Tanks on Schedule

MOBILIZATION Tanks on Schedule

The U.S. mobilization that began with the Korean war has been notable for snafu and stretch-out. Last week the Department of the Army announced that two important items of defense production were right on schedule. Production of medium tanks and 2 1/2-ton military trucks will be tapered off.

The 1951 mobilization plan outlined three successive phases: first, expansion of the bases of production, i.e., raw materials and plant capacity; next, stepped-up (but not all-out) production until the needs of the U.S.'s 3,600,000-man defense force and its allies were covered; and, finally, throttling down to output for replacement only. After phase No. 3 is achieved, the U.S. will be geared for immediate all-out military production whenever necessary. The plan was to be fulfilled in three years, but last January it was stretched out for a year or more.

Some time next year, the output of medium tanks and 2 1/2-ton trucks will reach phase No. 3.

Aircraft production is another story entirely. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that production difficulties are forcing another stretch-out of plane deliveries. Under Secretary of the Air Force Roswell L. Gilpatric hurriedly denied any slowdown or "any major lag in the program as a whole."

In November, said Gilpatric, aircraft deliveries to the Air Force reached 666, highest monthly mark since World War II. Though encouraging, the figure was still about 100 behind the stretched-out schedule set earlier this year. Gilpatric admitted production difficulties on the Northrop F89 Scorpion and the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak.

In short, aircraft output is rising but is still bogged down in phase No. 2 with phase No. 3 not yet in sight.

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