SOVIET FIELD HOSPITALS IN AFGHANISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 19, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
10$y.ry analysis rsart
Soviet Field Hospitals in Atghanlaan (S)
Secret
1-20078/80
IAA-8182/80
WNINTEL
SEPTEMBER 1980
copy 16 7
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
SOVIET FIELD HOSPITALS IN AFGHANISTAN (S)
1. (S/D) This report discusses the Soviet field hospital complexes observed in Afghanistan
since the Soviet invasion in December 1979. Information in this report was derived from imagery
acquired through
2. (S/D) Soviet field hospitals have been identified at the following airfields and major
Soviet deployment areas in Afghanistan (Figure 1):
Pol-E Khomri Soviet Deployment Area
Kunduz (Qonduz) Airfield
Kandahar (Qanda
Shindand Airfield
Kabul Airfield Int
t Area Northwes
Kabul Deploymen
3. (S/D) The Soviet field hospitals in Afghanistan use two basic t es of medical tents. The
USB-56 unified medical temporary tent is approximately and has a capacity of 20
beds (40 personnel). This type of medical tent is heated by two stoves with stovepipes extending
through the roof on either end. Interlocking-type vestibules permit the joining of this tent to other
USB-56 tents or to the UST-56 medical tent to form various configurations as situations dictate.
The UST-56 unified medical-technical tent is approximately and can hold five or
six beds (ten to 12 personnel). The UST-56 may be attached by vestibules or air locks to other
standard medical tents.'
4. (S/D) A combination of one UST-56 tent with two USB-56 tents has been observed at all
of the field hospitals in Afghanistan. Although the exact function of this tent configuration cannot
be determined, the UST-56 tent is probably used as an operating room with the two larger USB-56
tents probably being used as pre- and post-operation wards (Figure 2).
ital at Pol-E Khomri was first observed on imagery of
C.
IA h
osp
e
S/D) The
5. (
in the northeast portion of the installation. Elements contained in this hospital included two
probable operating room areas, five pairs of interlocking USB-56 and UST-56 tents, 18 single
USB-56 tents, and 25 single UST-56 tents.
6. (S/D) In early March, this hospital was relocated toward the center of the installation. By
d t
three Three pairs of USB-56
se
o
the prooauic vPciauug
and UST-56 interlocking tents, 20 single UST-56 tents, and 13 single USB-56 tents were also
observed.
7. (S/D) An analysis of imagery of indicated a substantial decrease in the
capability of this field hospital. The tents were no longer arranged in the probable operating room
configuration. However, four pairs of interlocking USB-56 and UST-56 tents, 27 single UST-56
tents, and seven single USB-56 tents were present.
8. (S/D) Pol-E Khomri is 75 nautical miles (nm) south of the Soviet border and 90 nm north
of Kabul. This area is the primary Soviet POL and logistical storage area in Afghanistan. Soviet
units located here include a motorized rifle regiment (MRR), a motor transport regiment, a
command post, and three small support units.
WNINTEL
Z-20078/80
-1-
SECRET IAR-0162/80
25X1
2oA]
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
aseiA,~nin \ \ n`\ Badak ri
T h'
ab ' Balkh f d r !
ArhnAb4
\ wawa ?l.. !...-.
YeYa?M % ISama ngan ,1.e Knanp ,~/
Jowzjan B ghl8n y ' J
hi
L../`. ` pamilan
nvp
O W f ~ v 1 Vardak" Ki4
\
~
7
`
r ~. O r u z g a n ./, f .iti,raea
:VPlC 59881
E
Helmand I
,
Iuz
ni \ m ("
~'FM Sanaeman
? SOVIET FIELD
HOSPITALS
0 50
0 50 100 Miles
FIGURE 1. LOCATIONS OF SOVIET FIELD HOSPITALS, AFGHANISTAN
9. (S/D) The field hospital at Kunduz Airfield was first observed on
northeast portion of the deployment area. This hospital initially contained six single USH-56 tense 25X1
six single UST-56 medical tents
d
, an
one probable operating room area. The hospital was relo-
cated toward the center of the deployment area by and currently contains 22 single USB-
56 tents, eight single UST-56 tents, two pairs of interlocking USB-56 and UST-56 tents, and one
probable operating room area.
