USE OF SOVIET LARGE HATCH SHIPS IN THE CUBAN TRADE ( S-1366)

Created: 11/25/1964

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

O L!T

INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM

USE OF SOVIET LARGE HATCH SHIPS IN THE CUBAN TRADE

DIRECTORATE Or INTELLIGENCE Office of Research and Reports

GiOur I

This document contains classified information affecting the national security of the United States wiUMn>hlfmeaning of the espionage laws. US Code. The law prohibits its transmission or the revejrfnon of Its contents in any manner to an unauthorizedwell as its use In any manner prejudicial lo the safety or intea^Tol the United Slates or for the benefit of any foreign goverma^nt to the detriment of the United States.

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Research and Reportsovember 4

INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM

Use of Soviet Large Hatch Ships in ths Cuban Trade

1. ajor part of Its modernization programs tho Soviet merchant fleet has made substantial additions of large hatch dry cargo ships "Large hatch Ships have design features which facilitate cargo handling and the transport of large and heavyand agricultural machinery. Those ships have been used by the USSR on all of its major trade routesthe Cuban trade. The use of large hatch ships in the Cuban trade has been particularly significant because of their role In the introduction of offensive weapons and missiles If such weapons were to be reintroduced in Cuba tbey would undoubtedly be carried ln large hatch ships.

2 The Soviet merchant fleet has seven classes Of vessels classified as Urge hatch shipsBeloretsk Krasnograd. Murom. Omsk. Poltava/Perckop, Simferopol, and Vyborg classes. This memorandum will excludeofhips of tho Beloretsk class andhips of the Simferopol class since they do not have the olnimumoct--deomed necessary for the concealed transport of MHBM and larger missiles.

At least mni/a -

per

llvcrcd5 and orders have been placed for ships of the Krasnograd class during the next plan

.

l-argo lutch ships have continued to move In the Cuban trade since the lifting of the US quarantine onovember arrival of large hatch ships since lhat dates shown in the attached Figure. etailed listing of large hatch shipand the cargoes they carried through4 is shown ln Tabic II.

These Ships made 34 trips to Cuba ccounting forercent ofalls made by Soviet dry cargo ships in that year. through November, large hatch ships will have made an estimatedrips to Cuba, accounting for aboutercent ol the lotal calls by Soviet dry cargo ships in the same period. This Increase in the use of largo hatch ships in the Cuban trade is consistent with the increasing numbers of large hatch ships made available ln the past two years. The Increased use of those ships is also consistent with the rational usage of shipping

for lhe substantial long-haul movements of large, heavy industrial and agricultural machineryrade denied.substantial amounts of world shipping tonnage.

movement

of large hatch ships indicates that they have not been assigned any unique role in the transport of military cargoes to Cuba in Military shipments, io fact, have declined during the year and .nowriori-pally of maintenance

maintenance Deliveries of Soviet military cargoes to Cuba will now probably be mixed with normal commercial cargoes.

7; The large hatch ships currently In thehave for-

tvne of cmrRoes.

ver los.

ships are engaged ln basicallyoperations. During2 militarySoviet ships known to carry military cargoesto less thanercent of theirhe large hatch ships io the Cubancargo tonnage aaounting to over 57 - hi.ooinK involve** '

-2-

SpGRDT

TABLE I

Deliveries cf Large Hatch Ships to the Soviet Merchant Flc<;t

3ar.e fs^th)

st.e (acr.tbj

(Jul) /Kovrov (Dec)

) Krasnograd (Dec) Xaracbaevsk (Oct) Xespljsk (Oct)

Kaslnov(Dec)

Kallnlnabad (jun) Kanev (Aug)

iOrenburg (Mar) Okhotsk (JulO

Orekhovo (Oct) Orasha (Nov)

;

Polotsk (Sep/Oct) ec) Beec)

Vyborg (Dec)

Omsk(Dec)

oltava (Dec)

