and Artillery units were
attacked by simulated enemy forces of rifle and infantry units a During the brief
simulated engagement, was forced to retreat and made a 13 kilo-
meter forced march to the ElkhOVo garrison in. 70 minutes. On arrival at the
garrison on approximately 10-12 October 1951,1 commanding officer 25X1
made a critique of the maneuvers, complimenting the personnel on their discipline,
success of the maneuver and the 70 minute march. The area covered by the 70
minute retreat march is as follows,;
SECRET/CO OL - 'U . S O.F'FIC IALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6
SECRET/CONTROL U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Garrison Duty
21. Guard duty was the only required garrison duty in ?ddLtion to the above-mentioned
training.. This consisted of two 2-man teams patrolling the garrison area. The
time schedule was undisclosed.
22. There were also three permanent guard posts at the garrison: (Refer Appendix
C on pages 13 and 14)
a. Unit headquarters;
b.. Entrance to the garrison area; and
c.. At the fodder storage depot
Specialist Training
23.
24+. While at summer maneuver camp at Chavdar, an unspecified number of Communist
and/or politically reliable personnel were chosen from the Signal Company and
transferred to an undisclosed location for communications training.
Personnel
25. The following men were officers of 12 Rifle Regiment,,
Lieutenant Colonel Kosta Raykov, Commanding Officer,
b. Cap-Lain Dinchev, Deputy Commanding Officer,
Major Tsonev, Political Officer,
d. Captain Drago Simeonov, Commanding Officer of informant's Headquarters
Section
Captain Ivanov, "Propaganda" Officer,
f. Captain Karaivanov, Supply Officer,)
g. First Lieutenant Shilev, Secretary of the Communist Party
h. First Lieutenant Yanakiev, Secretary of the DS1VM (Dimitrovski Soya.' na
Narodnata Mlad.ezh? Dimitrov's Union of the People's Youth
F
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
C1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
SECRET/COEROL - U.S... OFFICIALS OILY
25X1 Rifle Battalion.,
-1G-
i, Ma or Dola. hiev Medical Officer and veterinary
~,. Senior First Lieutenant Pavlov Commanding: Officer of I Rifle Battalion,
from Lezovo,i
k.. First Lieutenant Yord&n.ov Political and Deputy Commanding Officer of 1
I
First Lieutenant Geor Jay- Dau-nty d Officer of 1 Rifle Battalion
Headquarters Section,
m. First Lieutenant K'aradthov, late
25X1
25X1
25X1
,'jig,
Officer of 1 Rifle Battalion,
Commanding Officer of 1 Rifle Company, from Lesovo,
Tukhlev, Commanding Officer of 2 Rifle Company,
p. First Lieutenant Peteev, Commandi Officer of 1 Heavy Machine Gun Comb
from Khaskovo+
Company
utenant Petrov, Deputy Com axiding Officer of 1 Heavy Machine Gun 25X1
25X1
r.. First Lieutenant, VateV. Commanding officer of l Mortar Battery
Senior First Lieutenant Nikolov Coimmaniing Officer of Signal Company,
25X1
26,
25X1
followi +g personnel of superior units-r- I
25X1
Major General Dzhurov Commanding General of the Army, reported to have
been, in the UUSSR,
Colonel Borachav, divisional Commanding Officer;
a, Coll Danchev, Co ng officer of division Headquarters Section;
Colonel Pap oy, divisional Deputy Commanding Officer,
44 Major Gan v, divisional. Political Officer.
Comment -0 This i informa- 25X1
ti,a e dl4i change in. designation from Infantry to Rifle uni s.
2,1 Comment.. Dzhurov is commanding general 25X1
of the ,d The 12 Rifle Regiment is possibly subordinate
0 3 Rifle Regiment at Yambol.
SECRET/COI 'TR.OL - U.S OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 0-
0
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
Head surfs rs
Spero
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO12400100010-6
 Approved For Release-219,00Q6115 : CIA-RD 57RO12400
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6
 ? Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6
KEY to preceding sketch of 12 Rifle Regiment Garrison at Elkhovo
1.. Storage depot.
2,, Storage depot, wood..
3. Vacant barracks.
4. Water trough for animals.
5. Guard barracks.
6, Personnel 'water fountain.
7.. Trudovak barracks, housing approximately 100 trudovaks.
8. Barracks and infirmary.
9,. Old barracks...
10. 2 Rifle Battalion barracks, 2-story building.
11.. Headquarters building,
12. 1 Rifle Battalion barracks, 2-story building, mess hall on first floor,
sleeping quarters on second floor, constructed during 1949; also quarters
- for duty officers.
13. Kitchen.-
14. Drill field...
15. Arms storage depot, permanent..
16. Supply depot, 2-story building.
17. Carpenter shop,
18.. Blacksmith shop.
19. Bakery, 2-story building, baking approximately 80 :Loaves of bread per day.,
20. Enlisted men;' lavatory.
21. Officers' lavatory.
22. Ammunition depot.,
23, Blacksmith shop,
24. Garage, self-propelled guns.
25.. Stable, constructed during 1949,.
26. Stable..
27.. Stable.
28,. Antiaircraft observation post, 1-story small building.
NOTE: All barracks buildings are of stone construction and receive electricity
from Elkhovo.
b - U.S.. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457R012400100010-6