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5
No.0
Dissemination Authorized Assistant Director Office of Current Intelligence
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RUSSIAN BALTIC SHIPYARD . IN TALLINN. ESTONIAN SSR
CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE AS SANITIZED
Office of Research and Reports CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
(ORRA)
RUSSIAN BALTIC SHIPYARD , IN TALLINN, ESTONIAN SSR*
Summary and Conclusions
The Russian Baltic Shipyard. in Tallinn. Estonian SSR. is an important ship-repair and modernization yard in the Baltic Sea area ot the Soviet Bloc. The shipyard was reconstructed by the Russians after World War II. but no building ways were added. The major function of the shipyard is the repair and modernization of naval vessels of fleet destroyer size and smaller, including submarines in the Soviet Baltic Naval Fleet. The shipyard also serves the fleetefueling station. The vulnerable location of Ihe shipyard at the mouth of the Gulf of Finland and thc development of shipyards eUewhere in the "USSR and tho European Satellites for the construction of naval and merchant vessels make the shipyard an unlikely site for thc construction of new vessels. '
The shipyard has abouteet of quay and pier berthing space, ofeet are allocated for refueling activities. eel of quay and pier frontage, together with the floating dry-dock, permit the simultaneous repairleet destroyers orlats submarines. Machine shops, foundry and forges, and hull fabrication shops have been developed to support adequately all repair and modernization activities. Current employment is estimated afersons.
The proximity of the shipyard to the Leningrad-Moscow industrial area adds considerably to the efficiency of the yard through Iheand the relatively short rail haul of components.
* The estimates and conclusions contained in this report represent the best judgment of ORR as
TOP fjLCHL T
I. Name and Location.
The Soviet Shipyard. commonly known ae the Russian Baltic Shipyardnd also known as Kopli No.opli, or Vene-Baltic. is situated on the tip of the Teliskopli Neem Peninsula, approximatelyautical miles southeast of Naissaar leland andautical miles southwest of the northwest Up of Paljassaar Island. It is roughlyiles west-northwest of the center of Tallinn (formerlystonian SSR. in Economic Region Ha.* The shipyard isautical miles by wateriles by rail west of Leningrad.* The plane coordinates areongitudeE. 2/
The approach to the shipyard from the Gulf of Finland is through open waters. Tides do not affect navigation, and variations upeet in the water level are due almost entirely to winds. Icewith navigation from the middle of January to the end of February. Icebreakers, however, usually are able to maintain open channels during the winter. 4/
Thc mean annual temperature isF. Extreme recorded temperatures areF in July and minusF in February. 5/
The shipyard iseet longeet wide and covers an area of9 million square feel, or approximatelycres.
Tallinn is an important railroad-terminal for railroads which connect the city with Leningrad, the Latvian SSR, and other parts of the USSR. oviet standard-gauge rail line connects theard with the city of Tallinn. 6/
* The term region in this report refers to the economic region defined and numbered on CIA.1 (First. USSR: Economic Regions.
** For serially numbered source references, see Appendix C.
11. History.
The Russian Baltic Shipyardn Tallinn had its origin during thc days of the ciarB when Estoniarovince of the Russian Empire. The shipyard had eight shipbuilding ways and was an important shipyard for thc construction of new vessels. The shipyard suffered much damage during Worldnd was not reconstructed during the period of Estonian independence. During the latter period, several unrelated private enterprisesew buildings, but there were no shipbuilding or ship-repair activities. 7/
Further damage was done to the shipyard during World War II. Following the war, reconstruction was started under thcof Soviet engineers with prisoner-of-war labor. Description of the reconstruction by many of these prisoners of war indicated that the shipyard was being developed to repair naval vessels, include ing .submarines, and to serveefueling station for naval vessels. At the time when the prisoners of war loft the shipyard ino reconstruction work had been started on the shipbuilding ways. No confirmed reports of ship construction have since been received, and it is believed that the principal activity has been naval ship repair. 8/
The shipyard is subordinate to thc Seventh Chiefthe Ministry of ShipbuildingSP). This Chief Directorateof Shipbuilding yards engaged in majorand repair work.
Thc city of Tallinn is thc capital, thc largest city, and the most important economic center and port in the Estonian SSR. Since World War II this port has become the main advanced base of the Baltic Fleet. The city of Tallinn, lying within the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, is well placed to defend the sea approaches
to Leningrad. The operations of this naval base are supported in part by the repair facilities of the Russian Baltic Shipyard.
It is believed that this shipyard is the only shipyard in the Baltic area under the jurisdiction of the Seventh Chief Directorate. For this reason, it is assumed that tho yard engages in activities similar to Shipyardn Vladivostok, Shipyardn Poti, and Shipyardn Sevastopol, all of which are subordinate to the Seventh Chief Directorate.
V. Building and Facilities.
Information on development of the Russian Baltic Shipyardn Tallinn aince9 is sparse. Much work remained to be done when the prisoners of war wore repatriated innd it is doubtful that the shipyard was fully activated untiluildings and facilities have been constructedermanent manner, indicating that the shipyard will be Integrated into Soviet long-range planning.
Intrayard transportation is chiefly by railroad of Soviet standard
The shipyard is protected on the land sideenceeet high. All entrances are guarded by armed guards, and entrance is by pass only.
Thc chart of the shipyard.developed from aerial photography but revised to agree with various intelligence reports, is believed toeasonably accurate picture. Shops in addition to those shown on the chart probably have been added, and mobile heavy lift facilities have been installed along the quays and piers. There are no reports that the original shipbuilding ways have been reconstructed. However, it is significant that during the reconstruction the old ways were not demolished and no new buildings were erected close by which might interfere with the future development in this area.
