Verkhnyaya Salda SSM Complex
58°08'18"N 060°33'36"E
Five SS-20 mobile intermediate-range ballistic missile bases were under construction since February 1978 in the Verkhnyaya Salda Surface-to-Surface Missile Complex, USSR, a former SS-7 ICBM complex. Each base was functionally divided into an operations area and a general support area. The complex includes a rail-to-road transfer point. Field training areas (FTAs) for the SS-20 mobile IRBM system are also associated with the Verkhnyaya Salda SSM Complex.
The SSM complex is 43 kilometers (km) east of the Ural Mountains between the Salda and Tagil Rivers and extends into the area north and west of the town of Verkhnyaya Salda. All-weather, hard-surfaced roads and an electrified railroad connect Verkhnyaya Salda with Nizhniy Tagil, 29km to the southwest, and Sverdlovsk, 108 km to the south.
The five SS-20 mobile IRBM bases were constructed at former SS-7 launch sites in areas heavily forested with pine and birch. The area has rolling terrain, with elevations ranging from 150 to 210 meters above sea level. Local industries include peat cutting from the swampy areas and timbering. Area soils are turfy podzols on the hills and bog soils andboggy podzols in the low-lying areas. Winters are long and cold, and summers are short, cool, and rainy. Winter temperatures range from minus 43 degrees to 3 degrees Celsius, with an average of minus 14 degrees Celsius. The average annual precipitation is 45.5 centimeters, including an average stable snowcover of 68.6 centimeters from late October to late April.
A unique construction feature at all mobile IRBM bases in the Verkhnyaya Salda SSM Complex was the installation of hardpoints in the foundations of the SS-20 single-bay garages. The hardpoints are 9 meters apart, the distance between the leveling jacks of the SS-20 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL). The hardpoints were probably required because of unstable soil conditions at Verkhnyaya Salda. Similar hardpoints had been identified at Plesetsk Missile/Space Test Center.
On 18 December 1987 Peter Samuel reported that "The Soviets may have begun concealing a covert SS-20 force two or three years ago in preparation to evade the Intermediate Nuclear Force (INF) treaty. The deception is thought to have occurred already at two SS-20 bases in northern European U.S.S.R. Defense authorities here name the two bases as Yurya and Verkhnyaya Salda, which are roughly northeast of Moscow, three-quarters of the way to the Barents Sea. The two are shown as SS-25 bases in the Pentagon's "Soviet Military Power" 1987 edition (page 25, upper map entitled "Nuclear Forces ICBMs"). The 1985 edition of "Soviet Military Power" showed these as SS-20 bases. U.S. intelligence "lost" a brigade of 18 of the intermediate-range SS-20 missiles from each of Yurya and Verkhnyaya Salda sometime in 1985 or 1986. Satellite imagery no longer picked up evidence of the 36 SS-20 units earlier identified as located at these two bases. And it could not find them elsewhere. Subsequently, the photo-analysts established that the new mobile intercontinental missile, the SS-25, was being deployed at each of these bases and so they are now classed as SS-25 bases. .... The garages formerly used to hold SS-20s and their launchers at Yurya and Verkhnyaya Salda were lengthened by 3 metres <10 feet>. This accommodated the threestage, intercontinental mobile missile, the SS-25.
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 1 - 58°08'20"N 060°32'10"E
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 1 was constructed at Verkh-nyaya Salda SSM Launch Position 10. This launch position was originally a type IID soft SS-7 launch site constructed between February 1963 and February 1964. It was operational until it was dismantled in October 1976. Conversion of the site to an SS-20 mobile IRBM base was underway by January 1979, at which time the base appeared to be capable of maintaining an operational SS-20 missile unit. Existing SS-7 facilities were used where possible; however, many new SS-20-related buildings were constructed.
