N.A.T.O. forces too few, short of ammunition—U.S.

Press, 16 April 1980, Page 9

N.A.T.O. forces too few, short of ammunition—U.S.

NZPA-Reuter < Brussels The United States has told its European allies that they must boost their defence effort because some of the United States forces earmarked for reinforcings Europe may be diverted to the Indian Ocean region. ?

The United States wants North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members to accelerate their programme to increase ammunition stocks, expand their trained reservist forces, and make more transport planes available to help fly United States reinforcements 'to Europe, according to N.A.T.O. sources.

But the United States did not contemplate reducing its troops at present stationed in Western Europe, the sources said.

The initial response of the allies had been encouraging for Washington, United States diplomatic sources said.

The United States Undersecretary of Defence (Mr Robert Komer) attended a high-level defence planning committee meeting to discuss the strategic East-West balance since the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.

the crisis in Iran and the response of the United States allies to President Carter’s call for support were not discussed, according to the sources. According to the sources, the United States told its allies that . it had to move

one of its- aircraft-carriers from trie Mediterranean “'to the Iridian Ocean.' Washington expected the threat in that area to be of long duration, they said. United States Marines amphibious units at present in the Mediterranean would also probably have to switch periodically to the Indian Ocean, the United States said.

It told its allies that, in an emergency, aircraft and troops earmarked for quick reinforcement of Europe might also have to be diver-ted-to that area. The American call for greater efforts by the allies will be studied by the Alliance’s military authorities and reviewed by N.A.T.O. Ministers later this year. Top of the list is an increase in ammunition reserves. The United States considers that Western Europe’s stocks are below the levels needed to sustain a defence until United States reserves arrive.

A new factor now is that Washington might have to divert some ammunition to the Indian Ocean area. The United States said Western Europe should increase its

ammunition stock to hedge against this possibility, the sources said.

West Germany has already planned additional purchases of ammunition as part of its increased defence effort. Concerning the transport of rapid reinforcements to Europe in case a crisis there coincided with another one in the Gulf, Washington would also, like its allies to plan the use of civilian wide-body aircraft to help rush United States troops to Europe. This would involve reinforcing the aircraft floors so that they could carry “ heavy equipment, and adding equipment for loading -and unloading, N.A.T.O. experts said. On the third priority, of expanding their reserves, the sources said most West European countries had many reservists, but they were not incorporated and trained in units. The proposals imply an increase in N.A.T.O.’s ..infrastructure programme, financed by all the alliance members. But no cdsting of the proposals had yet been made, the sources said. ; ; '