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Necessity for an over-all concept

Thinking on submarine defense has not always been clear-cut.

Proponents of single elements tend to ensure predominance of that element without determining if it is justified, and the element with the most enthusiastic and vociferous proponents has assumed the greatest importance.

Consequently, air, surface, and submarine elements overshadow the mine, fixed installations, and intelligence.

These have sought more and more of what they have.

Each seems to strive for elimination of the necessity for the others.

This, despite postwar experience demonstrating that all elements are necessarily mutually supporting.

Thus, the most productive areas are not necessarily the most stressed.

This is stated to emphasize the necessity for an over-all concept of submarine defense, one which would provide positions of relative importance to ASW elements based on projected potentialities.

Then the enthusiasm and energy of all elements can be channeled to produce cumulative progress toward a common objective.

An over-all concept would have other advantages.

It would allow presentation to the public of a unified approach.

Now the problem is presented piecemeal and sometimes contradictorily.

While one element is announcing progress, another is delineating its problems.

The result can only be confusion in the public mind.

A unified concept can serve as a guide to budgeting and, if public support is gained, will command Congressional support.

Industry's main criticism of the Navy's antisubmarine effort is that it cannot determine where any one company or industry can apply its skills and know-how.

Lacking guidance, industry picks its own areas.

The result, coupled with the salesmanship for which American industry is famous, is considerable expenditure of funds and efforts in marginal areas.

An over-all concept will guide industry where available talents and facilities will yield greatest dividends.

Therefore, a broad concept of over-all submarine defense is needed for co-ordination of the Navy's efforts, for a logical presentation to the public, for industry's guidance, and as a basis for a program to the Congress.