SOVIET ANTITANK GUIDED MISSILE SYSTEMS NOW DEPLOYED IN CUBA, EAST GERMAN, AND I

Created: 5/20/1963

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

9T

Support Brief

SOVIET ANTITANK GUIDED MISSILE SYSTEMS NOW DEPLOYED IN CUBA. EAST GERMANY. AND IRAQ

CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE AS9

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Research and Reports

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SOVIET ANTITANK GUIDED MISSILE SYSTEMS NOW DEPLOYED IN CUBA. EAST GERMANY. AND IRAQ

Theecently developed Soviet antitank guided missile system (see Figureollowings believed to bo widely deployed in the USSR and has been observed, with Soviet armored units in Cuba. This system also probably is deployed in East Germany with both Soviet and East Gorman forces and was scheduled to be delivered to Iraq. It may also be deployed in Yugoslavia. An even more recent version of the SNAPPER, the SWATTER (see Figureollowing p.asin the Moscow Paradeut there is as yet no evidence that this system has been deployed. Both the SNAPPER and the SWATTER appear to be highly mobile antitank weapons.

The SNAPPER and tho SWATTER antitank guided missile systems (including both the launch vehicles and the guided missiles) havethe infantryery effective, accurate, and economicalweapon system. Those systems, however, probably willrather than replace the conventional antitank weapons such asmillimeter (mm)m gun. The SNAPPER and the SWATTER can engage tanks at ranges up to aboutards butinimum range of fire ofards because operator guidance of the missile can begin onlyarticular point in the trajectory is reached.

A platoon of SNAPPER or SWATTER missilos can consist of either three or four launch vehicles each carrying four to six missiles. Tho platoon is believed to provide supportegimental-size combat formation, but the weapon system can easfty be adapted to various organizational structures.

AccordingSNAPPER*

and the SWATTER are so effective in the destruction of enemy tanks that they have reduced the requirement for antitank defense considerably. These sources estimate the destruction probability of the SNAPPER and

Ihe SWATTER to be betweenndercentery high average. During World Warensity of approximatelyonits (antitank guns and tanks) was required toront-kilometer. These Soviet tacticians now believeingle platoon of the SNAPPER or the SWATTER can repel the attack of an entire tankestroying not less thanoercent of the tanks-

The great effectiveness of the antitank missile system, however, is not universally accepted by all Soviet military theoreticians. Some

praise the capabilities and the effectiveness ofmissile system, whereasthat the

hopes placed in antitank missiles as an effective means of combating tanks are subject to Serious doubt. Some officials believe thatarge force of attacking tanks were to be encountered in battle, the striking power of the antitank missiles would be destroyed as soon as the first shots were fired. There also is some feeling that the SNAPPER and the SWATTER are more vulnerable to artillery fire lhan the heavily armored antitank artillery guns.

1. Deployment in Cuba, East Germany, and Iraq

It has been determined from aerial photography that Sovietguided missiles are deployed in Cuba in conjunction with theGroups that arrived in2 (see Nine launch vehicles for SNAPPER missilesat Artemisa Militarynine at Rcmcdios

Military Campnine at Holguin Military Camp

on _ The SNAPPER antitank guided missile system was

first noted in Cuba on the low-level photographyac

Remedios Military Camp.

The SNAPPER was identified in East Germany with elementsoviet motorized rifle regiment. Moreover, General Hoffmann, East German Minister for National Defense, cold the recent East German Party Congress that antitank guided missiles had been introduced into the ground units of the East German Army- These weapons wouldogical replacement for the recoilless antitank

eONFIDENHAt

confidential

rifle that apparently is being phased out of the East German units. each motorized rifle regiment will receive one antitank guidedplatoon. In addition, collateral sources indicate that the number of antitank guns now is being cut down in the Group of Soviet Forces,(GSFG). The absence in some units of the GSFG ofmm auxiliary-powered antitank guns normally associated with an antitank companyotorized rifle regiment supports the indications that at least some ofmm guns are being phased out of these GSFG units and are being replaced by the SNAPPER. Whether or not the complete replacement ofmmm antitank guns by the SNAPPER will take place in either East German or GSFG units cannot beat this time- mmm guns are expected to be retained for use in conjunction with antitank missiles-

was

Scheduled tovehicles and antitank guided

missiles (presumably the SNAPPER) from the USSRearhere is no evidence as yet to indicate what effect the recent changes in the Iraqi government will have on future deliveries of Soviet military equipment.

