ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX VERKHNYAYA SALDA, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04751A000200010033-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2001
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: October 1, 1961
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approve For Release 2001/11/19 : CIA-RDP78TO4751A000200010033-7 /
Copy 5 3 NPIC /B-30/61
8 Pages October 1961
ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX
Handle Via TALENT - KEYHOLE Control Only
This document contains classified information affecting the national security of the United States within
the meaning of the espionage laws U. S. Code Title 18, Sections 793 and 794. The law prohibits its
transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized person, as well as its use
in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign
government to the detriment of the United States. It is to be seen only by U. S. personnel especially
indoctrinated and authorized to receive TALENT-KEYHOLE information. Its security must be maintained
in accordance with KEYHOLE and TALENT regulations.
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
NIMA/DOD
Approved For Release 2001/11/19 : CIA-RDP78T04751A000200010033-7
 Approved For Relea
1/130c l
751A1
E00010033-7
NPIC/B-30/61
ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX, VERKHNYAYA SALDA, USSR
This ICBM launch complex, at which two road-served launch areas
and a road- and rail-served probable complex support facility have so
far been identified, is located in a forested area approximately 6 nautical
miles (nm) northwest of Verkhnyaya Salda.* It is the third deployed ICBM
launch complex in the USSR identified from KEYHOLE photography. The
others are near Yur'ya 1/, 2/ and Yoshkar-Ola 3/; a possible ICBM site
is near Kostroma 4/ (Figure 1).
25X1 D The launch areas were initially identified on pho-
25X1 D tography Their locations were covered by
25X1 D but the launch areas could not be identified because of small
25X1 D scale and darkness. The probable support facility is visible only on the
25X1 D coverage. Cloud cover on the September photography and small
25X1 D scale and darkness on the coverage preclude identification of
any additional facilities at the launch complex.
In construction, the complex is in the midstage, ahead of that at the
Yoshkar-Ola complex. The Yur'ya complex is considered complete, and
no comparison can be made with the possible site near Kostroma.
The ICBM launch complex is situated in a heavily industrialized SAM-
defended portion of the Ural Mountains (Figure 2). Two SAM sites have
been identified in the vicinity of the complex. One site, identified as
25X1 D early as is 15 nm west of the com-
25X1 D plex. The other, first identified on the photography, is
15 nm north of the complex. Both sites are probably for the defense of
nearby targets as well as for the ICBM launch complex. The nearest
airfield which could support operations at the complex is 8.5 nm to the
southwest, near Nizhniy Tagil and has a 6,600-foot-long runway.
25X1 D * This complex was originally named after Yas'va
25X1 D because the first launch area identified is loca e near as va. owever, since
un rea and the probable complex support facility, which were both identified later, are nearer to
Verkhnyaya Salda than to Yas'va, it has been deemed appropriate to change the name.
Approved For Relea 1/1?g RDt 51
 NPIC/B-30/61
.ems, a
10? 20? s0? 40? 50? 60? 70?
AREA
1{AR
EUROPEAN V--
R W A V-- .~ ~1 II ~'
Am e
SEA tEM~a d~?
T >~' VA GpCr
U.S.S.R.
e
?
OSTROV
KOIIOS V Vorkum
FIGURE 1. LOCATIONS OF l URMANS
le td
s?
ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEXES.
z ?Ktr n k
o(/s
rya Nor
d / ? ` U
ndalaksha
C-TCIe
Aocrc
A o -----
--- ep
Railroad (selected)
t-r 1 E
P"
Mew ls
w a~
BBelomorsk
od.
ARCHANGEL
%
0 100 200 300 400
I nags
Ukhto. Ka,dt^sl'O~
Statute Miles II
J
0 100 200 300 400 AA i
Kilometers
Palonod'
60
?'t
O
S 1V 5 uAHD l3 b ozavodsk
Labe
D
,'e
Sy of
V
60?
l
Eq, ? E(S/iVK/ --~ ?;J Loh, Onroa
~b
a?
-/- Kailas EFO
l
Lga(p
'rot, O(M
P/NGA ~F \ g~ l S~
\ V E K H N Y A Y A
K?^osh?
\ S'A L A
~ ing ? HIIOMgii ? LLINN LENING D._~.
~a
Or(71
v M x Novgorod
~v R' Y A / ~NN t AGU
ologda KIROV~ 0-TON
Fk0\'
`
Rervo
ea
1
G an
\
OSTROMA
K
s s s tie )___~ ?Kotel'ni h v'" SAO
S O
(P
H
CHERBA
Cie J Pskov Bulo
Py la IGq goye
,
i
MENSKN
KCjSTROMA 5VE1iDl
CK
SK
YARDS V
eli L'?.
7
\ KALININ
I
ki
Klai
>aP~
YOSHKAR-O A E`ISK-
IVANOV0 IZH \
?
?
pgda I Luk r a
Bait
s
/ Rzhev
~
U
,GOR'KIY N, Z~SOU VP N K
CNE
?
