Technical Intelligence - FM 30-16 War Department Field Manual

This manual sets forth the doctrine and procedures for the collection, production, and dissemination of technical intelligence during peace and war. This manual contains the delineation of responsibilities and the organization for collection, production, and dissemination of technical intelligence. The organization and procedures described herein are in accordance with accepted doctrine and apply to all Army personnel and agencies. 3. Objectives of Technical Intelligence Four major objectives are attained by proper intelligence exploitation of foreign materiel, facilities, installations, and other information sources. These objectives (not necessarily in order of priority) are— a. Prompt Development of Countermeasures. There is a necessity for countermeasures to neutralize the effectiveness of new foreign arms and equipment. For example, technical service intelligence personnel determine the capability and limitations of a new typeof enemy tank. Based upon this determination, a new tactic, or a new weapon, such as a tank, antitank gun, etc., is devised to combat this threat. b. Prompt Exploitation of New Ideas for Our Benefit. Foreign scientists, technicians, or production experts often develop new materiel, techniques, or production methods. Our use or adaptation of these ideas to our own planning and production may result in new or improved equipment, more efficient operating methods, and better use of facilities in foreign areas. ce. Determination of Capabilities. Detailed study of the physical and performance characteristics of a nation’s materiel and facilities provides an important part of the intelligence needed to arrive at an estimate of military capabilities, at both tactical and strategic levels. In addition, such study may disclose critical shortages of materials which force the use of inferior substitutes, or it may indicate production rates, new techniques, or bottlenecks which could be vulnerable points in the nation’s economy. d. Use of Foreign Materiel and Facilities by Our Forces. (Knowledge of foreign arms, ammunition, supplies, facilities, equipment, technical personnel and agencies, and other resources allows our forces to employ captured and other foreign materiel and facilities with a minimum loss of time and efficiency, and to relieve our logistics problem in the theater. Appropriate technical services assist by preparing manuals, firing tables, technical bulletins, ammunition interchangeability guides, and other training literature and aids. a. The collection, production, and dissemination of technical intelligence are functions of command at all levels. G2, as the commander’s intelligence officer, directs and supervises the collection of technical intelligence by all elements of the command. He exercises genera] staff direction and supervision over the production and dissemination of technical intelligence. &. Under the general staff direction and supervision of G2, each technical service is responsible for the collection and production of technical intelligence on foreign materiel, facilities, installations, and other intelligence requirements for which that service has a primary intelligence responsibility. ¢e. Technical intelligence produced by the technical services will be disseminated through G2 at the appropriate level of command. This procedure does not preclude a technical service from disseminating intelligence to agencies of its own service for their use, or the simultaneous forwarding of such intelligence to the Assistant Chief of Staff, G2, and to the chief of their service at Department of the Army. a.

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