The operations area includes nine single-bay, sliding-ioof garages; three three-bay garages; two security buildings, and two ancillary buildings. The single-bay garages are arranged in groups of three. Each three-bay garage is cable connected to a group of single-bay garages which house a battalion; the three battalions form a regiment. When originally constructed, each single-bay garage included an addition along one or both sides. These additions were probably designed to complicate the identification of the buildings from imagery. They could also have been for personnel use or storage of equipment. Similar additions to the single-bay garages were also observed at Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile Bases 2, 3, and 4. By December 1981, these additions had been removed from all the garages except thoseat Mobile Base 2, where they remained.
Five bunkers of various sizes, three large enough to accommodate SS-20 launch-related vehicles with missile canisters, are in the operations area. Two of these larger bunkers were previouslyused as SS-7 missile-ready bunkers. They were modified during the SS-20 conversion by the installation of roof vents, one of the bunkers was also changed from drive in to drive through.
Security for the operations area includes a security building at the entrance and six rows of perimeter fences. Three fences were added during the SS-20 conversion. At least three guardposts were along the perimeter fences. An earth-covered personnel passageway extended from the security building, under three security fences, to the operations area. This passageway is similar to those seen at fourth-generation ICBM sites and probably serves as security personnel access.
The General Support Area (GSA) consists of four subareas: a housing/administration area, a vehicle maintenance/storage area, an agricultural area, and a steamplant. The housing/administration area contains two barracks and two doumitories totaling 3,655 square meters of floor space. A command, control, and communications (C3) building; two mess-halis; a firehouse; a security building a probable recreation building; a probable utility building; and nine other buildings are also in the GSA. Footings for two multistory dormitories, present in January 1981, were still present as of March 1982. No building construction on these footings was evident.
The communications system consists of a C3 building with a roof-mounted YU-EL-01 antenna array and two 28-meter-high lattice towers that are cable connected to the C3 building. The lattice towers had been erected by November 1978. This communication system had been identified at SS-20 bases in the Chita, Omsk, Vladimir, and Orenburg Armies.
The vehicle maintenance/storage area consists of two separately secured areas near the steamplant. The vehicle maintenance area contains three garages, an administration/workshop building,three other buildings, and a fueling island. The vehicle storage area contained two 11-bay garages and an administration/supply building, which were constructed during the SS-20 conversion. The 11-bay garages housed SS-20 ground support equipment (GSE) used for missile checkout, guidance, communications, and targeting.
The agricultural area contained a semiburied food storage building, a greenhouse, and two other buildings near the mess hall. A barn and {wo associated structures were in a clearing at the Western end of the GSA. The steam plant included a two-story, probable triple-boiler powerhouse and a pump-house.
A single security fence encircled the entire GSA. Security buildings are at the main entrance of the base and at the entrance to the operations area. Security for the area consists of at least six fences, two of which had been added sincethe start of the SS-20 conversion. These two fences, each with a gate, are at the approach to the security building. Three other fences, each with a gate, are just inside the operations area, between the security building and the nearest single-bay garage.
Mobile IRBM Base 2 - 58°13'39"N 060°40'29"E
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 2 was constructed at Verkhnyaya Salda SSM Launch Position 7. This launch position was originally a type VIA hard SS-7 launch site constructed between February 1961 and April 1963. It was operational until it was dismantled in October 1977. Conversion of the site to an SS-20 mobile IRBM base was underway when foundations for single-bay and three-bay garages were observed at the the former 55-7 site. This was the first time an SS-20 operations area was constructed in a pre-existing facility. Construction of the operations area was complete by March 1980, when the base appeared to be capable of maintaining an operational SS-20 missile unit. Existing $5-7 facilities were used where possible; however, many new SS-20-related buildings were constructed.
The operations area contains nine single-bay garages; three three-bay garages; two two drive-in, former SS-7 missile ready bunkers; several small support buildings, and a security building with a covered personnel passageway. The security building was modified during the SS-20 conversion.
Security for the area consists of at least six fences, two of which have been added sincethe start of the SS-20 conversion. These two fences, each with a gate, are at the approach to the securitybuilding. Three other fences, each with a gate, are just inside the operations area, between the security building and the nearest single-bay garage.