, /
v G _ ~mriN RA
``Q \~
MOSCO
O
?Vladimi ` Volga $
?UFA
MO'~ / )`~ \~
Bia
/ LENSK \ 1
\`
O \\ 'YANjSK MpGN\TOGOBS ~--
?-~ I
1I
\\
azan'\
\
iemeM1?MINSK ULA?
/
`~ea
Sarensk
J
am
\ /
,
7 N
2al /
08 ddv /( - ~:
? .r Baranovichi Bryansk??
H
. f
~K11YiS
) 111
`-~~/-?PENZA
t
]V D 1t~`Pinsk GOMELRh ?
~
`
_r
TAMBOV / HKp`
J
mo
\
50
\
hemi KURSK-~-
,,,/ Rovno eov
~ IVO
?
o, RATOV
(
ONEZH-\\
upmsk ~
,?Balashov-~~-~~./?
1
e m y e t l a v ~
Zhitomirl\,? SUMY?
IEV
1
,
AkH
?~IKrosnYY Kut
Valuyki;
CC N KHAR KOV
.
POLTAVA
XU AC];CHEq ti Vinnitsa
\1
Don
1
^~ '1rN ~S 1. / 1 \ J
\' 'p KIROVOGRAD NE ROPETROV K VOR?SH
\ \ST LINGRAD
LOVGRAD o B?shunch?k
CLUJ KRIVOY ROGI J OZH'YE GSTALINO-
U M IASI ~? ,// / TAGANROGI
N ISHI 1 Ni
ZHDANOV
I All, I N \~ ? h
? AKHTY Gur'yev
vane1.
Rrsrrr".'r v
STOV
TRAKHAN'
ra
eraon
io G'i Sta/in OF$Sq SEA of k\
AS
ep5
4zov
k
/
rt CH'
~-J KERCH
BUCH
DAR
SIMF
\~ ? RASN
Tikhorets
k
'
?
ERppp m
AREST
'~? nstan SEVASTOPOL, NovorossNs /
o
Stavropol
art ,chen
Maykop
?SOF/A I~; Tuapse
B
B v
GROIN
l
urgas .~
L G
?-A R I A a C K
a
akhachka
i
PLOVp/y S E A
Sukhum
DZAUDZHIKAU
C'R~-'"`-??e
r
Kutaisi
ma
o
C g r~I~AN 0?aP
4
\a
Batumi TIFLIS
av
40?
40
pq Zongultlak
p v
D .,. USK Samsun
?r'daaet4? l T U rabmn
l ANKA
K E y
'
k ~pd
"~ ayi
Krosn
Kam Le ina~anyKirovabaa: BAKU;?
G71
RA
E.4Ar S
Esk/ ""
o
`te
h
SE
?Y REYAN
t
- - E rum
.
n
the moP arc de hero bound- Eo
~
'9.O tom, Some boo?dodef shove on
21 IZMIR P. e. (,c&, n?t ne essP?ly ,eeognoed desninh by the
h
G
U
d &
- /Plo
/
o.-eminent
nite
Unrt,d States t, t
e
.-
~ p?ry ha: not .ecoyaGoo?G-1--t; ;ncorpomt;?n ! &-w, Lt,;., and
pBRR
Cf.
Lithuania ;am the S-iet Uai-
Base 13268 10-54 30? 40` - 50 NPIC G-4853.(10/61)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
pprove or a easr
&151100010033-7
 Approved For Relea
751.
X00010033-7
NPIC/B-30/61
25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1 D
The area of the Verkhnyaya Salda ICBM launch complex was covered
by the photography of The only activity observed was a rail
spur under construction leading north from the Nizhniy Tagil/Verkhnyaya
Salda rail line at a point 13 nm east-northeast of Nizhniy Tagil. The spur
apparently terminates near the area of the probable support facility,
which is faintly visible on the photography. Also visible in-
= but not identifiable, were the locations of the two launch areas (A
and B). In addition, this photography shows a road (new since M which
leads north from the main Nizhniy Tagil/Verkhnyaya Salda road, runs
through the probable support facility, and continues north-northeast for
approximately 10 nm. About 5 nm from where the road leaves the main
road, a branch runs west-northwest and serves the two launch areas
(Figure 3). On the basis of the ICBM Complex at Yur'ya, two other launch
areas are probably located along the northern extension of the launch
complex service road.
Launch Area A
Launch Area A (58-09N 60-16E) is 2.5 nm east-southeast of Yas'va.
This launch area, which is in the midstage of construction, is road served
and enclosed by a seven-sided fence (Figure 4). The fenced area meas-
ures approximately 2,100 by 1,800 feet overall and covers about 85 acres.
A second fence is under construction along the southeast side. In size and
configuration, the loop-road system and the clearings for the two launch
pads are similar to those at two of the four Yur'ya launch areas (Areas
C and D) and at the Yoshkar-Ola launch area, the launch area at Complex
C, Tyura Tam, and the possible site near Kostroma. Pad size cannot be
determined because of scarring and piles of dirt and construction mate-
rials. A shallow excavation, whose dimensions cannot be determined,
appears to be located near the middle of the right pad area. This exca-
vation may correspond to that beneath the pad at Launch Site 1-C, Complex
C, Tyura Tam. 5/, 6/ No vehicle stalls can be identified at either pad
area.
