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Saturday 23 September 2017

Russian naval forces at Port Arthur according to a report of the American intelligence dated 26 December 1947

The report dealing with the Soviet naval forces belonging to the Soviet Pacific 3rd Fleet stationed at Port Arthur supplied interesting details. The Second World War in which the USA and the Soviet Union were allies against the Axis powers had only passed 2 years. Tensions grew to the Western powers (including the USA) and the Soviet Union and satellite states ending in a period called the Cold War, not earlier ending as in 1991. The document dates from the first stage of the Cold War.

There were 3 Soviet submarines of the V-19 design sighted in the East Harbour. With a crew of more as 20 men consisted the armament of 4 torpedo tubes and a machinery consisting of 750hp engines. Further more was near Port Arthur a in 1935 in Germany built 250 tons submarine seen. Horsepower 750hp , 4 torpedo tubes and a crew of 22 men. There was in the same harbour also a in 1943 6.000 tons cruiser while 3 similar cruisers left on 14 August the West harbour. In the West harbour were 5 transports and another 3 submarines anchored. This were larger submarines as the ones lying in the East harbour. With a displacement of 1.300 tons was their speed 16 (surfaced)-10 (submerged) knots. Their artillery armament consisted of 2-7,62cm/3” guns. Again was there also a large 1.300 tons German submarine with a speed of 17 (surfaced)-10 9submerged) knits and armed with 2-7,62cm/3” guns. Mine fields were laid to outside the harbours as protection.

Source
The report was published on www.archive.org, CIA document number CIA-RDP82-00457R001200110008-2.