Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-30


wouldn't be permitted to use any
overseas bases. II a general war
starts, the fixed bases Of both
sides will naturally be high
priority targets. Our shore naval
bases, too. will be targets. That
is why we don't have big naval
bases overseas-although we have
small ones and anchorages. We
disperse our facilities overseas
usually.
Suppose this nuclear exchange
happens in a general war. The
enemy will do his best to destroy
our fixed bases and we will do our
best to destroy his bases. Both
sides will probably be fairly sue
cessful. Then what? Even before
we get into that. we have fleets
deployed overseas, ready for &C.
ton all the time. These fleets
can do tremendous amount
and make tremendous attacks.
They are relatively close to vital
targets
Time to Prepare
1t takes several hours to fly
from the United States to the
Soviet homeland. 1t takes the
same length of time roughly to
be ready to get your attack on
its way.
In tactical air, you could, de-
pending upon the situation, very
easily attack early-earlier than
anybody else. and be ready for
the second attack very shortly,
too. because the range is not
great.
In the Navy we have a ire
mendous capability of destruc-
ton. Our targets are naval
targets including submarine
pens-which we will want to hit.
The submarine menace is ire
mendous.
We will also have to hit bases
from which other types Of attacks
AIR and missile attacks-will be
launched against our ships at
sea. After this mutual ex-
change--this first mutual ex-
change--what force is going to
be left to continue to fight for
freedom? Our fleets at sea.
The enemy would probably try
TO find our fleets at sea. If they
do, it is going to take a lot of
effort on their part. They are
going to have to fly reconnais-
sance all the time. They will
have to find our forces at sea
and try to keep them under sur
veillance. We will shoot down |
lot of their planes. They are
going to have one hell of a /
time.
Powerful Defensive Complex
A naval task force at sea is the
most powerful defensive complex 4
In the world. It is terrific. 1t
does not sit still while an at
tack is being planned and
launched against it. The fleet
defenses extend far away from
the carriers-from the center of
the force. Our fleets have AEW
tearly warning) Alternative
have picket submarines, picket
destroyers, picket ships way out
guided missile ships way out.
That is one of the reasons |
we are building these guided |
missile ships. They can shoot !
down planes at the altitude |
planes can fly now, and maybe |
a little higher in the future, and |
at great range. They won't !
get them all. But it is going to |
be a little bit worrisome for the
enemy pilots.
Remember in these jet air.
craft you can't fiddle around |
very much when you are on a
mission. The jet pilots have got
to know exactly where their
target is. They don't have time
for much search. True. an air
craft equipped with electronics
can search a tremendous
amount of ocean. However, when
the search planes radar is on,
surface ships can know there
is a radar up there. In that case,
the search plane is going to 1
have little difficulty. maybe,
of continuing his search. due
to our own fighter aircraft.
Planes Spotted First
AS matter Of fact, the search
plane can usually be picked up
by ships radar long before his
radar picks up the ship. Then 4,
he is either hit by a guided mis-
sile or has a carrier fighter on
his tail before he knows any |
ships are there.
AS enemy aircraft approach /,
to attack naval force at sea,
they have TO go through our
outer screens. then through our
fighters. and then into our inner
screen. They then have to go
through another missile screen,
and by the time they get in we
have inflicted severe casualties.
So 1t may be. and I think it
probably will be, that the force
that can exert continuous pres
sure on the enemy after the
initial exchange will be the
Navy. We will be afloat. We will /
be moving. We will be hard to
find We can be sunk. but it is
not easy.
Hillman-If Russia starts a
general war. she would then
start with knowledge Of what we
can do?
Admiral Burke-Yes, II she
starts II. she will start with the
fun knowledge OF everything we
can do. She certainly has ample /
opportunity to learn what she
needs 10 know about us. But
! don't believe she will start a