Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XIII, Western Europe and Canada

210. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Regional Organizations⁰

Washington, September 11, 1963, 6:18 p.m.

Topol 292. Suggestion has been made within US Government that it would be helpful to future of our efforts on MLF if beginning could be made in mixed-manning somewhere in existing NATO forces. Study within government confirms it would be feasible to institute such a project on US Naval vessels. Subject has been broached through diplomatic channels with Germans, Italians, Greeks and Turks as possibly meriting study provided interest of these governments is such to warrant further exploration. Germans particularly have asked for US ideas in writing as basis for such study. Following aide-mémoire has been prepared for this purpose and is being transmitted these four governments September 12.

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AIDE-MÉMOIRE

The United States has been giving preliminary study to the suggestion that one or two ships of the United States Navy might be designated as mixed-manning training facilities for the purpose of obtaining actual experience in mixed-manning afloat. This concept might constitute a useful step which could be taken in the early future and give those nations presently interested in the Multilateral Force both an opportunity to benefit from lessons learned during the operation and a head-start on the training of initial crews for assignment to the Multilateral Force, if and when agreement to establish this Force is reached among the governments participating in the forthcoming negotiations. Such a project could also serve as a concrete demonstration of the practicability of the principle of mixed-manning.

For the purpose of facilitating the consideration of this suggestion on the part of its partners in the Multilateral Force discussions, the United States sets forth the following points:

1. The United States would be prepared to designate a Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG) and, concurrently if desired, a naval auxiliary ship for this purpose. The sophisticated weapons systems of the DDG would enable personnel from potential Multilateral Force participating countries to become proficient in the maintenance and operation of complex missiles, fire control and electronic systems, a proficiency which would be an asset to those countries in connection with the future provision of personnel to the Multilateral Force vessels. A naval auxiliary type, on the other hand, is a comparatively simple and easily manned ship for which adequately trained personnel are readily available in all navies.

2. Apportionment of personnel could be made so that non-United States officers and enlisted personnel would be represented in all departments as far as possible. The ship or ships concerned would operate as an integral part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and the Second Fleet in the Atlantic, participating in United States and NATO exercises as appropriate. For this reason the commanding officer would continue to be a United States naval officer. Although it is understood that in the Multilateral Force itself no single nation would have a majority of the personnel, it might be desirable that not less than one-half of the crew of the U.S. ship be United States nationals. It would be feasible to have four or five nations represented in the ship’s crew. The ship would remain in its present command organization and would not be employed in contingency operations wherein the United States acts unilaterally without the prior agreement of the participating nations.

3. If this project is deemed desirable, a number of English-speaking personnel could be immediately assigned into those billets requiring no specialized training and assignment of training quotas for those billets requiring specialized training could be made. All personnel would remain members of their national navies, ordered by their parent navy for duty to the mixed-manned ship, would wear their own national uniforms and be subject to the orders of superior officers. Each participating nation would be responsible for pay and allowances for its personnel and would also pay for necessary training and subsistence. All personnel would need adequate English language qualifications. Integration of crews would be accomplished on a time-phased schedule. Full integration of a naval auxiliary could be completed in about four months. A DDG could be about 80% integrated in four months and fully integrated in about twelve months; the additional time being required for specialized training for about 20% of the crew.

The United States is prepared to discuss this matter in further detail if desired by the participating governments. If the other governments concerned consider it useful to pursue this idea, the suggestion could be placed on the agenda of the meetings to be held in Paris commencing October 7. The United States would welcome an expression of views of the Governments of Germany, Italy, Turkey and Greece. It would be understood that, while such a project would be related to the Multilateral Force in the manner indicated, it would not have a formal connection and the participants would not, by the fact of their participation, be undertaking any commitment or obligation with respect to the Multilateral Force.

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Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, Def(MLF) 9–5, Confidential Drafted by Spiers; cleared with Furnas, Schaetzel, Chayes, S/P, and the Department of Defense. Also sent to Bonn, Rome, Athens, and Ankara and repeated to The Hague, Brussels, Ottawa, London, and CINCLANT.