JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY : NARA RECORD NUMBER : 176-10036-10054 ~RECORD SERIES : National Security Files AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM : TO: TITLE : DATE : 10/18/1962 PAGES : 4 SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : ~ RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 9/10/2000 OPENING CRITERIA :: COMMENTS : Nationa! Security Files, Box 51: Cuban Subjects: intelligence materials - 10/1/1962-11/12/1962. Box 1 HW 49061 Docld:32629771 Page 1
/ . 2 ft ‘ HW 49061 SANIT( VED Nea. 05h EE (1 > 18 October 1962 Ba Ci 1. According to OPLA-0174 IN 25921, 20 Sept 62, an untested source reported driving in an easterly direction on Avenida 23, Marianao, Habana, on 12 September 62, when he encountered _a_con- voy of 20 Soviet-driven trucks pulling canvas-covered 65-70 feet long trailers, proceeding west towards Ciudad Libertad. Upon arrival at Ciudad Libertad, the militia jeep escort lead- ing the convoy was waved off .and the convoy entered the installa- tion. Trailers were loaded with what “source believed to be large missiles which extended over the end of the trailer. Can- vas, over what appeared to be wood framers, presented the silhouette of what source believed were four fins on the trail- ing edge of the missile. The source drew sketches of the load silhouette, which resembled a SURFACE-TO-SURFACE SS-4 "SHYSTER" . TFW/Intel R/Comment: The SS-4 "SHYSTER" is a single stage, vertically. launched, liquid propellant, medium range ballistic missile with a range of 500 to 700 nautical miles. 2.- In March 1962 two amphibious tracked carriers were observed at. the military garrison of Jovellanos, Matanzas Province. Uncovered rockets were visible on the carriers where canvas covers had been rolled. up and secured with straps at the side of the rockets. (Field Comment: Source identified the above rocket ima technical manual as a FROG rocket, quali- . fying the identification by saying that altho the rocket .was mounted on a tracked amphibious carrier, it did not appear to have the bulbous tip shown in the photograph but, rather, the rounded configuration of a 45. cal bullet.) (TDCSDB-3/651,616, 5 October 62). TFW/Intel R/Comment: The FROG (Free Rocket Over Ground) is an unguided field artillery rocket mounted on a modified JS tank -chassis, sometimes confused with the SS-1 guided SURFACE-TO- SURFACE missile "SCUD", which is also mounted on the same chassis. The FROG has a range of 70,000 yards or 64,000 meters. (OPLA-0174,. IN-25921, 20 September 62). 3. At 1100 hours 9 August 62 an untested source observed numerous Soviet vehicles between Placetas and La Esperanza, Las Villas Province, proceeding northwest on the Central Highway. The vehicles in the convoy consisted of 20-25 large Soviet trucks and Low-Boy type trailers, about 15 of which were trans-—- porting JS model tanks, one "tank-like vehicle of tracked , mobility with long canvas-covered rectangular object mounted on top of. tank frame, possibly identifiable as a JS tank chassis modified for transport of ROCKETS or SURFACE-TO-SURFK E MISSILES, or Bridge-Laying purposes."" All convoy personnel were apparently young Soviet types. (TFW/Intel R/Comment: A-canyas—covered tank chassis would have approximately the same configuration for a bridge-laying unit ,FROG Rocket, or SS-1 "SCUD"Surface-to-Surface GM. The SCUD is a single stage, solid propellant, GM mounted on the modified chassis of the JS tank series. The "SCUD" has a maximum range of 75 to 100. nautical miles; the nearest US cqudgaiant is the Corporal. an tes we eee — gdh fl oe : - DocId:32629771 Page ?