The GSA consists of four subareas: a housing/administration area, a vehicle mainte-fance/storage area, an agricultural area, and a steamplant.) The housing/administration area contains two dormitories and three barracks totaling4,380 square meters of floor space, A C3 building, two multistory administration buildings, a probable officers' mess, a messhall, an auxiliary diesel generator building, a firehouse, a security building, apersonnel shelter, and a single-story administration building are also in this area.
The communications system consists of a C3 building and two 28-meter-high lattice towers that are cable connected to the C3 building. These facilities were constructed between February and September 1979, during the SS-20 conversion in July 1979, a YU-EL-01 antenna was emplaced on theroot of the C3 building. This is the same type of antenna as those seen on C3 buildings at SS-20 bases inthe Chita, Omsk, and Vladimir SRF armies, as well as at Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile TRBM Bases 1 and 3.
The vehicle maintenance/storage area contains two 11-bay garages, three administra-tion/workshop buildings, a five-bay garage, and a security building. The 11-bay garages and one of the administration/ workshop buildings were constructed during the SS-20 conversion.
The agricultural area is in the southwestern corner of the GSA and contains three foodstorage buildings, a cattle barn with a fenced area, a storage shed, and two other buildings. This area hasnot changed since the SS-7 site became operational. The steamplant consists of a powerhouse and an associated utility building at thenorthwestern corner of the GSA. Above ground steamlines connect the main powerplant with essential components of the operations area and the GSA. Security for the area consists of a single fence around the entire GSA. The vehicle maintenance/storage area is separately secured by a combination board and wire fence.
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 3 - 58°05'01"N 060°12'21"E
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 3 was constructed at Verkhnyaya Salda SSM Launch Position 9. This launch position was originally a type IID softSS-7 launch site constructed between February 1963 and February 1964. It was operational until it was dismantled in September 1977. Conversion of the site to an SS-20 mobile IRBM base was underway soon thereafter, and by December 1980, the base appeared to be capable of maintaining an operational SS-20 mobile missile unit. Existing SS-7 facilities were used where possible; however, many new SS-20-related buildings were constructed, By the additions on eight of the nine single-bay garages had been removed.
The Operations Area operations area contains nine single-bay garages; three three-bay garages; three drive-in, former SS-7 missile-ready bunkers; four other former SS-7 storage bunkers; and a newly constructed, covered personnel passageway adjoining the security building and observation tower. The security building and tower guard the only road entrance into the operations area. Security for the area consists of six wire fences, two of which were constructed duringthe SS-20 conversion. Five of the fences have gates.
The General Support Area [GSA] consists of four subareas: a housing/administration area, a vehicle maintenance/storage facility, an agricultural area, and a steamplant. The housing/administration area contains two dormitories and three barracks totaling 4,360 square meters of floor space. A security checkpoint, a C3 building, two multistory administration buildings, a probable officers' mess, a messhall, a firehouse, a probable sauna, a probable recreation building, a small-arms firing range, an obstacle course, a helipad, and eight other miscellaneous buildings are also in this area.
The communications system consists of a C3 building and two 28-meter-high lattice towers that are cable connected to the C3 building. These facilities were constructed between November 1979 and September 1980. A YU-EL-01 antenna was on the roof of the C3 building by August 1980. This is the same type of antenna as those observed on C3 buildings at SS-20 mobile bases in the Chita, Omsk, and Vladimir SRF armies, as well as at Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Bases 1 and 2.
The vehicle maintenance/storage facility consists of two separately secured areas. The vehicle maintenance area at the eastern end of the GSA was formerly used for SS-7 operations. It contains three garages, a maintenance/workshop building, an administration building, and a utility building. The vehicle storage area, constructed during the SS-20 conversion, contains a security building, an 11-bay garage, and a maintenance/workshop building.
