FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL NATIONAL DEFENSE APPROPRIATION, 1942 HEARINGS ON MILITARY ACTIVITIES OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT (TITLE I) CONDUCTED AT A JOINT SESSION OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN CHARGE OF DEFICIENCY AND WAR DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS: MESSRS. CLARENCE CANNON (CHAIRMAN), CLIFTON A. WOODRUM, LOUIS LUDLOW, J. BUELL SNYDER (CHAIRMAN, WAR DEPARTMENT SUBCOMMITTEE), EMMET O'NEAL, GEORGE W. JOHNSON, LOUIS C. RABAUT, JED JOHNSON, DAVID D. TERRY, JOE STARNES, ROSS A. COLLINS, JOHN H. KERR, GEORGE H. MAHON, JOHN TABER, RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, WILLIAM P. LAMBERTSON, D. LANE POWERS, J. WILLIAM DITTER, ALBERT J. ENGEL, AND FRANCIS H. CASE; ON THE DAYS FOLLOWING, NAMELY: AND HEARINGS ON DEFENSE AID (LEND-LEASE) AND THE MARITIME COMMISSION CONDUCTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN CHARGE OF DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATIONS: MESSRS. CLARENCE CANNON (CHAIRMAN), CLIFTON A. WOODRUM, LOUIS LUDLOW, J. BUELL SNYDER, EMMET O'NEAL, GEORGE W. JOHNSON, LOUIS C. RABAUT, JED JOHNSON, JOHN TABER, RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, WILLIAM P. LAMBERTSON, AND J. WILLIAM DITTER, ON THE DAYS FOLLOWING, NAMELY: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1942. WAR DEPARTMENT STATEMENT OF MAJ. GEN. R. C. MOORE, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF; ACCOMPANIED BY MAJ. GEN. E. B. GREGORY, QUARTERMASTER GENERAL; MAJ. GEN. BREHON B. SOMERVELL, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF, G-4; BRIG. GEN. H. S. AURAND, DEFENSE AID DIRECTOR; COL. C. G. HELMICK; LT. COL. R. S. MOORE; AND LT. COL. D. W. BRANN, GENERAL STAFF; AND E. D. STODDARD, LEND-LEASE ADMINISTRATION The CHAIRMAN. General Moore, we have before us an estimate for $22,888,901,900 for critical and essential material for the Army, as reported in House Document 615. We will be glad to have you make a general statement, and, in the course of your statement, I hope you will indicate how many officers 1 and men have been appropriated for heretofore, and, in the way of munitions, measured by men, the provision that has been made for essential and critical items and potential productive capacity. General MOORE. Yes, sir; I will give you that in my general statement. The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed. GENERAL STATEMENT General MOORE. There is submitted for your consideration supplemental estimates D, fiscal year 1942, in the amount of $22,888,901,900, to provide equipment for the War Department. Of this amount $920,000,000 is for the liquidation of prior contract authorizations, making the amount available for the new procurement $21,968,901,900. OBJECT OF THE PROGRAM These estimates, in conjunction with the Fourth Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, 1942 (War Department airplane program), are designed to be the War Department's first step in meeting the equipment objectives set by the President in his speech of January 6. As you remember, the President stated that we would produce in calendar year 1942, 45,000 tanks and 20,000 antiaircraft guns. These estimates provide for balanced stocks of equipment, to match the items set by the President as our 1942 production goals. They also provide facilities for expediting production which will increase the productive capacity of industry to meet the increased goals set by the President. The estimates are for equipment only. It is proposed that the other needs be provided for in estimates soon to be submitted for your consideration. CATEGORIES OF EQUIPMENT IN THE ESTIMATES The equipment provided in these estimates is divided into three general categories: First. An equipment program, which is made up of the combined requirements of the augmented United States forces for organizational and field equipment, and the requirements of defense aid. Second. Other specific items of equipment and supplies required for the United States forces as a whole, but which do not pertain to specific units. Third. Equipment and facilities for expediting production. THE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM In considering that part of the equipment program which relates to the United States forces, it will be well to review what has been provided in the prior equipment programs of this fiscal year. The fiscal year 1942 estimates provided essential items for a force of approximately 1,575,000 men and the bulk of critical items for an augmented force of approximately 2,800,000 men. You will recall that "essential items" are those which are essential for effective combat. "Critical items" are those essential items for which suitable substitutes do not exist, which take a long time to procure, and which represent a procurement problem. The First Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, 1942, approved August 25, 1941, provided essential items for a protective mobilization plan force of 1,727,000 men and, in addition, Air Corps items for the second aviation objective; critical items for an augmented force of approximately 2,980,000, including the second aviation objective. ESSENTIAL ITEMS PROVIDED IN THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACT In the Third Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, 1942, approved December 17, 1941, essential items were provided for certain Air Force units previously included in the augmented force, to the extent of about 63,000 men, making a total provided in essential items of about 1,800,000. Critical items were provided for certain units not previously included to the extent of about 25,000, bringing the total provided in this type of equipment to about 3,000,000 men. There was also provided equipment for Philippine Commonwealth Army of approximately 145,000 then being activated; and an additional pool of special items of equipment of types used in large quantities by the Axis forces, such as combat vehicles and tanks, antiaircraft and antitank weapons and ammunition therefor. This pool of weapons was designed to permit industry to attain a maximum production of these items with the facilities available, and to provide equipment with which to make desirable changes in the organization and armament of our Army. In all of the above estimates, peacetime or training maintenance was provided for many essential items, particularly clothing, individual equipment, motor vehicles, and animals. DEVELOPMENTS WHILE ESTIMATES WERE BEING PROCESSED The Army was not static; changes