SOVIET AAA DIVISIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82T00709R000100230001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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imagery analysis report
Soviet AAA Divisions (S)
Top Secret
Top Secret
SC-628453/85X1
IAR-0026/82
APRIL 1982
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TOP SECRETI
SOVIET AAA DIVISIONS (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. 1 1 This report is an imagery-derived assessment of non-divisional antiair-
craft artillery (AAA) divisions in the Soviet Union. A Defense Intelligence Agency report dated
March 19791 on AAA divisions was used as the basis of information for this report. Since March
1979, all five AAA brigades identified in document reference 1 have been upgraded to AAA
divisions and four previously unidentified AAA divisions have been identified, bringing the total
number of AAA divisions identified in the Soviet Union to 13 (Figure 1 and Table 1).
2. (S/D) Two types of organizational structures have been identified for AAA divisions. Both
types consist of four regiments of antiaircraft (AA) guns (totaling approximately 288 AA guns), a
high-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) unit, and support equipment. In one type of structure,
the SAM unit is an SA-2 (GUIDELINE) SAM regiment (Figure 2 and Chart 1), and in the other, the
SAM unit is an SA-4 (GANEF) SAM brigade (Figure 3 and Chart 2). Four of the 13 AAA divisions
contain SA-4 SAM brigades while the remaining nine contain SA-2 SAM regiments.
MISSION
3. (S/D) The mission of AAA divisions has traditionally been point defense of key targets
along front and army axes of advance and rear areas. In World War II, these units were subordi-
nate to the supreme high command (VGK) and were considered to be national assets defending
the homeland. When in combat, AAA divisions may be subordinate to a front or serve as a
reserve of the supreme high command (RVGK).
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DESCRIPTION
4. (S/D) While AAA divisions are considered to be active organizations within the Soviet
ground forces, they are manned at a very low cadre level. An extensive callup of reservists would
be needed to bring these units up to a combat-ready status. Because of the low manning level,
very low levels of activity are usually observed at these divisions. Training at these divisions
appears to be limited to equipment familiarization conducted in a four-, six-, or eight-position
AAA training site in the AAA division vehicle park area. These sites will usually have one or two of
each type of towed AA gun which is contained in the AAA division.
5. The SA-2-equipped AAA divisions consist'of an SA-2 SAM regiment and 25X1
288 AAA guns which normally include a mixture of the 37mm AA gun M-1939, the 57mm AA gun
S-60, and the 100mm AA gun KS-19, which make up four regiments of 72 towed AAA guns each.
In addition, low-altitude defense is provided by a varying number of towed antiaircraft machine
guns (AAMG) such as the ZPU-4 or ZU-23. The SA-2-equipped AAA divisions were either formed
from previously reported' AAA brigades or directly from AAA storage areas.
6. (S/D) An example of a typical SA-2-equipped AAA division is at Zhitomir Headquarters
8th Tank Army/Army Barracks AL-2/SAM Support Facility Figure 2), in the Carpa- 25X1
thian Military District (MD). This AAA division is equipped with one regiment of 57mm AA guns
S-60 and three regiments of 100mm AA guns KS-19.
TOP SECRET JAR-0026/82
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1t w rH
l\ k i
DZYGOVKA"a
u?. . f.. Lentngra
v : Mi. VOLKA '?Plesetsk
..ZHITOMIR
Odessa-,, OMO OW
CHERKASSY
tulQ" Perm
1 Volgoyrad '?yverdlovsk
/.44 r.1. `i -..-,-/l. ~~Irl VnC\r,ICV
~- ..~o,. H~xsl ~(Ihabar~vs kS, w
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SarvShaaan
DA /
IRAN
I? f.`~..~... r' ~l^ llr CHINA
? SA-2-EQUIPPED DIVISIONS
? SA-4-EQUIPPED DIVISIONS,;.
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF AAA DIVISIONS IN THE SOVIET UNION
Table 1.
Status of AAA Divisions in the Soviet Union
(Keyed to Figure 1)
This table in its entirety is classified TOP SECRE11
Location BE SAM
(MD) Number Type
Toksovo?
SA-2
(Leningrad)
Dzygovka'
SA-4
(Carpathian)
Volka?