Approved For Releasy p1/1 DU M1 0010033-7
 Approved For Relea 1/'9EjCR6A-R
?75
kbb6i
NPIC/B-30/61
25X9
25X1 D
FIGURE 3. IDENTIFIED COMPONENTS OF THE ICBM LAUNCH COMPLEX. Construction began in
Approved For Releasf 1/1y RDt 51 .0010033-7
LAUNCH L / RAIL LINE
AREAS
NIZHNYAYA
SALDA
1 0 1 2 3 4 5
I, I I I I I I
NAUTICAL MILES
 Approved For Relea
1 /'ffqL9'Rf I~X-R
V00010033-7
NPIC/B-30/61
25X1 D
25X1 D
Although the grading for the loop-road system is not complete, enough
of the pattern is visible to indicate a pad orientation of approximately -
degrees and a pad separation of 1,000 feet. The road between the pads
and parallel to the long axis of the pads is not centered but offset to the
east. A similar offsetting, in either direction, is evident at the two other
deployed ICBM complexes. A narrow path or ditch extends between the
approximate centers of the pads. A corresponding line is evident at the
Approved For Releast 1/1 y
LAUNCH AREA
PAD SEPARATION - 1000?..
PAD ORIENTATION-
MISSILE READY
BLDG. 155' X 50'
FENCE
_ PAD AREA
-CLEARING FOR.
MISSILE READY BLDG.
SECURITY
BLDG.
p0010033-7
PROB. POWERLINE
25X1 D
 Approved For Relea
Lq? A-R S75 00010033-7
NPIC/B-30/61
25X1 D
launch areas - at Yur'ya and the possible site at Kostroma. If this is a
ditch, it could eventually contain buried cables from a centrally located
control building. Either of the two small structures near the center of
the launch area could be a control building. At least one small structure
in the same approximate location as these two structures can be identified
at the Yur'ya launch areas. The same arrangement of ditches and the
control bunker is also evidenced at Complex C, Tyura Tam.
A probable ditch leads from each of the two pad areas to a point be-
yond the fence line in the direction of the natural drainage system. Behind
one pad area is a missile ready building measuring 155 by 50 feet. A
clearing for a missile ready building has been prepared behind the other
pad area.
A support area for launch personnel, containing at least ten com-
pleted buildings and four under construction, is located about 2,500 feet
south of the launch area. Six of the ten completed structures are bar-
racks-type buildings measuring 145 by 50 feet. If these six are one-story
structures and if 150 square feet is allotted per man, together they could
accommodate about 290 men. A buried probable power line and a probable
water line leading from a small stream to the south parallel the access
road to the launch area. The water line appears to terminate at the per-
sonnel support area.
Launch Area B
Launch Area B (58-06N 60-22E) is 21,200 feet southeast of Launch
Area A. It is about 75 percent cloud covered. Part of the loop-road sys-
tem and the pad to the west are visible. This visible portion appears to
be more nearly complete than its counterpart at Launch Area A. From
what can be seen of the loop-road system, a pad orientation of approx-
imately M degrees is indicated.
-6
Approved For Releas1 1/1 D 7f 551 p0010033-7
 Approved For Relea
1/1382
4751A F00010033-7
NPIC/B-30/61
Probable Complex Support Facility
The probable complex support facility (58-03N 60-25E) consists of
two large clearings, one on each side of the complex service road and
each measuring approximately 6,000 by 1,000 feet. Darkness and small
scale preclude further interpretation.
Approved For ReIeasfp1/1&/ RD 43551
 Approved For Releas l/130f RQA-R
sm
(00010033-7
NPIC/B-30/61
25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1 D
5751
am
SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0156-13A, 2d ed, Oct 59, scale 1:200,000 (S)
ACIC. ONC D-4 (Kamskoye Reservoir), 2d ed, Aug 58, scale 1:1,000,000 (C)
1. NPIC. R-1/61 ICBM Launch Complex, Yur'ya, USSR, Jul 61 (TSCR)
2. NPIC. B-21/61 Operational Support Analysis, ICBM Launch Complex, Yur'ya, USSR, Aug 61
(TSCR)
3. NPIC. R-2/61 ICBM Launch Complex, Yoshkar-Ola, USSR, Jul 61 (TSCR)
4. NPIC. B-18/61 Possible ICBM Launch Site Near Kostroma, USSR, Aug 61 (TSCR)
5. CIA. PIC/JR-17/60, New Launch Area and Other Developments, Missile Launching Complex,
Tyura Tam, USSR, Jul 60 (TSC)
6. NPIC. PIC/JR-8/61 Tyura Tam Missile Test Center, USSR, A Comparison of-
Photography, Aug 61 (TSCR)
Approved For Relea
1/11~t RTRJ
n
Pr0010033-7
 Approved For Release 2001/11/19 : CIA-RDP78TO4751A000200010033-7
TOP SECRET
TOP SECRET
Approved For Release 2001/11/19 : CIA-RDP78TO4751A000200010033-7