177-10002-10105 JFK Assassination System _ Date: "3/6/2018 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY:  LBJ RECORD NUMBER: — 177-10002-10105 RECORD SERIES: NSF, CF, USSR, VOL. 21, BOX 226 AGENCY FILE NUMBER : Document Information ORIGINATOR: CIA FROM: TO: TITLE: SPECIAL REPORT--WEEKLY REVIEW DATE: 09/13/1968 PAGES: ll SUBJECTS : INTELLIGENCE REPORT DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: Top Secret RESTRICTIONS: Consulted; Mandatory Review Material CURRENT STATUS: = Redact _ DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 07/06/1994 OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS: DOC. #57 v9.1 ‘ 1
TOP SECRET (Security Classification) CONTROL NO. Sc. No. 007Zt6EB LB] COPY 3 OF EMARKS: Da COMINT Channels Access to this document will be restricted to those approved for the following specific activities: NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions TOP SECRET (Security Classification)
Top Secret *! DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE | 7 The Developing Soviet Submarine Force Special Report | : WEEKLY REVIEW Top Secret whew 13 Sentemher I
fa TOP SECRET| | | THE DEVELOPING SOVIET SUBMARINE FORCE The Soviet naval leadership, commanding the . world’s largest submarine fleet, is undertaking a pro- gram to increase the operational capabilities of the force. Four new classes of submarines—three tor- pedo-attack classes and a new Polaris-type missile- firing submarine—are in production, and several older classes are being improved and reconditioned. In ad- dition, since the early 1960s the range, number, and duration of open ocean patrols by Soviet submarines have been generally increasing. TOP SECRET | . Pagel. SPECIAL REPORT 13 Sep 68
TOP SECRET, | Fleet Modernization The new Polaris-type sub- marine--designated the Y-class-- carries 16 SS-N-6 ballistic mis- siles with ranges ofsome 1,500 miles. These 425-foot-long sub- marines. are currently being built at Severodvinsk in the Soviet Northern Fleet area. The first units should be operational soon and 40 or more could be in serv- ice by the mid-1970s, ‘Two new classes of nuclear- powered attack submarines are also being built~-one at Lenin- grad shipyard and the other at Gorkiy. At least one of these classes probably was specifically designed to engage enemy subma- vines. A third class of attack submarine is under construction in the Soviet Far East; its means of propulsion is not yet known. - In addition to these new con- struction programs, the Soviets are. reconditioning many of their older classes of submarines. There are no indications that the Soviets intend to introduce a new class of cruise-missile submarine, however, and con- -struction of these submarines is apparently ending as the Soviets approach their desired force level for these anticar- rier units. , Operational Implications Strategic targets in the middle of the US are beyond xeach of the 650-mile SS-N-5 TOP SECRET SPECIAL REPORT Page 2 carried on the older ballistic- missile submarines, but are within range of the SS-N-6 carried on the Y-class. By the mid-1970s, Soviet ballis- tic-missile submarines may present a strategic threat com- parable to that of the US Polaris fleet and be able to operate with less risk of detection than earlier classes of Soviet mis- sile submarines. The introduction of the new classes of attack submarines suggests that the Soviets are attempting to come to grips with the Polaris threat. The Soviets apparently are counting on their submarines to help blunt that threat by attempting to destroy Polaris submarines before they can launch their missiles. Soviet ballistic-missile submarines frequently patrol within range of US Polaris bases and could destroy a num- ber of Polaris submarines by attacking these bases. The new Soviet attack submarines may be able to locate and de- stroy a few Polaris submarines in confined waters through which those submarines frequently must pass, such as the Irish Sea or the Sicilian Straits. Combined operations with new Soviet surface ships, such as the Moskva-class helicopter car- riers and Kresta~ and Kashin- class guided-missile ships, will provide some antisubmarine capability in the ocean approaches 13 Sep 68