(May) Xrasnodon (Sep) Xraanokaask (Apr) Xrascourak'sk (Jun) Krasnoye Selo (Oct) Xoasunarsk (Dec)*

Mux OB (Mar) Matsektsinsk (Aug) Morshonok (Oct) Mozdok (May) Mozhsysktsensk (Dec)"

Otrodonoe (Mar) Ola (Jul) Ostrogoihsk (Nov)

Predniprovskryanskl Rabccal (Oct)1

Vyatka (Oct) Vyarna (May) Vellklye Lukl (Jul)

Tbls colurx includes estimated deliveriesmarked vith

to be delivered in Decesiber. Also designated es tbe Perekopodification of the Poltava elf

1

nrm iaroi hatch ship arrivals rs cdba.

DATK OF ARRIVAL

Kalinlnabad

onsonsonsorn generalncluding bull-dozers and tractora.

Kleovsa

Kraacouf iM*

ons including:easonsonstons identified general cargo;ons unidentified.

Cargoornfons identified generaltonsons cbcnlesls;orn unidentified general cargo.

Cargooneons cbenicals;toaaons general* tool octal.

totallingtonsonsons fertiliser;ons a*ed cal a;ons general.

Cargoonsons general (including SAMon* oats;ons fertiliser.

EATCE 3HIT ARarVAIfl* (Cooilcued)

Kallnlnabad

Krasnograd

April Kaaev

Ksslaov

Kiaovsk

Vyborg

Kav

Koreahoevo-Cberkasslya

KXlfl

arch

IT March

prilpril

6 April

5 Apriloyay

Cargoonsoni ammoalum sulfated3 toot general cargo for various projects.

Cargo9 tonsens notal products;ons chemicals;oot general.

Cargoonsonsonsonsonsfii tons general (equip-eent for projects; trucks; tractors end autos).

Cargoon*onst15

tons vocdpulpons general ofs unidentified.

Cargoonsonsonsons general cargo (trucks, tractors and equipment).

Cargo3 tons vbaat.

In ballast.

Cargoons including: ej tornons tons octaleneral industrial cargo.

^aamnmnY*

SOVIPr LAROK HATCH SHIP AM

Kcvrov

Kraanogred Kroanokamsk

Krosr.ouf task

Jung

Klcovsk

Koidok Poltava

Vyazma

Vyborg

DATSMI1 May

ay

ayune

une

Xk June

une

navarjt

Jucaro Havana

Guayabal Havana

atanzae

Havana

Havana

Cargooesoes asBonluaons food; lo tonsons identified generalons unidentified.

In ballast.

Cargo estimated toonsons caustic9 ton* general (Psper, industrial eculpment, motor vehicles and tractors).

In ballast.

Cargo totallingtonsonsoes octal and products;tons general cargo (primarily for various projects).

In ballast.

Cargok0 tons oilitory goods--lncludlngircraft.

Cargoonsons food;onsons netsl

Q2 tODS Jute3 tons

general.

Cargoonsonaons general, ofons trucks and tractors.

SOVIET LARGE HATCH SHIP

OP ARRIVAL

Xaalxov

Havana

ovenber

Kespijsk

Havana

ovenber

1 Kovenber

Minsk

Havana

November

ovember

Havana

Otradr.oe

November

Polotsk

ovember

oveaber

Cargooesons foodstuffsons unidentified cargo.

Cargoonsons potatoes;0 tons}ons Industrial equipoent and machinery.

Cargoonsonsaaoniuaons generalonsonsonsons tin and ll6 tons lathes and trucks.

Cargoons including:tonsonsons trucks, tractors and combines.

Cargo1 tonsonsons acta!onsons trailers.

Cargol5 tonsonsonsons general industrial goods.

Cargoonsonsonsons out-bags.

Cargoons general including equipment for various projects, truck*,combines,ons foodstuff*.

Original document.

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