SOVIET GROUND FORCES EXERCISE MANDALGOVI, MONGOLIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01819A000100580001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 1, 1979
• Content Type: REPORT

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NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
I NTERPRETATION
REPORT
SOVIET GROUND FORCES EXERCISE
MANDALGOVI, MONGOLIA (S)
Top Secret
PIR-053/79 25X1
JUNE 1979
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SOVIET GROUND FORCES EXERCISE
MANDALGOVI, MONGOLIA (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. ~ A major Soviet field training exercise was observed near Mandalgovi, Mongolia, 25X1
(45-44-59N 106-14-43E) This exercise, covering an 25X1
area of approximately 1,600 square nautical miles (nm), involved elements of at least four combat
divisions and is the largest Soviet ground forces exercise ever observed on overhead imagery. The
entire exercise was not imaged, which precluded a complete analysis of its size and extent.
However, most of the exercise was probably observed. The exercise was the culmination of a large-
scale, joint-force operation conducted in the eastern Soviet Union and Mongolia which began in
late February.
2. An analysis confirmed that during this time period four motor- 25X1
ized rifle divisions and elements of one tank division in the eastern Soviet Union and Mongolia
were out of garrison and may have been involved in the exercise. These units included motorized
rifle divisions from Shelekhov and Ulan-Ude (both from the 29th Army, Transbaikal Military
District-MD), elements of the motorized rifle division from Sumber Suma and elements of the
tank division from Bulgan (both from the 39th Army, Mongolia), and the motorized rifle division
from Biysk (Siberian MD). Elements of one and possibly two parachute regiments were observed
deployed to Domna Airfield and Olovyannaya Airfield in the 25X1
Transbaikal MD However, no evidence of airborne activity was seen in 25X1
the exercise area.
3. ) Divisional combat, combat support, and combat service units; nondivi- 25X1
sional signal units; and tactical air support were involved in the exercise (Figure 2). Elements of
the following combat units were observed: three tank regiments, four BMP (armored personnel
carrier-APC) -equipped motorized rifle regiments, four BTR-60 (APC)-equipped motorized rifle
regiments, four artillery regiments, four FROG battalions, three multiple rocket launcher battal-
ions, two SA-8 regiments, one antiaircraft artillery (AAA) regiment, and one engineer battalion.
Combat support included motor transport and chemical defense units. Combat service included
at least six vehicle collection/repair points and two probable field hospitals. Command and con-
trol/nondivisional signal support included one command post, two signal command posts, a com-
munications relay station, and an early warning battalion. Tactical air support included at least
16 fighter aircraft in flight over the exercise area and at least 18 helicopters.
NPIC S-7000
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF AREA WHERE SOVIET GROUND FORCES EXERCISE OCCURRED, MANDALGOVI, MON-
GOLIA
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BASIC DESCRIPTION
Tactical Maneuvers
4. h Two major areas of tactical combat maneuvers were observed in the
exercise. The area with the largest concentration of tactically deployed units was 35 nm west-
northwest of Mandalgovi. The second area of maneuvers was 16 nm west-southwest of Mandal-
govi.
5. In the northern area, the units were divided into two opposing forces,
each consisting of elements of at least two combat divisions. One force was moving in a southeast-
erly direction and the other force was moving in a northwesterly direction (Figure 3*). It appeared
that the two opposing forces had made contact while on the march and were in the early stages of
a meeting engagement. Two opposing artillery regiments were deployed in firing positions, while
elements of tank, motorized rifle, and supporting combat units were moving forward to the area of
contact (Figures 4 and 5). The leading elements of each force, possibly the advance guard, had
begun to deploy into attack formations. In the force moving to the northwest, elements of a
reinforced BTR-60-equipped motorized rifle battalion were in line formation. The troops had,
dismounted from the APCs and were advancing online behind a company of tanks online (Figure
6).
6. I I Two different types of formations were observed in the tactical march
columns of the motorized rifle battalions of both forces moving toward the area of contact. In the
most common formation, the tanks and APCs were intermixed with one to four tanks alternating
with one to eight APCs (Figure 7). The armored vehicles were followed by mortars or field
artillery. In the other, less common, formation, one APC and a tank company led the column
followed by the remaining APCs and then the mortars or field artillery.
7. Air defense measures were observed in both of the opposing forces. In the
force moving to the southeast, at least one of the divisions was equipped with AAA. The force
moving northwest was equipped with SA-8 surface-to-air missiles. In this force, elements of an
SA-8 regiment were providing air defense to a tank regiment and a motorized rifle regiment in
march columns. SA-8 transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) were at the rear of the tank column
and deployed approximately 100 to 300 meters to the flanks (Figure 8). The SA-8 TELs with the
motorized rifle regiment were deployed forward of the regiment's column formations (Figure 7).
