WAR DEPARTMENT
OFFICE Of THE CHIEF Of STAFF
WASHINGTON
 
April 1, 1942
 
                               Dear Mr. President:
                          A detailed examination of production schedules aud possibillties indicates that
material progress has been made in attaining production rates for 1942 which will meet the
objectives  which you have established for tanks, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns and machine
guns. However, there is a serious deficiency in the production rates for armored cars,
self-propelled mounts for artillery weapons and artillery weapons required to equip a balauced
military force. The requisite increase in productive capacity to meet these deficiencies has been
discussed with the War Production Board and Mr. Nelson has advised us that it will be impossible
to meet the deficiency in these items from available productive capacity and at the same time
provide all of the items set forth in your list of objectives.
 
     A joint committee representing the United States and the United Kingdom has developed
the requirements for those nations, the U.S.S.R. and other Defense Aid in tanks, armored cars and
self-propelled artillery for the remainder of the calendar year and for 1943. The aggregate
requirements for 1942 call for 46,523 units which may be considered of tank type and which
include 24,703 tanks, 8,940 armored cars, and 12,880 self-propelled mounts for artillery weapons.
The production of these 46,523 units is proposed as the goal for 1942 in lieu of the 1,5,000 tanks
which now represents this goal.
.
 
          We are also faced with a serious deficiency in artillery weapons which can be overcome
only through a modification of the anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun program. The proposed
modification would provide for the production of 17,400 anti-aircraft,  25,300 anti-tank, and
9,682 field pieces, an increase of 11,682 over the objective now established for 20,000
anti-aircraft, and  20,700 anti-tank guns.
 
     No modification is recommended in the machine gun objectives
nor at this time in the objectives established for 1943 sincethe peak production rates to be reached
this year will suffice to meet the objectives established for 1943 unless military requirements
should make further recommendations appear desirable.