Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXI, Near East Region; Arabian Peninsula

315. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State¹

Jidda, September 12, 1968, 1545Z.

5325. Subj: US Naval Survey. Ref: Jidda 5186.²

1. US Naval Survey Team³ (reftel), en route back to US after completing in-country portion of survey, briefed DATT Col Merino and myself today.

2. Naval team’s preliminary recommendations as outlined to US will include:

A. Operating base at Jidda.

B. Training and operating base at al Jabayl.

C. Headquarters ultimately located MODA Riyadh.

D. Requirement that acquisition any fleet unit be preceded by personnel, training, and base facilities.

E. Base maintenance and ship repair by contract personnel in order to free trained Navy units.

F. End strength in approximately 10 years to be 650 enlisted, 84 officers.

G. Anticipted end strength in 10 years of surface units in Red Sea: 3 torpedo boats, 1 gun goat (flagship), two coastal minesweepers. Same for Gulf.

H. Construction cost estimates based on stateside cost data, and area cost factors are not considered realistic. Costing data to be developed after arrival CONUS.

I. Next step in plan requires architect engineer study to accomplish preliminary engineering and develop detailed, reliable cost estimates.

J. Realistic phasing within capabilities of RSN to absorb new units and functions.

3. Team met with Gen Malik (Coast Guard Commander) and discussed role and mission of Coast Guard. Saudi Navy Mission, assumed by team and as understood result Aug 22 meeting with Sultan, compatible with Malik’s view of Coast Guard mission. Malik indicated Coast Guard would cooperate with Navy but no joint usage of facilities.

4. Team returning CONUS via MAC Sept 13 and will be available in office Chief Naval Operations (OP-632) afternoon Sept 16. Team Chief Capt Morgan will contact Country Dir Arabian Penin Affs Brewer after arrival Pentagon. Amb Eilts may also wish briefing by Morgan. Suggest he or Brewer take opportunity request survey be completed soon as possible, since team gave Sultan estimate of 30 days total time required for survey including necessary stateside research.

5. We debated and then turned down idea of Morgan meeting with Prince Sultan before departing for CONUS. Courtesy of saying farewell outweighed in our judgment by Washington directive to team that survey recommendations must be cleared in DOD and State prior discussion with SAG and possibility of some misunderstanding of Morgan’s remarks (especially re non-commitment of USG beyond survey) by Sultan or other Saudis at meeting. Saudi Naval officers asked that Emb notify Sultan of departure of team, and I plan write Sultan to inform him in-Country portion of survey now completed, Saudi cooperation excellent for which team and we grateful, and we shall do all possible expedite completion of survey.

Stoltzfus

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, DEF 6-2 SAUD. Confidential. Repeated to London, Dhahran, CHUSMTM, COMIDEASTFOR, CNO, DOD, and DIA.
2. Dated August 26. (Ibid.)
3. Telegram 190428 to Jidda, June 25, noted that the U.S. Government had agreed to undertake a naval survey in response to the Saudi Government’s expressed desire to plan for expansion of its Navy and related facilities, and transmitted terms of reference for the U.S. Naval Survey Team. (Ibid.)