INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM NO. 60

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• 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
• Publication Date: November 4, 1948
• Content Type: IM

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