S/S–NSC
Files: Lot 63D351: NSC 68 Series
Memorandum to the President by the Secretary of
Defense (Marshall)1
top secret
Washington, 14 December
1950.
Enclosed are summary statements of forces recommended by the Joint Chiefs of
Staff on 6 December 1950, and transmitted to this Office on 11 December
1950, together with a copy of General Bradley’s covering memorandum. The
forces outlined in the enclosed summary statements are the forces that were,
on 1 September 1950, recommended as the target for 1 July 1954. I concur in
the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs that we should build to these forces
as soon as practicable, with a target date not later than 30 June 1952.
Studies are underway within the Department of Defense at the present time to
determine the magnitude of the procurement program which will need to be
entered into to support these forces. As soon as such information is
developed, it will be made available to the National Security Council.
[Page 475]
[Annex]
Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of
Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Marshall)
top secret
Washington, 6 December
1950.
Subject: Force Requirements.
Attached hereto, as Enclosures “A”, “B” and “C”, are the estimates of
forces submitted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 1 September 1950 as
being required for national security in consonance with the provisions
of NSC 68. The Joint Chiefs of Staff
recommend, in view of the current international situation, that
Presidential approval be obtained to the establishment of Fiscal Year
1954 force levels, as shown in the attachment, as interim levels to
which the armed forces must be raised as soon as practicable and with a
target date no later than 30 June 1952, bearing in mind that
deficiencies of available equipment and of training and housing
facilities must also be eliminated.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Omar N. Bradley
Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Enclosure “A”
Estimate of U.S. Army
Forces Required for National Security (NSC 68)
|
|
30 June 1951 Target As Approved 24 November
1950
|
Recommended—as soon as practicable, and with a
Target Date no later than 30 June 1952
|
| 1. |
Major Forces, AUS
|
|
|
|
Infantry Divisions |
14 |
14 |
|
Armored Divisions |
1 |
2 |
|
Airborne Divisions |
2 |
2 |
|
Infantry RCT’s |
10 |
11 |
|
Armed-Cav Regts |
4 |
6 |
|
AAA Battalions |
78 |
100 |
|
Other C Battalions |
138 |
150 |
|
Total strength, AUS |
1,261,000 |
1,353,000 |
| 2. |
Civilian Components
|
|
|
|
National Guard |
345,900 |
435,600 |
|
Organized Reserve |
499,000 |
511,000 |
|
Total strength, Civilian
Components |
844,900 |
946,600 |
[Page 476]
Enclosure “B”
Estimate of U.S. Navy Forces Required for National
Security (NSC 68)
|
Type
|
30 June 1951 Target As Approved 24 November
1950
|
Recommended—as soon as practicable, and with a
Target Date no later than 30 June 1952
|
| CV/CVB |
9 |
12 |
| CVL |
4 (plus 1 reduced) |
5 |
| CVE |
6 |
10 |
| BB |
1 (plus 1 reduced) |
3 reduced |
|
CA/CL/CLAA |
15 |
19 |
| DD/DDE/DDR |
200 |
248 |
| SS |
85 |
100 |
| Patrol & Minecraft |
181 |
181 |
| Amphibious |
282 |
296 (2 Div Lift) |
| Auxiliaries |
241 |
287 |
| CV/CVB Groups |
12 |
14 |
| VS Rons |
10 |
15 |
| VP Rons |
27 |
34 |
| VMF Rons |
18 |
21 |
| HMR Rons |
2 |
6 |
| ZP Ships |
44 |
44 |
| Mar Divs |
2 |
2 (plus 1 RCT) |
The total civilian naval components throughout the period FY 1951–1952 are estimated to approximate
923,000.
Approximate Navy & Marine strength (end
figure)
| Navy |
675,918 |
725,000 |
| Marine |
166,155 |
162,000 |
|
Total
|
842,073 |
887,000 |
| Approximate operating aircraft for above
figures |
5668 |
6559 |
| Approximate required numbers of aircraft
in the civilian components |
1844 |
2001 |
[Page 477]
Enclosure “C”
Estimate of USAF
Forces Required for National Security (NSC 68)
|
|
30 June 1951 Target As Approved 24 November
1950
|
Recommended—as soon as practicable, and with a
Target Date no later than 30 June 1952
|
| 1. |
Combat Wings
|
|
|
|
Heavy Bomb |
5 |
6 |
|
Medium Bomb |
13 |
20 |
|
Strat. Rcn (H) |
2 |
4 |
|
Strat. Rcn (M) |
2 |
4 |
|
Light Bomb |
3 (1)†
|
4 |
|
Tac. Rcn. |
4 (1)‡
|
4 |
|
Ftr. Bomb |
16 (4)‡
|
18 |
|
Ftr. Int.*
|
16 |
20 |
|
Tr. Carr. (H)*
|
2 |
3 |
|
Tr. Carr. (M) |
7 (3)†
|
12 |
|
Total (Wgs) |
70 |
95 |
| 2. |
Separate Squadrons
|
|
|
|
Wea Rcn, |
6 |
6 |
|
Air/Sea Rescue |
10 |
12 |
|
Liaison |
2 |
4 |
|
Tow Target |
2 |
3 |
|
Strategic Support |
3 |
3 |
|
Total
|
23 |
28 |
|
Mats (Sqs) |
20 |
30 |
| 3. |
Military Personnel (Total) |
651,000 |
971,000 |
| 4. |
Civilian Components. The Civilian
components will be utilized to the maximum during the build-up
and also to back-up the active military components. |
| 5. |
Active Aircraft
|
|
16,650 |
