Defense Files
The President to the Secretary of War (Stimson)1
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The victory over our enemies will be achieved in the last analysis not only by the bravery, skill and determination of our men, but by our overwhelming mastery in the munitions of war.
The concept of our industrial capacity must be completely overhauled under the impulse of the peril to our nation.
Our associates amongst the united nations are already extended to the utmost in the manufacture of munitions and their factories fall far short of the needs of their own armies. We must not only provide munitions for our own fighting forces but vast quantities to be used against the enemy in every appropriate theater of war, wherever that may be.
I am, therefore, sending this directive and instruction to the War Department, which relates to two phases of our munitions effort.
First, a large increase in the production of various munitions of war in 1942 and, secondly, the production to be achieved in 1943.
Every non-essential civilian use must give way to the urgency of the needs of our armed forces. Our men and machines must be used to the very limit to attain our goals.
Following are the list of munitions and the schedule you are directed to fulfill:
| Aircraft | 1942 | 1943 |
| Long Range, Heavy & Medium Bombers | 11,300 | 30,000 |
| Light, Dive, Torpedo & Scout Bombers | 11,000 | 17,000 |
| Pursuits | 16,000 | 38,000 |
| Observation & Transports | 6,700 | 15,000 |
| 45,000 | 100,000 | |
| Tanks | ||
| Heavy | 500 | 5,000 |
| Medium | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| Light | 19,500 | 20,000 |
| 45,000 | 75,000 | |
| Anti-Aircraft | ||
| Light 37 mm. | 1,600 | — |
| 40 mm. | 13,000 | 25,000 |
| Heavy 90 mm. | 5,400 | 10,000 |
| 20,000 | 35,000 | |
| Anti-Tank | ||
| 37 mm. | 13,700 | — |
| 3″ | 1,200 | 4,000 |
| Machine Guns (Ground, Tank A.A.) | ||
| .30 | 330,000 | 330,000 |
| .50 | 170,000 | 170,000 |
| 500,000 | 500,000 |
In addition to the above, I want the ammunition produced commensurate to this program on the assumption that these munitions of war are to be used in combat.
In so far as aircraft are concerned, I wish you would confer with Secretary Knox as to the appropriate distribution by types as between the Army and the Navy.
I realize that you may wish to recommend some increases or amendments in this program but I wish the substance of this instruction to be initiated at once in all its implications.
Very sincerely yours,
- The source text is a copy, with typewritten signature.↩