SA-4
(Belorussian)
Zhitomir
SA-2
(Carpathian)
Cherkassy*
SA-2
(Kiev)
SC-628453/82
fly~ DONGUZ
ATSITELI-TSKARO r
NPIC T-3902
Date Number of Regts Vehicle/Gun
Upgraded Observed Stor Capacity Remarks
From Brigade (by type) (approx number)
(since 1979) 37mm 57mm 100mm Covered Open
NA - -
3
360
200
Jul 79 1 1
1
NA - -
2
2,000+
1,000+
NA 0 1
3
256
288
May 80 - -
-
410
205
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TOP SECRET
This AAA division is collocated
with an ammo and artillery
storage depot
This AAA division is collocated
with the 95th Heavy-Lift Regiment
This AAA division is collocated
with the headquarters of the 8th
Tank Army and subordinate units
This AAA division is collocated
with elements of the 41st Guards
Tank Division
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r yr or%,,nF_ t l
Location BE
(MD) Number
Krivoy Rog
(Kiev)
Donguz"
(Volga)
Yeysk
(North
Caucaucasus)
Chebarkul
(both in Ural)
Tsiteli-Tskaro
(Transcaucasus)
Osh
(Central Asia)
Date Number of Regts Vehicle/Gun
SAM Upgraded Observed Stor Capacity
Type From Brigade (by type) (approx number)
(since 1979) 37mm 57mm 100mm Covered
Open
123
300
0
1,000+
478
400
0
800
Remarks
This AAA division is collocated
with elements of the 20th Guards
Tank Division
This AAA division is collocated
with an SA-4 brigade subordinate
to the MD
Chebarkul houses the SA-2
regiment for the AAA division
at Chelyabinsk
This AAA division moved from
Lagodekhi
between Aug 78 and Aug 79;
the AAA pieces total 220;
however, they are in one area and
have not been broken down into
their respective regiments
SA-2 NA 0 3 1 532 350 The AAA division is collocated
with front-level units2
Khabarovsk"" SA-2 NA 0 0 2 40 500 This AAA division is collocated
(Far East) with a rocket troops and artillery
workshop and strategic-level
engineer facilities and units
*This unit has enough covered storage space to hold the remaining elements of the division; a small number of guns are
sporadically observed out of the vehicle storage area(s) but not in sufficient numbers to designate regimental areas.
*"This unit, although classified as an AAA division, is smaller than normal and will probably be filled out when activated;
an eight-position 100mm AA gun KS-19 training site has been observed in the AA gun storage area.
7. (S/D) The SA-4-equipped AAA divisions at !Crivoy Rog Army Barracks AL-2 (Chart 2) is
representative of the remaining four AAA divisions identified in the Soviet Union. Like the SA-2-
equipped AAA divisions, they also consist of 288 towed AAA pieces which may include the 37mm
AA gun M-1939, the 57mm AA gun S-60, and the 100mm AA gun KS-19. The SA-4-equipped AAA
division comprises four AA regiments and an SA-4 brigade in place of the SA-2 regiment. Low-
altitude defense is provided by an undetermined number of towed AAMG.
8. (S/D) The division at Krivoy Rog (Figure 3) is one of two SA-4-equipped AAA divisions
formed from an AAA brigade. The other two SA-4-equipped AAA divisions were formed from
SA-2-equipped AAA divisions by removing the SA-2 SAM regiment and replacing it with an SA-4
SAM brigade.
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iUr oti,,rstii i
Chart 1. AAA Division (SA-2 Equipped)
This chart in its entirety is classified SECRET/WNINTEL
*
72
KS-19/S-60/M-1939 AA GUNS
72 PRIME MOVERS (AT-S, etc.)
***
9
18 FIRE CAN OR FLAP WHEEL
2
4 FLAT FACE
***
9
18 PUAZO-6
18 24 SA-2 LAUNCHERS
44 4 MISSILE TRANSPORTERS
3 4 FAN SONG
3 4 SPOON REST
The exact type of equipment observed in each division varied, probably depending upon availability and
tailoring of the unit for local needs. AA machine guns may also be present in undetermined numbers.
**An additional battery may have been added to the SA-2 regimental organization.
***Number of fire control and acquisition radars vary depending upon battery size.
NPIC T-3905
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1yr Jtl,mtI
Chart 2.
AAA Division (SA-4 Equipped)
This chart in its entirety is classified SECRET/WNINTEL
* 72 KS-19/S-60/M-1939 AA GUNS
72 PRIME MOVERS (AT-S, etc.)
** 918 FIRE CAN OR FLAP WHEEL
2 4 FLAT FACE
** 9 18 PUAZO-6
27 SA-4 TELS
15 TRANSLOADERS
36 CANISTER TRANSPORTERS
9 PAT HAND
The exact type of equipment observed in each division varied, probably depending upon availability and
tailoring of the unit for local needs. AA machine guns may also be present in undetermined numbers.
9. (S/D) The armament (weapons and equipment) of the AAA divisions is maintained and
replaced, as required, by workshops of the rocket troops and artillery (RTA) of the ground forces.
AAA weapons are also maintained in mobilization reserve storage areas and depots. These weap-
ons can also be deployed to form new units.
CONCLUSIONS
10. (S/D) The continuing formation of AAA divisions demonstrates a Soviet belief in the use
of AA weapons for point air defense of troop control and rear area facilities. The retention of
these AAA divisions also demonstrates the Soviet intention to use these assets to relieve organic
divisional air defense units of their point air defense roles, freeing them to support maneuver
forces. These AAA divisions, which have the capabilities to employ missile and AAA weapons,
considerably enhance the Soviet operational/tactical air defense posture.
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I ur stGtit I i
(S/D) All relevant satellite imagery acquired prior to
report.
was used in the preparation of this 25X1
1. DIA. DDB-1100-221-79, Soviet AAA Divisions: An Initial Assessment (U), Mar 79 (SECRET
2. DIA. DDB-1100-130-81-SI, SI-271337/81, Combined Soviet Ground Order-of-Battle (U), Aug 81, p290
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Warsaw Pact Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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