ENCLOSURE
 
                                                                          March 5, 1942
 
STRATEGIC DEPLOYMENT OF THE  LAND, SEA, AND AIR F0RCES OF THE U.S.
 
           REPORT BY J0INT U.S. STRATEGIC COMMITTEE
 
1. Assumptions:
 
     a. Territorial integrity of North and South America and
 
     safety of coastal communications are vital, and are
 
     the responsibility of the United States.
 
     b. Increased safety of Atlantic Sea communications is
 
     essential and is a joint charge of the United States
 
     and the United Kingdom.
 
     c. Continuing an active Russian front against Germany is
 
     the surest means of absorbing Geman military energy,
 
     thus contributing to the security of India and the
 
     Middle East. Maintaining this front is essential to
 
     the defeat of Germany within a reasonable time.
 
2. Under the foregoing assumptions csti~uatos have been made to determine the United States
forces, in terms of major combat units and shipping, required to carry out during 1942
the following:
 
(1) (a) Secure the Southwest Pacific Area, including
          Australia, or
(b) Secure the Eastern Pacific (Alaska, Hawaii, Panama
 
(2) Offensive action in the European theater which will
result in material diversion of German forces from the Rus-
sian front.
 
(3) Other overseas deployments necessary while (1) and (2) are being carried out.
 
3. The forces determined to be necessary to carry out the
above have been compared with the means prospectively avail-