TOP SECRET The Soviet Submarine Force uy 24 ° Fleet Headquarters PIF 8-68 CIA Viadivostok BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINES TOP SECRET o o ef », & & gs & gg F&F = RS * J - Fs e = cs) to) a Nuclear-powered Ballistic missile 9 0 0 1 Cruise missile 16 it] 0 17 Attack 14 0 0 4 Diesel-powered Ballistic missile 18 1 1 8 Cruise missite 11 3 5 6 Attack 91 64 32 65 Y¥-CLASS Nuclear powered . Carries 18 SS-N-6 missiles in hult 425 feet long Now being deployed H-CLASS Nuclear powered Carries three SS-N-4 or SS-N-5 missiles in sail 380 feet Jong 9 in service G-CLASS Diesel powered Carries three SS-N-4 or SS-N-5 missiles in sail 320 feet long 22 in service Z-CONVERSION CLASS Diesel powered Carries two SS-N-4 missiles in sail 295 feet lang 6 in service
TOP. SECRET CLASSES OF SOVIET SUBMARINES Nuclear Powered Diesel Powered Ballistic Missile Y. Ballistic Missife G H 2 Conversion Cruise Missile E-1 Cruise Missile J E-11 W Conversion Attack N Attack F Vv Zz Cc R. One New Class “B’” Ww 91876 8-68 CIA to the USSR and in the Mediter- ranean. Deployment Patterns Soviet submarines are as- signed to each of the four fleets~--Northern, Pacific, Bal- tic, and Black Sea. Because of the restricted exits from the Baltic and Black Seas, how- ever, most of the missile- equipped units and all of the nuclear-powered units are based in ice-free ports of the Kola Peninsula (Northern Fleet) and in the Pacific Fleet. The Soviets are apparently trying to reduce the dispropor- tion between the two major fleets~--the Northern and the Pacific. Although the North- ern Fleet still holds the favored position, several nuclear sub- marines have been transferred under the polar ice to the Pa- cific andanumber of modern diesel units have joined the TOP SECRET SPECIAL REPORT Page 4 Northern Sea Route convoy in past summers. The Baltic Fleet is re- sponsible for protecting Soviet coastal waters and for furnish- ing diesel submarines for pa- trols off the US Polaris: base at Holy Loch. Moscow has also begun sending Baltic Fleet sub- marines to the Mediterranean to take some of the strain off the Northern Fleet, which has been furnishing most of the units operating there. There are no nuclear submarines in the Bal- tic, and the few cruise-missile units there operate in coastal waters, , The Montreux Convention of 1936 places severe limita- tions on the passage of Soviet submarines through the Turkish Straits. Black Sea - based submarines can pass into the Mediterranean only if they are headed for another fleet area for repairs. For this reason, only older diesel units are based in the Black Sea. Once in the Mediterranean, however, these units operate there for about 60 days on their way to and from Baltic shipyards. Patrol Activity Most of the increase in the level of Soviet submarine operations during the past year is attributable to the station- ing of a force of six to ten submarines--mostly diesel attack units--in the Mediterranean since 13 Sep 68
. TOP SECRET | : | | June 1967; at least one nuclear unit is usually included in the force. atrols this year have been of longer duration, however, thereby resulting in more sub- Conversion and overhaul marine time at sea. of first-generation ballistic- Soviet Submarine Deployments 1965-1968 Total 138 Total 116 | Total 114 NORTH Lt BALTIC BLACK Number of deployed units, not including routine interfleet transfers or fleet exercise participants. PACIFIC 91946 9-68 CIA TOP SECRET| _| Page 5 SPECIAL REPORT 13 Sep 68
