Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume III, National Security Policy; Arms Control and Disarmament, Microfiche Supplement

259. Letter From Gates to Goodpaster¹

Washington, August 10, 1960

Dear Andy:

I tabled this paper with the Joint Chiefs of Staff this afternoon, and it is the subject we wish to cover with the President tomorrow morning at 10:15.

In view of the fact that Admiral Burke is planning to attend to protest this proposal, I felt you at least would want to read it first, and perhaps even informally discuss it with the President prior to our arrival. I expect to review the entire subject with the President when we arrive for our meeting.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Gates

Enclosure

Draft Memorandum From Gates to JCS Chairman

Washington, undated

SUBJECT

• Target Coordination and Associated Problems

REFERENCES

• (a) JCSM–171–59 dtd 8 May 1959 (Memo to SecDef from JCS)
• (b) CM–380–59 dtd 17 August 1959 (Memo to SecDef fr Chrm., JCS)
• (c) CM–386–59 dtd 24 August 1959 (Memo to JSC fr Chrm., JCS)
• (d) JCSM–193–60 dtd 6 May 1960 (Memo to SecDef from JCS)
• (e) JCSM–273–60 dtd 29 June 1960 (Memo to SecDef from JCS)
• (f) JCSM–380–60 dtd 7 July 1960 (Memo to SecDef from JCS)
• (g) SM–696–60 dtd 20 July 1960 (Memo to JCS signed by Admiral Blouin, Secretary, JCS)

1. By the referenced memoranda the Secretary of Defense has received for decision or as a basis of discussion with the Joint Chiefs of Staff matters relating to command and control of the Fleet Ballistic Missile Forces, strategic targeting and associated problems.

2. After exhaustive discussion with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and study of the referenced documents, I have concluded as follows:

a. It is neither necessary nor desirable to establish at this time a Unified Strategic Command.

b. The National Strategic Targeting and Attack Policy, attached as Tab A, should be promulgated.

c. A national strategic target list (NSTL) should be developed and maintained which is responsive to the policy.

d. The Joint Staff is not organized, manned or equipped to develop and to maintain the National Strategic Target List (NSTL) responsive to the approved policy.

e. CINCSAC is capable of developing and maintaining the NSTL and should be designated the Director of Strategic Target Planning (Tab B), an agent of the Joint Chiefs of Staff whose responsibilities will be delineated in Tab A.

f. A single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) for attack of the targets on the NSTL is needed to insure maximum effectiveness, mutual support of forces, and economy of force.

g. The DSTP should develop the SIOP responsive to the policy (Tab A) in accordance with Tab C.

3. It is desired that CINCSAC be immediately informed of his designation as DSTP, the policy (Tab A[B]), and requested to advise the Secretary of Defense promptly through the Joint Chiefs of Staff of his proposed organization and manning requirements to carry out the functions of DSTP.

4. In the light of the above decisions, the Joint Chiefs of Staff will, as a matter of priority, advise me of their views in regard to the remaining questions stated in CM–386–59, reference (c) above.

Tab A

NATIONAL STRATEGIC TARGETING AND ATTACK POLICY

1. Intent. To provide guidance for the optimum employment of appropriate United States atomic delivery forces in the strategic attack against the Sino-Soviet Bloc.

2. Objectives. The basic objective of this policy is to establish an essential national task to be accomplished under the several conditions under which hostilities may be initiated. Specific objectives are:

a. Destroy or neutralize the Sino-Soviet Bloc strategic nuclear delivery capability and primary military and government controls of major importance.

b. Destroy the major urban-industrial centers of the Sino-Soviet Bloc to the extent necessary to paralyze its economy.

3. Method of Accomplishment. In planning the strategic attack against the Sino-Soviet Bloc war-making potential, a National Strategic Target List (NSTL) and a single integrated operational plan (SIOP) shall be developed which will provide for the optimum integration of the committed forces for the attack of a minimum list of targets, the destruction of which will accomplish the objectives stated in paragraph 2 above.

4. Responsibilities. The responsibilities of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commanders of unified and specified commands, and of the Director of Strategic Target Planning are as follows:

a. Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Joint Chiefs of Staff shall:

(1) Be responsible for National Strategic Targeting and Attack Policy.

(2) Review and approve the NSTL and the SIOP.

(3) Specify the date on which the SIOP will become effective.

b. Commanders of Unified and Specified Commands. The commanders of appropriate unified and specified commands shall:

(1) Provide permanent senior representation at the headquarters of the Director of Strategic Target Planning.

(2) Commit appropriate forces to the attack of targets of the NSTL and insure the timely execution of these attacks in consonance with the SIOP.

(3) Program no attacks against targets on the NSTL unless provided for by the SIOP.

c. Director of Strategic Target Planning.

(1) There shall be a Director of Strategic Target Planning, who as agent of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall:

(a) Organize a Joint Strategic Target Planning staff consisting of personnel from the various services possessing the required skills to perform the targeting and planning functions.

(b) Develop and maintain the NSTL and the SIOP for attack of the targets on the NSTL.

