SOVIET GENERAL PURPOSE FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000600180045-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2006
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: February 12, 1964
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2006/08/09: CIA-RDP80B01676R
CONFIDENTIAL
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
OFFICE OF THE CIf4IRMAN
12 February 1964
MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SUBJECT: Soviet General Purpose Forces
1. Attached is a communication from the Secretary of Defense
expressing his gratification in the substantial progress made toward
improving our estimates on the subject, with particular reference
to the work of the CIA-DIA Panel for special study of the Soviet
Ground Forces and of others who contributed to NIE 11-14-63. He
requests that his thanks be passed to those responsible for this work,
and I would appreciate your doing so to those within your respective
agencies.
2. We should note that the Secretary refers also to the serious
limitations that still exist in our knowledge of the subject, and that
he is interested in seeing the results of the further studies programmed
by the Panel. Needless to say, we should make every effort to overcome
these limitations and in particular give all support to the work of the
CIA-DIA Panel.
MORI/CDF
CQENT
 Approved For Release 2006/08/09: CIA-RDP80B01676R0006001800
CONFIDENTIAL
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Washington
OSD DECLASSIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS ON FILE 30 January 1964
Honorable John A. McCone
Director, Central Intelligence
Washington 25, D. C.
We have made substantial progress in the past year in refining our
estimates of Soviet general purpose forces. I have been particularly
pleased with the joint effort in this field by CIA and DIA which was
reflected most recently in the new estimate, NIE 11-14-63,
"Capabilities of the Soviet General Purpose Forces, 1963-1969. " I
would appreciate your passing on my thanks to those persons
responsible for this work.
I believe that this new estimate gives us a much sounder basis for our
planning and for planning within NATO. But along with a better picture
of the true general purpose force strengths of the USSR, the estimate
does reveal limits to our knowledge. I am optimistic that further
progress can be made toward definitive calculation of the strengths
and weaknesses of the Soviets. I will be interested in seeing the results
of your follow-on studies of costing, equipment production and
inventory, and tables of organization and equipment.
I have sent a similar communication to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs
of Staff.
Sincerely,
/S /
BOB
CONFIDENTIAL