4. Two flat-bed trailers were joined together in order to transport a 1,000 mile range rocket. The vehicles departed Santiago de Cuba (no date given) in the direction of Palma Soriano, Oriente Province. (TDCS-3/525,272, 16 October 1962) 5. On 4 or 5 July 1962 an untested source reported ob- serving a cleared area approximately 50 meters square, at SOROA, Pinar del Rio Province. Along steel object constructed of girders, was on the flatbed of a trailer truck, and one end of the object was attached to the trailer bed, while the other end was attached to a heavy chain & hook suspended from a truck- \ mounted crane parked nearby. The object appeared as if it might be’ a launcher of some type, and was approximately 50 feet long. More than a dozen "cylindrical metal tubes, approximately 30' long and 18-20" wide, were on the ground near the object. (OO-K-3/118,381, 31 August 1962) In August 1961 an untested source had reported a missile or rocket-launching site and a large underground storage room.or tunnel on the ranch of Dr. Jose "Pepe” Avita, near Soroa, in one of three high hills in the immediate area. (00-K-3,193,688, 18 August 1962) 6. On 19 September 1962, according to an untested source, large Intercontinental Rockets, over 20 meters long, were un- loaded from the ship. (Headquarters Comment: It is more likely that. source observed SA-2 missiles being offloaded. ) 7. At 0700 hours 18 September 1962, and.at 1200 hours 17 September 1962, trains stopped at the Victoria de las Tunas. (Oriente) railroad station. On each occasion the trains were transporting equipment "which lookéd like missiles, and other equipment. which might have been’ ‘big generators./? The missiles were described as "about 25 to 30 feet long, and about 3 to 34 feet in diameter." The missiles were in open flatcars, and each car waS carrying two of these missiles. There was no way to determine the destination of the trains. On 17 or 18 September two farmers were overheard talking in Tunas de Zaza about a rocket base being constructed at Las. Mercedes, near Niquero. (TFW Field Comment: Sources were shown pictures of the SS-4, which appeared in the Army Tech manu#l. The sources said, in essence, "the weapon they saw was somewhat Similar to the $s-4, however, was only about 25 to 30 feet* long and had a much blunter. nose section. (UFG-1657, 9 October 1962). HW 49061 DBocld:32629771 Page 3
HW 49061 CADE (TFW/Intel/R Comment: The SS-4 "SHYSTER" is a single stage, vertically launched, liquid propellant, medium. ballistic missile, similar in many ways to the US Redstone. The SS-4 SHYSTER has a range of 500 to 700 nautical miles.) 7 - ~'*8. According to The Cuban Report, published by the Students Revolutionary Directorate, 28 September 1962, Miami, "one of the principal Soviet strongholds in Matanzas. Proviiice, is:‘in the Yumuri Valley, about 1 mile from the north coast of Matanzas Province, and about 5 miles west of the City of Matanzas. Its construction was begun about a year and a half ago..." In some of these tunnels can be. found some equipment about 70 feet long and 8 or 10 feet in height.. Their description forces us to believe that they are ballistic missiles of intermediate range (IRBM) of great destructive power..." . CoO 2-a DoclId: 327629771 Page 4
9. Soviet Bloc personnel were reported working in the highlands of Palenque, between Elena. sugar central and Paso del Medio, and in the upper slopes. of Pan de Matanzas, north of Paso del Medio and south of Corral Nuevo, in Matanzas Province. (CS-3/491,937, 3 November 61). 10. Arms storage facilities in Matanzas Province are at - Quinta Arrechavaleta, in La Cumbre (N 23-06, W 81-32); and on the Figueres finca, in the Yumuri Valley (N 23-05, W 81-35). . (CS-3/480,839,.17 July 61.) 11. A missile base was reported approximately 2-1/2 km southeast of Caraballo, between the railroad from Caraballo to Bainoa, and the road from Caraballo to Aguacate, Matanzas Province. (CS 3/49#,288, 31 October 61). 12, Approximately 300 meters west of the Chirino highway, the "Manolo Laureiro'' Mines have been converted into storage, deep pits dug, a tunnel constructed, and a concrete roof ‘erected over the excavation, subsequently. covered with trees and brush . (CS 3/484,775, 25 August 61). 13. In the now ‘inactive MARGOT Mines (Minas de Margot) the tunnels have been enlarged and reinforced with concrete. These tunnels have been ventilated with modern equipment and bave an independent electrical plant. (The Cuban Report supra). 14. There is a missile base in Camarioca, Matanzas Province, covering Miami. (The Cuban Report, ibid). 15. There is a missile base on the Buenavista farm, on the road leading from the sugar mill Trinidad (Trinidad Central) to the city of Trinidad, south coast of Las Villas Province. It .is geographically on the nearest Z and most direct distance from Cuba to the Panama Canal. (The Cuban Report, ibid). | *k# * * ceeREl HW 49061 Docld:32629771 Page 5