It is not known whether or not the schedule for deliveries of antitank guided missiles has been; followed, but some antitank missiles may have arrived. It was reported in3 that the Iraqi Ministry of Defense had designated Abu-Ghurayb, located aboutiles west of Baghdad, as the training center for Soviet antitank missiles.

Egypt and Indonesia also have been recipients of significant Soviet military aid. Up to the present time, however, there has been noof deployment of the SNAPPER in cither of these countries.

During thethe Armored

Training Center in Yugoslavia in

* ollows on p. 4.

indicated that his army had antitank missiles similar lu mendound in NATO units. According to this officer, the missiles

Table 1

Scheduled Shipment of Soviet Antitank Launch. Vehicle: and Guided Missiles to Iraq a/

are located in "units at the field army level" and can be called forcommandsimilar fashion toullcry. Uthat these antitank missiles arc Soviettheforma-

tion that has been seen so far indicating the presence ol ar.tit.mkin Yugoslavia.

2. Organization ol Field Units

Soviet documents indicate that antitank launch vehicles* are to be deployed in platoons. Each platoon consists of three or four launch

vehicles; each vehicle is stated Lo carry four to six antitank missiles.

"hi-. tTKI!.

* The launch vehicle that is equipped to fire SNAPPER/SWATTER guided missiles is basically the standard Soviet reconnaissance vehicle, wheeled, armored, amphibious weapon

will be fitted into the present organizational structure is not clear.

& G

Reportedly, each East German motorized rifle regiment is to receive one antitank guided missile platoon. Because the East German Army organization is patterned after the Soviet Army, it can be inferred that Soviet organizational structure would be similar.

It is estimated that at the presentotorized rifle regiment of the .GSFG has six Sb-mm antitank guns (one battery). Theof one platoon (one-half battery) of antitank missiles in Eastis expected to replace at least one-half ofmm guns in the regiment

Aerial photography reveals that nine SNAPPER launch vehicles are present at each of three of the four major Soviet encampments in Cuba. However, the Soviet Battle Groups in Cuba appear to follow no known Soviet standard pattern of prganization and could therefore beaugmented units. Nine launch vehicles would equate to three SNAPPER platoons comprised of three launch vehicles each, or twoplatoons comprised of four launch vehicles each plus one spare.

3- Characteristics of the SNAPPER System'

The SNAPPER, which was first observed in the Moscow Paradeemote-controlled, wire-guided missile system,to the French ENTAC,ntitank guided missile systems.** It is propelledouble-base, solid-propellant rocket motor and can be wire guided from the vehicle or remotely controlledround position. The warhead on the rockethaped

* ollows on p.* These antitank guided missile systems also are used by the US Army.

***haped charge is an explosive charge shaped so that the explosive energyocused on one small area.

The SNAPPER is small enough so that it can be hand carried, but it is usually mounted, wheeled, armored, amphibious launch vehicle. The missiles are mounted three abreastriple-rail pylon structure on the rear of the vehicle. The rear compartment of

the vehicle In which Ihe rockets are carried when not in the ready position is fitted with two hinged armored covers that run the full length of the rear compartment. When the covers are opened, the launchers are believed to be hydraulically raised into the firing position. Horizontal and vertical guidance can be conducted simultaneously, but horizontal guidance is quite limited ia comparison with the US antitank systems.

4. Characteristics ofATTE P. System*

'i

There is very little detailed information available at the present time on the SWATTER antitank rocket system, but it is believed to beater model of the SNAPPER. The SWATTER ls believed to be propelledouble-base,opellant rocket motor, but it has not been conclusively determined whether the rocket is wire guided or radio guided. The warhead observed on the SWATTER is believed losquash head" type,haped charge capable of penetrating up tonches of armor plate also could be used.

The SWATTER system, which was first observed in the Moscow Parades mountedaunch vehicle very similar to the one on which the SNAPPER is mounted. The rockets arc housed in the rear compartment of the vehicle when not in Ihe Eoady position. The rockets in the SWATTER are mounted four abreast instead of three abreast as in the SNAPPER. The rearis fitted with three hinged armored covers and the rear cover appears to servelast shield when open.

* P.bove.

**squash head"hin-walled projectile filledlastic xplosive. The projectile is designed to "squash" against the armor-plate before detonation, and this action results in spalling of the armor plate within the tank, resulting in damage to the personnel and mecha-nisms inside the tank.

A difference in configuration between the SNAPPER and the SWATTER vehicles is the existence of only two hinged armored covers in the SNAPPER launch vehicle, whereas there are three such covers in the SWATTER launch verticle. The third cover

Original document.

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