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Following the war, buildingsndere occupied bynot related to shipbuilding. ormerly known as the ETKVL plant, was engaged in the production of farm machinery-Buildingas engaged in the manufacture of bricks. During the reconversion period it was reported that these activities would be transferred to other locations in the Tallinn area and that the buildings would be converted into ahopa for the shipyard. IS/ It Is probable that this conversion took place
The shipyardloating drydock capable of docking veaaela of fleet destroyer size.
VI. Production.
The Russian Baltic Shipyardn Tallinn probably was not equipped for full operation until
the shipyardin refit work on the Gnevnyy-class andwell as in several unidentified
projects. Prisoners of war reported that destroyers and other small naval vessels were overhauled. Because the heavy lift facilities had not been installed on the repair quays, the work on the destroyers was accomplished by the useton floating crane.
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Anextenswe programlass submarine modernization has teen underway in the Black Sea area at Poti and Sevastopol and in the Pactfic area at Vladivostok. Thi. program was siarted in the
TWpy*'dl Molotovsk, but it washe fall Although not confirmed, it isprobable that themodernization for the Northern bea and Baltic Fleet areas ia underway at Shipyard.
Shop production is believed to be largely confined to rebuild-.ng worn or damaged parts of ve.sels and to assembling new components for replacement. It is doubtful whether any majorof components is accomplished.
VII. Technical and Labor Force'.
Assuming that the Russian Baltic Shipyards engaged in repalr and modernization work oniy. it is estimated that the current total employmentinimum ofersons. The
f,h'PDya aWV'heshipyards in the SSR and operates on oneour shift, with certain shop, and possibly some vessel repair of high priority working additional
Vlll. Sources of Power and Material.
Electric power is supplied byw Tallinn Thermal Power
eceives components from
plants in;
*neturnisneci Dy lhcs= plants probably is in connection with the Interplant Cooperation Plan (Mczh Zavodskoye Kooperirovaniyehich provides for standardized production of components.
Because of thc proximity to thekraine industrial and steel-producing region, adequate sources of supply for machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, and iron and steel are available to the shipyard through relatively short rail hauls.
IX. apabilities and Vulnerabilities.
A. Capabilities.
% Thc Russian Baltic Shipyardn Tallinn has adequate picrB, quays, floating drydocks, and shops to effect repair and modernization of hull and machinery and possibly of electronicon naval vessels of fleet destroyer size and smaller.
Assuming that one quay.n the shipyardill be used exclusively for refueling, the remaining quay and pierincluding thc floating drydock, provide berthing space for the simultaneous repairleet destroyers orlass submarines.
Although the shipbuilding facilities were not reconstructed, the shipyardotential shipbuilding yard. It is estimated thateriodoonths the old building ways could benew platens for the assembly of hull subsections could beand other facilities related to new construction could bc brought into production. The undeveloped area adjacent to the old
* Inside back cover.
shipbuilding ways could easily bc developed into platen areas Tor the assembly of hull subsections, and the shipbuilding ways could be reconstructed to provide building facilities for the simultaneous constructionruisersoastal destroyersclass submarines. The supporting shops in the shipyard are believed to be adequate lo produce new vessels, assuming that all hull steel would be fabricated and assembled within thc shipyard from rolled platcfi and shapes, that light castings and forgings would bewithin the shipyard, that all machinery would be assembled and inotallcd, and that probably all naval ordnanco would be Machinery, ordnance, heavy castings, and forgings, including propellers and propeller shafts, would be procured from the industrial areaiyngrad, probably from one of the larger shipyards in Leningrad. The development of thc shipyard to construct new vessels would practically preclude repair work.
It is believed, however, because of the followingany future expansion of thc shipyard will be in the directionrepair facilities such as graving docks and marineconstructed in the area of thc old building ways, hipbuilding yard because of the followingthe proximity of the shipyard to the Baltic area of theoperations as well as to the fleet's base in Tallinn makessituated for fleet maintenanceheof the USSR to develop naval shipbuilding facilitiesinterior or at least in less vulnerable locations suchNikolayev, and Komsomol'skrendthat can bc protectedonger period of time inhe use of the yard to build merchant vesselu isbe very remote in view of thc merchant shipbuildingthe Baltic region of the Soviet
B- Vulnerabilities.
The Russian Baltic Shipyardn Tallinn probably has developedell-coordinated plant. As the shipyard is locatediles, by rail. *eal of Leningrad and haa good railroad connections with the Leningrad industrial area, it can
APPENDIX A
METHODOLOGY
This report was compiled chiefly from post-World Wardetermination
of the use to which tne snipyara would oe puc was derived principally from an analysis of reports by repatriated prisoners of war and confirmed by other intelligence roports and digests
The chart of the shipyard wan compiled by4 aerial photographyase and revising this base to agree with reported development
The labor force was estimated byactorquare feet per employee and calculating thc total area of all buildings, including the area of multiple floorspace ofeet along each pier and quay. This method evolved from data obtainedumber of US shipyards and has been found toeneral with data obtained from shipyards in East Germany
ie
Wirt ho ui* .
Office building
Pumplnz station (Fuel oild s>
S feotWgS12S0 feet
Pler.WO tot- .
BOO tot -V, K"
"
building, uie un'/rtawn
shop
is. Transformer jioiton
;J. Ol]
ire house * IS! leel'lcak"
- hmW Shop 1
manufacture of laimi _
Si! Shop'bu^inB. Iw'unknoibrick
OW-bRekua/flGuardntrances: Rail aad Mjlv
"ire* former crane rails arracks.
RUSSIAN BALTIC;:.
SH1PYARD0
TALLINN,'.RF
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Original document.
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