8. Tactical surface-to-surface missiles were also identified in the two oppos-
ing forces. In the force moving northwest two FROG-7 battalions were deployed in firing batteries
(Figure 9) and elements of one FROG-7 battalion were a part of a column formation. In the
opposing force one FROG-7 battalion was deployed in firing batteries.
9. In the southern area of tactical maneuvers, a force consisting of one
BMP-equipped motorized rifle regiment and a BTR-60-equipped motorized rifle regiment ap-
peared to be opposing a single BMP-equipped motorized rifle regiment (Figure 10). Both forces,
reinforced with divisional fire support, were in attack formations with tanks online followed by
APCs online and mortars and artillery in firing positions to the rear (Figures 11, 12, and 13). It
appeared that the larger force, attacking south, was conducting a single envelopment maneuver
against the smaller force. In the larger force, the BMP regiment was preparing to conduct a
frontal attack while the BTR-60 regiment conducted the envelopment on the left flank.
10. The BMP-equipped regiment of the larger force is an excellent example
of a motorized rifle regiment in a line attack formation (Figure 13). The regiment had a reinforced
battalion (four motorized rifle companies and two tank companies) online with tanks leading
APCs. To the rear of the deployed battalion, two motorized rifle companies were in reserve,
mortars and artillery were in firing positions, and elements of other support units were in column
formations. The third motorized rifle battalion of the regiment, reinforced by tanks, was in
tactical columns moving to the east, possibly to form another attack formation or to reinforce the
BTR-60 regiment.
Combat Support
11. I I Motor transport activity was evident throughout the exercise. However,
only two motor transport battalions were identified as units. Two field fueling sites were observed
in the exercise area. The configuration of both sites was essentially the same (Figure 14). Both had
four fuel dispensing stations, each consisting of one or two collapsible fuel containers connected to
a flexible hoseline. Fuel dispensing pumps were being used to transfer the fuel from the collapsible
*A large concentration of vehicles in the force moving northwest was not in tactical formation. This concentration
included major elements of a division assembled in 18 parallel columns. The columns were halted but oriented to the
northwest. This may have been an administrative assembly point or part of an administrative movement.
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fuel containers to the hoseline. Each of the four hoselines had numerous dispensing points from
which vehicles could be refueled.
12. Three chemical defense battalions were involved in the exercise. How-
ever, no simulated decontamination or other chemical defense activity was observed.
Combat Service
13. Medical services included two probable field hospitals. The configura-
tion of both hospitals was similar (Figure 15). Each had a sorting facility and several specialized
treatment facilities. The sorting facility is used to diagnose and then dispatch incoming casualties
to the appropriate specialized treatment facilities.
14. Maintenance services included at least six vehicle collection/repair
points. At each point, at least two armored recovery vehicles were present.
Command and Control
15. Nondivisional signal support was observed in several areas of the exer-
cise. Signal equipment was seen at a command post, two nondivisional signal command posts
(probably a main and an alternate), a communications relay station, and an early warning
battalion with four dispersed early warning companies.
16. Equipment at the command post (Figure 16) included one o erationally
deployed R-410 (TWIN PLATE) troposcatter relay set at least 25
van trucks, one HOOK helicopter, and seven HIP-C helicopters. The probable main signal com-
mand post (Figure 17) contained one operationally deployed PARK DRIVE (mobile comsat sys-
tem), two operationally deployed R-409 (CATS PAW) radio relay vans, 12 P-299M communica-
tions center vehicles, and at least 90 van trucks. The communications center of this command
post was connected by cable to an area surrounded by a security screen. This area may have been
an encode/decode center for communications traffic. The probable alternate signal command post
contained one operationally deployed TWIN EAR troposcatter relay van
four operationally deployed R-409 radio relay vans, one possible R-140 radio station, one
possible R-401/405 radio relay set, at least six P-299M communications center vehicles (net cov-
ered), at least 95 van trucks, one HOPLITE helicopter, and two HIP-C helicopters. At the
communications relay station (Figure 18) equipment included five operationally deployed R-410
sets (two modified) one R-410 set in travel mode;
one R-410 antenna truck and trailer in travel mode; one operationally deployed TWIN EAR
; one operationally deployed R-400/404 radio relay set; four opera-
tionally deployed R-409 radio relay vans; at least 50 van trucks; and one HIP-C helicopter. The
early warning battalion contained four THIN SKIN, two LONG TRACK, three FLAT FACE, and
two SPOON REST radars.
Tactical Air Support
17. Tactical aircraft observed included 12 FISHBED and four FITTER. The
aircraft were seen in groups of four in flight over different areas of the exercise (Figure 16).
18. elicopters observed included at least three HOOK, one of which was a
special-purpose airborne command post/radio relay platform; 13 HIP-C; and two HOPLITE. Most
of the helicopters were in the command post/signal areas.
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MAPS OR CHARTS
ACIC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0286-15, scale 1:200,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
REQUIREMENT
Project 130099NG
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