USCIB: 7./4 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEMBERS OF USCIB: 

Subject: 

Reference: 

COMINT Arrangements for SACLANT. 

TRI 53/2 FINAL of 25 March 1953. 

10 May 1954 

1. The enclosure, which is self-explanatory, is circulated f'or 

appropriate action. 

2. Attention is invited to the reference in addition to those 

listed in the enclosure hereto. 

3. THIS DOCUMENT AND ITS ENCLOSURE CONTAIN COMMUNICATIONS 

INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION AND SHAU. BE HANDLED ONLY IN CHANNELS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR COMINT. 

Enclosure 

DNI Serial 000517-54 dtd 30 Apr 1954. 

USCIB: 7 ./4 

'FOP SBORE'F 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 03-14-2014 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 

24 
'i'9P 6Jll8RE'f 

DEPARTMENT OF THE NA VY 

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS 

WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 

From: Director of Naval Intelligence 

To : Ex.ecu ti ve Secretary, USCIB 

SUbj: COMINT arrangements for SACLANT 

Ref: (a) USCIB 13/261 of 26 June 1952 

(b) USCIB 13/274 of 18 July 1952 

(c) USCIB 14/260 of 1 December 1952 

Op-322YB1/lar 

SY/000517-54 

30 APR 1954 

1. The need of SACLANT for U.S./U.K./Canadian COMINT has long been recognized in principle by USCIB, and certain arrangements have been approved. 

However, in view of the increasing number of unsolved problems and the informal 

manner in which dissemination to SACLANT has been effected, it would seem 

that the time has come to review the entire SACLANT problem as it relates 

to: (1) the dissemination of COMINT to U.S., U.K., and Canadian recipients, 

and (2) SACLANT "Y" planning. 

2. Dissemination of COMINT to U.S. and U.K. nationals has developed in a 

somewhat haphazard manner, fostered by the very close and informal working 

relationships which have always existed between the Assistant Chief of Staff 

(Intelligence), SACLANT, and the DNI. The responsibilities of the latter 

with regard to servicing SACLANT have been assumed more or less, as an 

accommodation to the former: 

a. In April 1952, the Navy SSO CINCLANTFLT was advised that any 

communications regarding COMINT originating in SACLANT would be handled in 

Navy SSO channels. 

b. By reference (a), DNI requested that the billets of Deputy Conunander 

and ACofS(I), SACLANT, be serviced with U. S. COMINT. The following statement was contained: "Navy has an established SSO channel and will be 

resp<:>nsible for dissemination. 11 Board approval was given by reference (b), 

and LSIB concurred. 

c. In July 1952, CINCLANTFLT raised the question of the use of D/F nets 

in combined exercises. This again brought the SACLANT problem before the 

Board, and resulted in a Tripartite Conference, November 1952, to "consider 

all aspects of the SACLANT COMINT problem." The conference results, forwarded by reference (c), contained among other papers SAC/E/R/5, "Arrangements for Ex.change and Dissemination Within SACLANT1 s Command of COMINT 

Beyond the Scope of Third Party Collaboration," setting forth the OIC 

concept for SACLANT and subordinate commands. 

3. The SACLANT 11 ! 11 plan has had a somewhat more orderly development. The 

Tripartite Conference ref erred to above drew up SAC/E/R/7, COMINT Arrangements 

Enclosure with USCIB 7./~ dtd 10 May 1954. ~ 

T<>.P SECRET 
.-

'fOP SBCR:E'f 

Subj: COMINT arrangements for SACLANT 

Op-322YB1/lar 

SY/000517~54 

30 APR 1954 

~rtdch May Be Made with Third Parties Within the Framework of Allied Commands, 

the original SACLANT 11Y11 concept. This paper was reconsidered at the UKUSA 

Planning Conference, March 1953, and resulted in Annexure P2, Annex P. Subsequently, there were further developments: 

a. Commander George NOACK, USN, in April 1953, assumed the duties of 

SACLANT 11Y'1 Officer, following SACLANT suggestion that he occupy the staff 

billet 11 022, Director of Strategic Intelligence, 11 oral concurrence in his 

nomination by the Naval Board, Ottawa, through the Canadian Liaison Officer, 

and formal approval of Admiralty through BJSM on 31 March 1953. 

b. By SecDef memorandum of 18 January 1954, DIRNSA was designated as 

the U.S. authority with whom the SACLANT 11Y11 Officer could comrrru.nicate on 

D/F matters. On 27 January, DIRNSA delegated his responsibilities in these 

matters to CNO. • 

c. Planning for SACLANT "Y" implementation is now in process. 

4. From the foregoing, it becomes apparent that there are several aspects 

of both SACLANT problems still unsolved. With regard to dissemination to 

U.S., U.K., and Canadian recipients: 

a. Little or nothing has been done toward implementation of SAC/E/R/5 

which contains one immediate requirement; namely, that communication circuits 

and crypto channels be provided as soon as possible on a scale commensurate 

with peacetime requirements. This lacuna stems partly from the fallowing: 

(1) Despite specific recommendations in the document, no action has 

been initiated by SACLANT. 

(2) There has been no COMINT executive agent designated for that 

command. 

(3) Aside from the COMINT arrangements in SAC/E/R/5, the inability 

of U.S. and U.K. authorities to reach an agreement on the concept of OIC 1 s 

for NATO commands, as such. 

b. No formal SOP exists for the servicing of U.S., U.K., and Canadian 

recipients, again because of the lack of an executive agent. 

5. With regard to the SACLANT 11Y11 plan, there is a feeling on the part of 

some members of the Board that: 

a. The appointment of Commander NOACK as SACLANT nyn Officer should be 

formalized. · 

b. Arrangements should be made within SACLANT for supervision and control 

of codeword and related material. 

2 

• TO-P SEOR:E'F 
,, 

REF ID:A58253 ,,.,_,..,. ..... c... T"I',.., rll. 'W:'Tm 

1 u1 ononr;1 

Subj : COMINT arrangements for SACLANT 

Op-322YB1/lar 

SY/000517-54 

30 APR 1954 

6. It is recommended that this paper be circulated to the members of USCIB 

with a request that views of interested departments and agencies be'submitted to the Ex.ecutive Secretary. It is further recommended that, following 

receipt ofithese views, they and this paper be placed before USCIBEC at a 

regular meeting for recommendations in the premises. 

3 

T().J? SE-CRET 

(Signed) 

Carl F. Espe 

Rear Admiral, USN