10. (S/D) Kunduz Airfield is approximately 35 nm south of the Soviet border and 128 nm
north of Kabul. Soviet combat units located here include an MRR, a signal battalion, a reconnais-
ance battalion, a chemical defense battalion, a command post, major elements of an airborne
regiment, an airborne howitzer battalion, and an antiaircraft artillery (AAA) regiment.
II. (S/D) The field hospital at Kandahar rem-,' h
This hospital contains 12 large USB-56 single tents,utwo small UST-56 singlet tents, andnonnee 225X1
probable operating room area.
-2-
Z-20078/80 SECRET
i>. 1 ( G h
\ t o,a
`_ AeWA4
f o.nxAi, Z a b 01
Qand ar
Nimru2 / Stin BOld,4
n,m,n
IA R-0162/80
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
le
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
12. (S/D) This deployment area is in southern Afghanistan, approximately 60 nm north of
the Pakistan border. Soviet ground units deployed in this area include an MRR, two airborne
battalions, a signal battalion, and elements of an SA-8 air defense regiment.
13. (S/D) The field hospital at Shindand Airfield has been observed since 0 This 25X1
hospital facility consists of eight single USB-56 tents, seven single UST-56 medical tents, and one
probable operating room area.
14. (S/D) Shindand is in western Afghanistan, approximately 125 nm south of the Soviet
border, and probably serves as the headquarters for Soviet ground operations in western Afghani-
stan. The Soviet ground combat units located here include an MRR, an artillery regiment, a tank
regiment, an airborne battalion, a nondivisional multiple-rocket launcher (MRL) regiment, and
elements of an SA-8 air defense regiment.
15. (S/D) The hospital at Kabul Airfield International was identified on This 25X1
hospital contains one probable operating room area, two sets of interlocking USB-56 and UST-56
tents, eight single USB-56 tents, and six single UST-56 tents (Figure 3).
16. (S/D) This hospital is at the west end of the airfield in the airborne regiment bivouac
area. An airborne regiment and an ASU-85 airborne assault gun battalion are in this area.
17. (S/D) The hospital at Kabul Deployment Area Northwest was initially observed on ^
=and appeared to contain the most elaborate probable operating room facilities in Afghani- 25X1
stan. At least three probable operating room areas are at this hospital compound. Additionally,
four sets of interlocking USB-56 and UST-56 tents, one interlocking USB-56 tent set, 16 single
USB-56 tents, and one UST-56 interlocking tent set are in the hospital area.
18. (S/D) This deployment area is on the northwest edge of Kabul, and the area contains a
command post, a signal battalion, a motorized rifle battalion, an artillery regiment, an MRL
battalion, and divisional support units.
19. (S/D) A field hospital was identified at the Jalalabad Search Area on imagery of 0 25X1
The hospital bivouac contained one probable operating room area, five single USB-56 medical
tents, and two single UST-56 medical tents.
20. (S/D) This deployment area was in eastern Afghanistan at the mouth of the Komar
Valley and 4 nm south of Jalalabad. Soviet units observed included an MRR, an airborne battal-
ion, and a probable nondivisional communications unit.
21. (S/D) On [:= the hospital was observed being disassembled and it had been removed 25X1
from the area by the ground force units deployed there were no longer 25X1
present.
22. (S/D) All of the field hospitals observed in Afghanistan have an emergency vehicle
parking area within the hospital bivouac (Figure 3). Although no designated helicopter landing
areas directly associated with any of the hospitals have been observed, sufficient clear ground is
available at each location to accommodate aeromedical delivery and evacuation.
1. Hq Dept of Army. TB: 381-5-17, Technical Bulletin, Foreign Materiel Catalogue (FOMCAT), Gen
Egmt, C/ass. 8340: Tents, Vol 17, 15 Nov 77 (UNCLASSIFIED)
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. The may be directed to 25X1
Third World Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC, 2`2X1
-5-
Z-20078/80 SECRET
IA R-0162/80
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5
Secret
Secret
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/19: CIA-RDP80T01782R000100380001-5