The agricultural area is near the two messhalls and contains a long, partly earth-mounded food storage building; a greenhouse; two food storage buildings; and an administration/storage building. A second agricultural area is approximately 500 meters north of the messhalls and contains a barn and at least six associated buildings and sheds. The steamplant consists of a powerhouse and a probable utility building near the vehicle maintenance area. The powerhouse has six circular roof vents and is connected by above ground steamlines to all essential components of the base.
Security consists of a single fence around the entire area. In addition, the C3 building and the vehicle maintenance/storage areas are separately secured. Security checkpoints control access tothe operations area and the GSA,
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 4 - 58°06'12"N 060°21'33"E
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 4 was constructed at Verkhnyaya Salda Launch Position 1 .This launch position was originally a type IIA soft SS-7 site constructed between May 1960 and April 1962. It was operational until it was dismantled in August 1977. Conversion of the site to an SS-20 base was underway in February 1980, and by December 1980, thebase appeared to be capable of maintaining an operational SS-20 mobile missile unit. Existing SS-7 facilities were used where possible; however, many new SS-20-related buildings were constructed. The additions to the single-bay garages were lagter removed.
The Operations Area contains nine single-bay garages, three three-bay garages, three bunkers formerly used for SS-7 activities, and two other small buildings probably used for vehicle storage and general support functions. The operations area is separated from the two former SS-7 missile-ready buildings and their associated vehicle maintenance/parking facilities, which had been included in the former SS-7 launch area, by fences that had been newly constructed or realigned. Additional security is provided by a newly constructed personnel passageway and modifications to an adjoining security building at the entrance to the area. At least three other fences and another security building and observation tower are approximately 200 meters south of the personnel passageway. All seven fences have gates.
The General Support Area (GSA) consists of five subareas: a housing/administration area, a vehicle mainte-nance/storage area, two agricultural areas, and a steamplant. The housing/administration area contains seven single-story barracks/administration buildings and a multistory dormitory. The total floorspace is 9,698 square meters. The dormitory was under construction during SS-20 conversion and was not complete until May 1987, nearly five months after the base was considered operational. The dormitory replaced three single-story barracks which formerly occupied the same area. A C3 building, a firehouse, officers' quarters, a messhall, a recreation building, a sauna, a transformer building, a utility building, a security checkpoint, a security building, and approximately five other buildings used for administration/logistical support are also included in the housing/administration area.
The communications system consists of a C-shaped C3 building that is probably cable connected to four 28-meter-high lattice towers. This C3 building was the first of this design to be constructed in the Verkhnyaya Salda SSM Complex. The roof-mounted antenna array consists of two sets of three probable antenna positions in a triangular configuration. This array is different in configuration from the YU-EL-01 array.
The vehicle maintenance/storage area is divided into three areas designated A, B, and C. Area A is the former SS-7 GSE maintenance area and contains three six-bay garages and an administration/workshop building constructed during the SS-20 conversion. Area B includes two former SS-7 missile-ready buildings, an eight-bay garage, a two-bay garage, five maintenance/workshop buildings,and a security building. Area C contains a five-bay garage, a maintenance/workshop building, an administration/security building, and an eight-bay garage.
One agricultural area is across the road from the main messhall and recreation buildings and contains a food storage building, five probable food storage buildings, and a probable administration/storage building. A second agricultural area consisting of a cattle barn and an associated building arein a cleared area approximately 200 meters west of the soccer field. The steamplant consists of a powerhouse, an auxiliary diesel generator building, a cooling tower, and a probable pumphouse. The powerhouse is connected by above-ground steamlines to all essential components of the base.
Security consists of a single wire fence around the GSA. A security checkpoint is at the entrance to the GSA. Vehicle maintenance/storage areas A and C and the C3 building are separately secured. A security building with an adjacent observation tower and three fences protect the entrance to area B of the vehicle maintenance/storage area.
