INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM NO. 60

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP78-01617A000200210001-2
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
November 9, 2016
Document Release Date: 
July 21, 1998
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 4, 1948
Content Type: 
IM
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP78-01617A000200210001-2.pdf262.76 KB
Body: 
Sanitized - A~ roved For Palo- CrA-RDP-78 C1 RAL Il 'II,LIMIME A 4 November 1948 INTELLIGENCE 2 Et4CRANDUM NO. SO SUBJECT: Reply to Request for Certain Information on Precision Bearings 1. oyietani SatenkV sr324 Position. Considerable evidence has been obtained by CIA to indicate quite conclusively that the USSR and Satellites are extremely short of precision boll and roller bearings required to maintain and strengthen the industrial potential of Eastern Europe. Soviet facilities for the production of bearings, despite acquisition of some German facilities, are entirely Inadequate to meet the countryls current needs. Vigorous efforts are being made by the USSR to increase their imports of bearings and to buy complete production plants from Western countries. 2. Ltaj2da Wince of .s3on Bean s. The contribution which precision bearings make to industrial produc- tion is very great: (a) use of precision bearings speeds up machine pro-- duotion by several fold; (b) many types of precision inutrawnts and machines cannot function at all without precision bearings; and (c) wear and tear on machinery is very greatly reduced, thereby increasing substantially the life of machinery and reducing the frequency and extent of repair and maintenance. From the technical standpoint, precision bearings rank among those top items of first importance to an industrial economy. The strategic Importance of precision bearings to the USSR and the Soviet supply position were recognized from the beginning by United Staten technical experts as indicated by the top classification given those items on the lists prepared. for export control in the spring of 1948. Altlwugh precision bearings now appear on the Class I B list, this lower classification does not represent any change In opinion of the technical exacts as to their relative importance to the USSR economy and tsar potential. Overriding considerations, namely, the problem of ECA in obtaining parallel action (i.e. complete embargo of shipments to Eastern Eu ope) by ouch countries as Sweden and Switzerland, seemed to compel the change in claaalfioation with the view -to exploring the problem further to determine how shipments of bearings to Eastern Europe can be reduced. Machinery for the production of precision bearings, however, r emaina o a the Class I A list. SEE REVE SE FOR DECLA.SSIFICATIOIT ACITOir WAffibeT Sanitized - Approved For : CIA-RDP78-01617A000200210001-2 ~~ i Sanitized - Ap ved For RSJp gr: f IA=RDP7 1617A000200210001-2 3. 4 x oanae of - QMJA ee to. r&ot= IN=. 1'h the light of the high strategic importance of precision bearings, the short supply situation in Eastern. Europe, and the recomr adation of techniceal experts that they be given a Class I A rating, even MAU quantities of those item may 'be considered significant when shipped to the Soviet bloc. Because of the nature of the Soviet economies and the efforts being made to strengthen their industrial potential for war production, imports of precision bearings even for replacement purposes would likely be used in instruments of war or machinery specifically designed for producing war materiel,. It can be said, there- fore, that even small quantities of precision bearings would increase the war potential of Eastern Europe and would be inimicable to US security interests. 4. _D ; fi of recision Bearings. The definition of precision bearings as used by United States technical experts is based upon the principles set up by the Anti-Fricmx.on Bearing Manufacturers Association and upon the technical categories established by the International Standards Association and S1'F. These principles and categories are well known and used by foreign buyers and manufacturers. It is not possible, according to the experts, to formu- late a short working definition for the laymman? use of the recognized principles and categories indicated above are reoormmended for export control purposes. IL Manel- Sanitized - Approved For RFIAWse : CIA-RDP78-01617A000200210001-2 Sanitized -Approved For Relleasser% CIA-RDP78,;,Q,1617A000200210001-2 I'll LMORANDU f r(O go. SUBJECT: Reply to request for certain information on precision bearings. Soviet and Satellite Supply Position Considerable evidence has been obtained by CIA to indicate quite oonolusiTely that the USSR and Satellites are extremely short of precision ball and roller bearings required to maintain and strengthen the industrial potential of Eastern Europe. Soviet facilities for the production of bearings, despite acquisition of some German facilities, are entirely inadequate to meet the country's current needs. Vigorous efforts are being made by the USSR to increase their imports of bearings and to buy complete production 'plants from Western countries. Strategic Importance of Precision Bearings The contribution which precision bearings ~aake to industrial production is judwW- very greats Tf use of precision bearings speeds up machine production by several fold? "L.,) T~?-n thn swnond lace. many types of precision instruments and machines cannot function at all without precision bearings-~~ tham ; . wear and tear on machinery is very greatry reduced, thereby increasing substantially the life of machinery and reducing the frequency and extent of repair and maintenance. From the technical standpoint, precision bearings rank among those top items of first importance to an industrial economy. The strategic importance of precision bearings to the USSR and the Soviet supply position were recognized from the beginning by United States technical experts as indicated by the top classifica- tion given those items on the lists prepared for export control in the spring of 1948. Although precision bearings now appear on the Class I B list, this lower classification does not represent any change in opinion of the technical experts as to their relative importance to the USSR economy and war potential. Overriding considerations, namely, the problem of ECA in obtaining parallel action (i.ee complete embargo of shipments to Eastern Europe) by such countries as Sweden and Switzerland, seemed to compel the change in classification with the view to exploring the problem further to determine how shipments of bearings to Eastern Europe can be reduced. Machinery for the production of precision bearings, however, remains on the Class I A list. Sanitized - Approved For Rele DP78-01617A000200210001-2 November 1948 Sanitized -Approved For Release : CIA-RDP7841617A000200210001-2 S Significance of Quantities to Eastern Europe In the light of the high strategic importance of precision bearings, the short supply situation in Eastern Europe, and the recommendation of technical experts that they be given a Class I A rating, even small quantities of those items may be considered significant *Iien shipped to the Soviet bloc. - of' p iag , aA_the ..diet- o tv e, . level that: would permit...,,norma.1 replacements for maintenance of a -peacetime economy, yearly shipments should be restricted to -quantities di :_, 0:average annual irxporta to those countries I n _tha Cori st -bloc in, regman r,prataential above the. prewar ems- ai' -:fi7, b"resumed to contribute- -to--an ~. Definition of Precision Bearings The definition of precision bearings as used by United States technical experts is based upon the principles set up by the Anti-- Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association and upon the technical categories established by the International Standards Association and SKF. These principles and categories are well known and used by foreign buyers and manufacturers. It is not possible, according to the experts, to formulate a short working definition for the layman; use of the recognized principles and categories indicated above are recommended for export control purposes. 25X1A :el Jf SRWT Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP78-01617A000200210001-2