TOP SECRET missile submarines and the re- assignment of their crews to new Y-class units have probably been at least partly responsible for the decline in ballistic- missile submarine activity. In addition, the loss of a G-class submarine in the Pacific in mid- March apparently resulted in a three-month standdown in patrols by these units. That incident probably caused the Soviets to implement new safety measures, Moreover, as the Soviets prepare ~ to deploy new Y-class submarines, they may be reassessing the military value of sending their diesel-powered units into the mid-Atlantic and mid-Pacific patrol areas. [a Sfiés GI Single E-Class units has been almost continuously present in the Mediterranean. Some of the submarines on re- cent patrols have also engaged in other activities such as hydroacoustic research and support of naval training ma- neuvers. J-class diesel-powered cruise-missile submarines ap- parently have been used primarily for peripheral defense. In late 1966, the first of these units to venture into the Mediterranean broke down and limped back to its base in the Northern Fleet. Some of the TOP SECRET SPECIAL REPORT Page 6 older W-class units are equipped to launch cruise missiles, but these, too, operate only near Soviet shores and probably are being retired from service. Recent patrols by diesel attack submarines in the Medi- terranean have been extended to as long as six months through the use of Arab and Yugoslav ports for upkeep, reprovision- ing, and crew recreation. Pre- vious patrols by Soviet sub- marines in the Mediterranean had lasted less than two months. Last year, a submarine support group operated for nearly six months off the west coast of Africa in a program to study the feasibility of submarine operations from a floating base. The group consisted of a sub- marine tender and a missile supply ship, and was assisted briefly by a survey vessel and two intelligence collection ships. Several other ships provided logistic support. Four submarines participated in the group's operations. One of these--a nuclear-powered unit-- was away from home waters for more than six months. Once the new ballistic-mis- sile submarines go on patrol, the Soviets may make greater use of such floating support bases on the high seas. Floating base ships would be vulnerable in 13 Sep 68
(TOP SECRET Soviet Submarine-Launched Missiles pas US OPERATIONAL WARHEAD DESIGNATION = 10C RANGE WEIGHT REMARKS CRUISE $5-N-3 1961 250 NM 1,000- Carried by E-1 and E-ll- MISSILE 2,000 Ibs. class nuclear submarines and by J-class diesel units. A few W-class diésel torpedo attack submarines were modified to carry this missile. Surface launched. BALLISTIC SS-N-4 1960 300 NM About Carried by most G-class MISSILES 2,200 lbs diesel submarines and by some H-class nuclear units. A few Z-class diesel torpedo attack submarines were modified to carry this missile. Surface launched. SS-N-5 1963 650 NM 1,600- Carried by most H-class 2,400 Ibs nuclear submarines and by some G-class diesel units. Underwater launched. SS-N-6 Probably 1,500 NM 700- Probably intended for the 1968 1,700 Ibs new Y-class nuclear sub- TOP SECRET| marines. These 16-tube Polaris-type units first went into service in mid-1968.
TOP SECRET wartime, but ballistic-missile Submarines operating from such bases south of the Azores, for example, could remain on-station off the US coast longer than could units deployed from the Kola area. Cruise-missile and attack submarines would also profit from mid-ocean bases, reducing the number of long transits to and from patrol areas. The USSR recently has achieved several technological advances in submarine support. New and more powerful radio transmitters serving submarines on distant patrols are now in operation in the USSR. A navi- gation satellite system cur- rently being tested may permit Soviet submarines to determine their positions with greater accuracy even inthe most un- favorable weather and sea con- ditions. Hydroacoustic re- search ships have conducted surveys in the past few years in areas of the Atlantic and Pacific where the Soviets might hope to detect Polaris subma- rines and in the Canary Island Basin and Philippine Sea where they may intend to operate their own submarines. ror secrer| _| Page 8 SPECIAL REPORT 13 Sep 68
v9.1 JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY:  LBJ RECORD NUMBER: — 177-10002-10105 RECORD SERIES: NSF, CF, USSR, VOL. 21, BOX 226 i AGENCY FILE NUMBER : Document Information ORIGINATOR: CIA FROM: TO: TITLE: SPECIAL REPORT--WEEKLY REVIEW DATE: 09/13/1968 PAGES: i] SUBJECTS : INTELLIGENCE REPORT DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : Top Secret Consulted; Mandatory Review Material Redact ~ 07/06/1994 DOC. #57 Date: 3/6/2018