Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VII, Part 2

895.30/7–2649: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State

secret

Seoul, July 26, 1949.¹

931. To SecState info CINCFE Tokyo reDeptel 594, July 15.

a. Request breakdown NME estimate $50 million cost of vessels. Local estimate acquisition vessels requested mytel 447, April 26 not more than one-third NME figure.

b.

(1) 14 Ex-US Navy YMS in need of overhaul. Exclusive repair parts presumably ordered Deptel 499 June 22² estimated minimum four months and approximately 30–40 million won to place in good condition. Current personnel can maintain and operate.

(2) Reassessment absolute minimum number and type additional vessels required fulfill mission coast guard (assuming retention ex-Jap YMS and overhaul ex-US Navy YMS) follows:

15 US Navy type, wood hulled, 110 ft, submarine chasers, Diesel drive, mounting 140 mm and 220 mm guns, complete with spare parts and some ammunition.

15 Ex-US Navy type 45 feet, wood hulled, picket boats, gasoline or Diesel engine drive, mounting 120 mm or 150 cal. machine gun, complete with spare parts and some ammunition.

(3) Consider contribution to economy and to internal security substantial by (1) prevention of hostile infiltration and by (2) suppression of large scale smuggling. This would reduce subversive activity and extensive smuggling and materially raise internal revenue collection by ROK. This can be accomplished only by having sufficient vessels in good repair to cover extensive coastline. In time of emergency smaller vessels could continue patrol while larger vessels available transport of troops and supplies.

(4) Additional cost shore installations, personnel, materials, etc., presently considered very small if complete standard spare parts furnished with vessels.

(5) Estimate total annual cost operate and maintain Coast Guard:

(a) With present complement of vessels 3,500,000,000 won which equals $3,888,889 at rate 900 won to 1 US dollars (b) with additional vessels 3,920,000,000 won which equals $4,355,555.

(6) In connection with these additional vessels consider additional American personnel required for training and technical assistance to be five technical assistants to advisory group, active or retired US Navy chief warrant, warrant, and or chief petty officers, skilled Diesel and gasoline engine maintenance and operation.

(7) Security risk still exists but presently lower than three months ago. Believe rise in morale factor on receipt of spares and additional equipment plus control steps now being taken by Coast Guard will make security risk factor still lower.

(8) Best estimate North Korean fleet; 2300 tons steel ships estimated speed 14 kts, armament unknown; 3 steel 30 ton picket boats speed 10 kts armament unknown; 17 wood 40–50 ton patrol boats speed 9–13 kts some with heavy machine guns, some with light machine guns; 3 small 50 ton tugs speed 10 kts armament unknown; 2 ex-US Navy YMS present condition unknown; and 1 ex-Jap YMS 150 tons speed 13 kts armament 137 mm gun.

(9)

(a) Consider need for additional vessels by Coast Guard to be top priority to prevent hostile infiltration and bolster economy.

(b) ROK considers priority of highest and would buy corvettes and or submarine chasers on its own if it had foreign exchange available.

(10) Do not consider it possible to use Korean foreign dollar exchange.

c. Urgently recommend that 5 vessels of each class be sent immediately for psychological reasons. Balance to be furnished in increments over period of a year rather than in bulk to insure proper training.

Muccio

1. Received on July 29 with the notation that it had been delayed in transmission and required correction of garbled portions.
2. Not printed. It reported to the Embassy that the spare parts referred to would be procured as a matter of urgency after a long delay due to lack of funds for procurement (895.34/6–949).