were made in the over-all strength, in the type of units composing the force, in the strength and composition of the individual units, and in the arms and equipment of the units. Based on the status of equipment on October 1, 1941, an expenditure program for the funds provided in the Third Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1942, was drawn up. Before the final passage of the Third Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, 1942, war was upon us. Plans were immediately put into effect to expand the Army with the utmost dispatch. It became necessary to provide essential as well as critical items for the augmented force, as a first step in providing equipment for a much greater force which would be raised in an orderly fashion. UNITED STATES REQUIREMENTS These estimates contain the shortages developed by applying against the requirements all of our resources in equipment on hand, on order, or for which funds were provided. All maintenance factors are based upon combat maintenance for 1 year or until production equals wastage. In addition to these shortages, there are included two general classes of equipment which have not previously been included. The first is a pool of medical supplies and equipment which is needed to make up the complete equipment of certain field medical units. The second is a pool of engineer equipment and supplies for use in the theater of operations for construction and maintenance of ports and docks, water supply, storage, field fortifications, railroads, roads, and camouflage. There are many factors which will affect the sufficiency of the equipment included in these estimates. The force upon which the equipment requirements were based was that determined in November 1941, for unknown theaters of operation. Since that time, definite theaters have been occupied, changes in numbers, types, and composition of units have been made, and within units, many changes of equipment have been necessary, to meet changing requirements. In other words, equipment requirements have changed materially. The speed-up of industry by the use of the 7-day week and 24-hour day, which was directed by the President, produces not more than two and a quarter to two and a half times the amount of a single shift, and will cause an increased cost estimated generally to be about 10 percent. All probable theaters of operation are reached by long sea routes which are open to attack, and transportation losses may be large. To be prepared to meet all these conditions, we have asked, as a reserve to be applied to the equipment program, additional funds for all items of troop equipment. This reserve will be used to meet changed requirement as they arise, and is urgently requested as a necessary cushion to permit prompt and efficient supply and equipment of the Army under the uncertain conditions of war. LEND-LEASE REQUIREMENTS Combined with the United States requirements under the heading, "Equipment program," are specific requirements of nations associated with us in our combat against the Axis Powers. The lists of equipment included were prepared after careful study of the capacity of industry and of the needs of the United States forces. The Supply Priorities Allocation Board made an estimate of the capacity of the country to produce the types of equipment desired, and from this estimate was deducted the equipment requirements outlined above for the United States forces. The balance was used to establish the over-all limit for defense aid equipment to be requested in these estimates. Within this limit are included all of the noncommon items requested by our associates, that is, items which pertain to them alone; and the remainder was made up of items common to our associates and to our forces. In addition to the specific items requested there is added a reserve, which is necessary to provide a cushion to meet the increased cost due to speed-up, the hazard of transportation losses, and especially "spot items"-emergency requests demanding prompt procurement, which come up from time to time, which amounted to over $1,000,000,000 last year. The United States requirements and the defense aid requirements are consolidated under the one heading "Equipment program." While the program has been made up as indicated, it is considered as a single pool of equipment, which will be available to meet the needs of the United Nations for combat against the Axis. It will be used where it will best meet the demands in such operations, regardless of whether United States or associated troops are the ones to use it. Transfers will be accomplished and recorded in accordance with the Lend-Lease Act, under the general provision included in these estimates. OTHER ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT The second category, "Other items of equipment," provides many items which pertain to the expanded force, but not to definite troop units. In all cases, the time necessary for procurement is such as to require funds now in order to produce the equipment at the times needed by the expanding force. Some of the major items are: Field rations and stockages of nonperishable subsistence items for the expanded force. A reserve of office, mess, and barracks supplies and equipment necessary to be procured now so as to be on hand by the time the units of the expanded force are activated. Motor, signal, and other special equipment to implement the expanded ground school program, which is vital to the expansion of the Army. Radio and communication equipment for fixed installations overseas and in this country; aircraft warning service equipment to augment present systems, and certain additional communications equipment. Certain chemical warfare equipment, such protective apparatus, depot equipment, and war reserve ammunition. Seacoast defense equipment to be used in connection with installation of the critical and essential items included in the equipment program. For many of these items there has been requested a factor of 10 percent to provide for speed-up, and to provide a reserve for possible overseas shipping losses. EXPEDITING PRODUCTION The third category of the estimates, "Expediting production," will be taken up this afternoon by the Under Secretary of War, Judge Patterson. He, with General Knudsen, will state the general procurement problems involved. The program has been presented to the Chairman, War Production Board, to determine whether contracts for the equipment can be promptly and advantageously placed, whether industry can absorb the orders, and the time objectives can be met. |