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 5 - 58°11'54"N 060°34'38"E
Verkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 5 was constructed at Verkhnyaya Salda SSM Launch Position 4. This launch position was originally a type IIB soft SS-7 site constructed between February 1961 and April 1962. It was operational until it was dismantled in January 1977. Conversion of the site to an SS-20 base was undertaken, and by November 1981 the base appeared to be capable of maintaining an operational SS-20 mobile missile unit. Existing SS-7 facilities were used where possible; however, many new SS-20-related buildings were constructed.
The Operations Area includes nine single-bay, sliding-roof garages; three three-bay garages; two four-bay, drive-in, former SS-7 missile-ready bunkers; a four-bay garage; two former SS-7 three probable security buildings; and a vehicle shed. Construction in the operations area of Mobile IRBM Base 5 differed from that which occurred during the SS-20 conversion of the other four former SS-7 launch sites in the Verkhnyaya Salda SSM Complex. This unusual activity was identified in February 1981 when eight two-bay, peak-roofed buildings and footings for a ninth were observed in the launch area of the dismantled SS-7 site. In May 1981, one of the buildings was dismantled, and during the next five months, more buildings were removed, and soon all the buildings were gone. Also during this period, a single-bay garage was constructed without a standard foundation on one of the former SS-7 launch pads. It was removed in October 1981. The purpose of these temporary structures is not known. Construction of the SS-20 single-bay garages on standard foundations began in April 1981 and continued untilwhen allwere complete.
Security for the operations area consists of six wire fences, three constructed during theSS-20 conversion. The security building is at the only entrance to the area, which is protected by three fences. The fences are between the security building and the road junction, approximately 100 meters to the south. A covered passageway provides access through two fences into the operations area.
The General Support Area [GSA] consists of four subareas: a housing/administration area, a vehicle mainte-nance/storage area, an agricultural area, and a steamplant. The housing/administration area contains seven single-story barracks totaling 3,836square meters of floor space. Four administration buildings, a messhall, a probable recreation building, an officers' quarters, a C3 building, a utility building, a small transformer building, a water tower, approximately six buried horizontal storage tanks, and two other buildings used for miscellaneous admin-istrative or logistic functions are also in the GSA.
The communications system consists of a C-shaped C3 building similar to the one atVerkhnyaya Salda Mobile IRBM Base 4. Bythe C3 building appeared to be externallycomplete, including a roof-mounted antenna array. A 28-meter-high lattice tower is probably cableconnected to the C3 building. The vehicle maintenance/storage area is in the western portion of the GSA and includes the two large former SS-7 GSE maintenance buildings, two garages, a maintenance/workshop building, a security building, and an administration building. Footings for an 11-bay garage were first observed in January 1982.
The agricultural area is near the messhall and barracks and includes a semi-buried food storage building with entrances at each end, two administration/storage buildings, a food storage building, and a cattle barn within a fenced area. The steam plant is near the northwestern corner of the GSA. The powerhouse is connected by above ground steamlines to essential components of the operations area and the GSA. A cooling tower and an auxiliary diesel generator building are across the road from the steamplant. Apumphouse and buried fuel storage tanks are approximately 60 meters west of the steamplant.
Security consists of a single fence around the GSA. The fence has a security checkpointand gate at the entrance to the GSA. The C3 building and the vehicle maintenance/storage area areseparately secured.
Rail-to-Road Transfer Point
The rail-to-road transfer point (RTP) is 8 km west of Verkhnyaya Salda. It is on a rail spur extending from the main rail line between Verkhnyaya Salda and Nizhniy Tagil. The RTP originally supported the Verkhnyaya Salda ICBM complex of SS-7 launch sites; however, it had undergone changes in order to support the SS-20 division. Facilities at the RTP consist of a receiving, inspection, andmaintenance (RIM) facility; a GSE maintenance/storage area; and a receiving/storage area. The entire RTP is separately secured from the adjacent ICBM complex support facilities. During the SS-20 conversion, an additional rail spur, a paved loop road, and two GSE transfer sheds were constructed.
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