MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00608R000700150008-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 24, 2002
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: October 4, 1975
• Content Type: REPORT

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Approved For Release 20D2106121:CIA-RDPBBTOD606ROD070D150D08.2
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Top Secret
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Military Developments
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DIA review(s) completed.
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Top Secret
October 4, 1975
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FINL..ND: The Lapland Gap
For the second time this year Finland's defense
policy has become a subject of public controversy with
one of its neighbors. High-ranking Norwegian officers
apparently were quite frank during a recent interview
with Finnish journalists in expressing their concern
with the existence of a "near military vacuum" in
northern Finland wrich might be exploited by the Soviet
Union to facilitate the wartime movement of forces from
the Leningrad Military District into Norway. The
Norwegians have been concerned that Finland, under pressure
from both the USSR and domestic leftists, might not resist
such a use of its territory by Soviet units outflanking
the Norwegian forces in the Finnmark area of northern
Norway.
SUM Not,: M//ltery Dewbpnaenn we preperad for the Internal use of CIA and reflect the immediate
vlawe of analysts In the Office of Strategic Renerch. Obsrvmtions and queries mey be directed to the
one" named following each item.
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ase 2002/08/21 05ft- BP86TOO608ROODclU6T5UDOs-2 1975
 Approved or Release - -
A similar situation arose earlier this year when the
commander of the Swedish armed forces publicly warned that
the increased integration of the Soviet and Finnish rail-
road networks would facilitate the movement of Soviet
forces into northern Sweden. The implication that such
integration posed a threat to Swedish military defense
caused a great deal of acrimonious comment in Sweden,
Finland, and the Soviet Union.
Both incidents are illustrative of the concern felt
by both of Finland's non-communist neighbors about what
the Finns would actually do in a wartime situation in 25X1
which the Soviets refrained from an attack on the country's
vital southern area but insisted on use of northern Tinland
for the passage of farnes westward n
SRI LANKA: To Receive Osa Patrol Boat From USSR
Sri Lanka will receive an Osa class patrol boat as
a gift from the Soviet Union, according to a defense
attache report. The Soviets also have agreed to provide
advisers and replacement parts for the boat. The patrol
boat is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka in mid-December,
Staff Not,,: Military De eiopmentt are prepared for the internal use of CIA and reflect the immediate
views o'. aneiysts in the Office of Strategic Research. Observations and queries may be directed to the
analyst named following each item.
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and will be the fit Soviet-built ship in the inventory.
The Sri Lanka Navy probably will use the boat in operations
against smuggling and illegal immigration between India
and Ceylon.
According to the report, the Osa will carry less
than its normal complement of weapons. The missile tubes
will be removed, but the gun mounts for the two 30mm AA
machine guns will be retained.
Soviet technicians and instructors--the first ever
to serve in the country--are scheduled to arrive in Sri
Lanka shortly after the patrol. boat has been delivered.
They will be on a one month temporary assignment, probably
to complete the training cycle of the seven Sri Lanka
naval officers sent to the Soviet Union in early March for
training.
The Sri Lanka navy has some 33 aging ships in its
inventory, used mostly for coastal patrol and internal
security. Most of the patrol activity is conducted with
45-foot Sincaporean built Thornycroft patrol boats and
the five Shanghai fast attack gun boats, a gift from China.
The navy's effectiveness is limited, restricted severely
by the shallowness of coastal water, uncharted and shift-
ing sandbars in the waters surrounding the island, and by
the lack of adequate training and competent leadership.
Colombo's decision to acquire the Osa probably is
the first step in its plans to upgrade the navy's capability
to conduct surveillance of Sri Lanka's coasts and inland
waterways. Sri Lankan Navy Chief of Staff Perera said
that the navy is looking to the USSR to give them a small
destroyer escort to replace the aging Canadian-built
river escort, the Gahabahu. According to Perera,
ship would not be a Petya but something smaller.
SaW Notes: Military DlvNoanentt are prepared for the internal use of CIA and reflect the immediate
views of analysts In the Office of Strategic Research. Observations and queries may bn directed to the
analyst named following each item.
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