USCIB: 2/33 

1 July 1953 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEMBERS OF USCIBEC: 

Subject: 

Reference: 

Release of Unclassified COMINT Equipment to Friendly 

Foreign Governments. 

(a) USCIB 2/27, dated 7 April 1953, subject as above. 

(b) USCIB 2/29, Item 3 of the Agenda for the EightyFourth Meeting of USCIB, held on 17 April 1953. 

( c) USCIB 2/31, dated ~ May 1953, Subject: 

Availability of Unclassified COMINT Equipment for 

Friendly Foreign Governments. 

1. The Director, NSA, has informed this office that the 

Assistant Chief of r.f, I' ... D····e····p···.a .. rtment of the ArrI19', has f omrded to h:Un an additional request for the release of unclassified 

Communications Intel igence equipment to ~~e!-----..,...-----,,.......,,-,,,..--..,....... .... I lumThismrequet:rt.uti.a.sua.m<i~I'~ct rela.tion to the original I lmrequestmbriefedminmreferencemu(a}. A Q()py •• o.:f:' t.11~ μi.~.~st re24 

quest is attached as an enclosure. / Eo 3. 3 (h) (2) 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

2. The Radio Intercept Central TC9, as requested. in th.e 

enclosure, is an assemblage of radio receivers, antennas, voice and 

tape recorders, and an intercommunication and monitoring system. 

According to the Director, NSA, the unit cost is/estimated at approximately $34,000. Therefore, the latestl I request for equipment 

would come to a total of $68,000. 

3. It is understood that all available TC9's (approximately 20} 

are presently being utilized in the field by the Army Security Agency. Howeve~; advance technical improvements have brought about the 

development of a replacement unit, the MX 683, which is now in production. The estimated time of delivery for the improved model il!i 

late this summer. Providing delivery is prompt, several 'l'C9's, in 

excellent operating condition, would bf released. from the field an~·· 

could be made available for use by the I I ...__ ___________ ___. 

campaign. 

USCIB: 2/33 

TOl' SECRET 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 03-13-2014 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 
TO-PWifc111f'f A58270 

SE€URl'f"r' lf'4Ji'ORMA I ION e 

USCIB: 2/33 

4. The Director, NSA, has recommended approval of the request 

providing anangem.ents can be made on a quid pro quo basis for the 

provision oi'I //I 

5. It is requested that your vif3WS/ori the above recommendation 

be recorded on the attached vote sheet which should be returned to 

this office by 15 July 1953. EO 3.3(h) (2) 

Enclosure 

G2-ASA Memo 

dated 25 Ma.y 195.'.3. 

USCIB: 2/33 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

- 2 -

TO.P SECRET 
a TO·P ~Rf!T:ASa~o W' !ECtm:ll i lflfFOR:l\llATIOl'lf .. 

!OP ffi!lenE'f • ffii8lffi:I'f"I INPORM:k'f!ON 

DEPAR'IMENT OF THE ARMY 

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF, G-2, INTELLIGENCE 

WASHING'IDN 25, D.C. 

c 

-0 

-p 

-y 25 May 1953 

G2-ASA 

SUBJECT: Release of Unclassified COMINT Equipment to thel 

I I ---

TO: Director 

National Security Agency 

Washington 25, D. C .. 

1. Reference is made to: 

/EO 3 . 3 ( h) ( 2 ) 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

a.. Memorandum for the Director, NSA, fr6m GZ, DA, subject: 

"Release of Unclassified Comnnmication Intelligence Equipment to 

Friendly Foreign Governments," 23 Jan 19 53. 

b .. USCIB 2/27, subject: 11Release of Unclassified Communication Intelligence Equipment to Friendly Foreign Governments," 

7 Apr 1953. 

. c. USCIB 2/~, Agenda.ltem 3, B4th Meeting of USCIB on 

17 Apr 1953, tentative minutes .concerning USCIB 'Z/27. 

d. Letter, I /lMilitary. /Attache, sub.ject: trAssistance 

Agreement No. DA~ f35 INC) 101, Our Contra<*. no .. 1046/AM," 

16 Apr 1953 (copy attached). 

2. Concerning the lfrequest :for COMINT equipment dis cussed 

in paragraph 2b of USCI~ref'erence lb above) and portions of 

USCIB 2/'2$ (reference le above), a check on the availability of the 

requested equipment within Army supply cha.nnel.s was made on S Ma.y 

1953. 'lbe reported availability is as f'ollOW$: 

SCR-255 

SCR-206 

no stock 

4 at Baltimore Signal Depot 

(Unserviceable but repairable) 

This reported shortage of equipmen:r: "T ch&mels would not pre- clude provision of equipment to the · however, supplying comparable facilities at this time wo requ re withdrawal of equipment 

from using units or provision f'rom current procurement. Comparable 

equipment will probably not be available from current procurement for 

nine to twelve month:!'. 

Enclosure to USCIB 2/33 dated 1 J~1953. 

To-P eRET 
TOP ~fL:A58270 

SEet:JRl'fY INFeftM'1tTIOJq e 

c 

0 

p 

y 25 May 1953 

G2-ASA 

SUBJECT: Release or Unclassified COMINT Equipment to the I I I ------ 3. Reference is made to the discussion of this problem which 

occurred at the 84th meeting o! USCIB, as reported in US~. It 

should be pointed out that provision or equipment to the L___Jthrough 

the Military Def'ense Assistance Program, as they requested, would obviate the necessity for expenditure of U.S. COMINT agency funds. However, the release of such equipment bythe U .. S. might still be tied ill 

with the exchange of information or material from thel I 

4. In addition to thel ~~quest for D/F equipment. a$ discussed above, the Department of the ~ is n.ow in receipt of an 

urgent request from them for two Radio Iht~rcept. Centrals, TC•9 (reference ld above). Thel li\i:rt_her request. that necessary action 

warded to release this equilment ·b·····e·······.e····xp·.. edite4 in o·rd·· .... er .tha.t·.· ... i·t· .. may b .... · .. ·& for- to I _at the earljest possible date •. The availability 

of this equipment was also checkedon?)fay 1953a,nd:i,t.was ~scertained 

that no TC-9 's are available in Anrry supply cha.@.e~~· ~en ~hough 

TC-9 1 s are not available, it may be possi~~~m~()m~tJ.PPl.r<:Ctll1PQrient radio 

equipment to meet the I lurequirementu. // EQ 3. 3 (h) (2) 

PL ~6-36/50 USC 3605 

5. It is recommended that thif new rfq,l1est for Intercept Central·· .. s, 

TC-9, be included with the previous_ _request for D/F equipment 

in any further consideration or assistance to th~ I 

1 Inol: 

a/s 

FOR THE ASSISTANT CHIEE' OF STAFF, G-Z: 

/s/ Harry. R. Boyd 

HARRY R. BOYD 

Colonel, GS 

Acting Ez.ecutive 

Enclosure to USCIR 2/33 dated 1 July 1953. 

z 

TOP SECRE'T 
REF ID:A58270 

3. 3 (h) (2) 

86-36/50 USC B605