861.24/7–2744: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
1786. (From FEA for Spalding) We have been advised by War Department of three instances of reported failure of US Lend-Lease Material as follows:
1. Tractors, International Harvester type Artillery Prime Mover or Caterpillar tractors instead of Allis-Chalmers have been requested on several occasions by Sovpurchase. Since this non-standard tractor type is being produced only by Allis-Chalmers now, and a substantial reduction in overall production of all makes would be result of shifting of lines at this late date, such a shift is impossible. Following are points by which Sovpurchase supports its request: Special mixture of lubricant and fuel oil, lack of which results in serious breakdown is required by GMC3 diesel engine in Allis-Chalmers tractors which is of two cycle type; complaints concerning failure of bogie wheel bearings, cracking of frames and pulling off of winches have been received from front on Allis-Chalmers type; and no failures of International Harvester and Caterpillar models have been reported.
Crumbling of main and connecting rod bearings and tearing off and cracks in cylinder liners are said to be most frequent failures of GMC engine. It is necessary for proper engineering analysis that more information be made available and there is little data here to support Soviet claims. Obtain maximum amount of background information concerning performance of our Prime Mover Tractors on Soviet front from proper Soviet authorities in Moscow. Suggest [Page 1106] inquiry particularly why proper oil cannot be made available for tractors since tanks with similar diesel engines are being supplied with it apparently. Since translation can be done here, you may forward direct to Washington in original Russian any Red Army Staff Reports available.
2. Diesel Engines. A General Motors four cylinder diesel engine being provided apparently for a tracked vehicle produced in USSR may have caused similar trouble. Main Bearing Wheel and connecting rod bearing are failing prematurely in spite of use of high speed engine fuel and aviation oil according to reports by Chief of Sovpurchase automotive Department. Mass deterioration of clutch pressure plate and premature failure of fuel injector are other difficulties reported. Sovpurchase has requested large scale replacement of these parts and overall spare parts supply for 3500 engines totaling approximately 60 percent of value of engines has been requested also. Send us samples of defective parts of this engine if possible and obtain additional details about actual performance including number of each type of failure and corresponding serial numbers of engines. Since there have been difficulties with two different General Motors engines it may be desirable to propose sending General Motors representative to USSR.
3. 37 mm. Ammunition. Due to defective tracer and self-destroyer which in most of the lots did not function, a total of over 900,000 rounds of 37 mm. high explosive anti-aircraft shells were found unsatisfactory Sovpurchase reports. This quantity represents a large share of available ammunition since total of only 1,250,000 similar rounds have been assigned to USSR. Since this type is no longer being produced, replacement requested is difficult. Suggest you discuss with proper Soviet authorities proof firing by which these defects were discovered and the extent of need for replacement in order that we may be assured in this regard. [FEA.]
- General Motors Corporation.↩