(c) Submit the NSTL and the SIOP to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for review and approval, highlighting points of difference which he resolved during the preparation of the NSTL and the SIOP.

(2) There shall be a Deputy Director of Strategic Target Planning of flag or general rank who shall be selected by the Director of Strategic Target Planning and who shall be of a different service than the Director.

5. Damage and Assurance Criteria. Plans and operations directed toward the attack of the NSTL will be based on the criteria set forth below:

a. Damage Criteria. In applying these damage criteria, account will be taken of cumulative damage effects from adjacent nuclear detonations. It is recognized that variations from established probabilities will be desirable in order to adjust to variable target configurations, yields and CEP’s of available weapons, characteristics of delivery vehicles, and other operational factors.

(1) Ninety percent probability of severe damage to military targets directly related to atomic delivery capability.

(2) Ninety percent probability of severe damage to military and government controls of major importance.

(3) Ninety percent probability of severe damage to 50 percent of industrial floor space in major urban areas.

b. Assurance Criteria. Taking account of all pertinent operational factors, plans and operations will be based upon achieving a minimum of seventy-five percent assurance of delivery at each bomb-release line (BRL) of the necessary weapons to achieve the specified levels of damage to targets on the NSTL.

Tab B

Memorandum for General Power, USAF

Washington, undated

SUBJECT

• Director of Strategic Target Planning

1. You are hereby designated Director of Strategic Target Planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

2. Your task, responsibility and authority are as contained in the National Strategic Targeting and Attack Policy dated ____________.

3. Selected portions of Study 2009 are being forwarded to you under separate cover. Access to this study will be on a strict need-to-know basis in connection with your duties as Director of Strategic Target Planning.

Tab C

Memorandum for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Unified Commanders

Washington, undated

MEMORANDUM FOR

• Director, Strategic Target Planning
• Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
• Chief of Naval Operations
• Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force
• Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps
• Commander in Chief, Alaska
• Commander in Chief, Atlantic
• Commander in Chief, Caribbean
• Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command
• U.S. Commander in Chief, Europe
• Commander in Chief, Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
• Commander in Chief, Pacific
• Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command

SUBJECT

• Implementation of Strategic Targeting and Attack Policy (U)

1. In consonance with “National Strategic Targeting and Attack Policy” dated _________, the Director of Strategic Target Planning (DSTP) will develop for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in conjunction with the unified commanders the National Strategic Target List (NSTL) and a Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) as a matter of priority.

a. NSTL. The NSTL will consist of a minimum number of specific targets whose timely and assured destruction will accomplish the specific objectives set forth in paragraph 2 of the policy.

b. SIOP. The SIOP will be prepared in consideration of the several possible ways in which hostilities may be initiated and will:

(1) Govern all attacks on all targets listed in the NSTL.

(2) Determine the targets to be attacked based on the capabilities and limitations of committed forces.

(3) Determine the effort against each target consistent with the worth of the target and damage and assurance criteria specified in paragraph 5 of the policy.

(4) Integrate individual strikes for mutual support through the establishment of attack corridors, timing, ECM, etc.

2. In accomplishing this task, direct liaison with any agency of the Department of Defense is authorized.

3. In accordance with the foregoing, the DSTP shall submit to the Joint Chiefs of Staff by 14 December 1960 and on (date) of each year thereafter the following:

a. The NSTL, consisting of all installations under attack in the SIOP. These installations will be grouped together by Target Data Inventory (TDI) major reference number.

b. The SIOP in a format which can be readily reviewed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the DGZ’s selected for various conditions of warning supplemented with:

(1) The list of the weapons, delivery forces, and the unified and specified commanders furnishing those forces programmed for each DGZ.

(2) The list of the installations under attack by weapons assigned to each DGZ.

c. An over-all damage assessment summary by country for each category of essential enemy resources attacked to include the assurance of attaining specified levels of destruction under the following assumed conditions for initiation of war:

(1) U.S. attack with full strategic warning.

(2) U.S. attack with tactical warning under initial circumstances that are reasonably likely to occur.

d. Advise the Joint Chiefs of Staff as appropriate of any temporary inability to attain the levels of destruction or neutralization prescribed.

4. Participating Commands and Forces. The commanders of all unified and specified commands shall advise the DSTP of those forces of their commands which have an appropriate capability and which are available for commitment to the attack of targets on the NSTL and which should be included in the SIOP. The inclusion of forces in the SIOP constitutes a first priority commitment.

5. The foregoing responsibilities of the DSTP do not include command authority. It is recognized that points of difference involving tactics, use of forces, etc., may develop between the commanders of unified or specified commands and the DSTP. Such differences will be resolved by DSTP to permit completion of the SIOP and will be highlighted in presentation to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for their review and approval.

6. The unified and specified commanders will meet at the Headquarters, DSTP, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, on 14, 15, and 16 December 1960, to review with the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff the initial NSTL and SIOP.

1. Source: Transmits draft paper on target coordination and associated problems. Top Secret. 12 pp. Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary.