What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, we present a declassified C-I-A record titled "National Intelligence Survey Communist China, Section 82, Naval Forces," from January nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides a detailed overview of the People's Liberation Army Navy during the early years of the People's Republic of China, offering insight into its origins, organization, and capabilities. This record is available via documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was declassified by the National Archives and Records Administration, N-A-R-A, under the authority of N-N-D-P forty-nine-nine-ninety-seven-B-one-W. It was initially exempt from general declassification under E-O eleven-six-fifty-two, exemption category five-B-one, two, and three, with declassification requiring the approval of the Director of Central Intelligence. We now read from the document, "National Intelligence Survey Communist China, Section eighty-two, Naval Forces, C-I-A, Washington D.C., January nineteen-fifty-three. Chapter eight, Section eighty-two. Table of Contents for Section eighty-two. A. General. B. Organization: Naval high command, Naval districts, zones, or activities, Naval communications network, Forces afloat, Other naval organizations. C. Strength and disposition: Ships, Personnel. D. Policy and doctrine: Naval strategic concepts, Doctrine, Naval budget and appropriations, Construction and development programs, Naval relationships with other countries, National attitude toward the Navy. E. Personnel: Corps, services, ranks, and rates, Personnel procurement, Naval uniforms and insignia. F. Reserve and mobilization system. G. Training: General, Training facilities, Training afloat. H. Logistics: Procurement, New construction, repair and maintenance, Centers of supply. I. Ship design and characteristics: Design of ships, Strategic characteristics. J. Materiel: General, Materiel characteristics. K. Personalities. L. Tabular data. M. Comments on principal sources. List of Figures: Possible naval integration into army organization, China coast, Typical coastal defense command, Training facilities, Strategic characteristics of vessels, Naval guns. This Section was prepared for the N-I-S by the Office of Naval Intelligence. Section eighty-two. Naval Forces. A. General. The genesis of a Chinese Communist naval force in the late nineteen-forties was a logical outgrowth in keeping with the successes of the People's Liberation Army against the troops of the Kuomintang. As sections of the coastline and portions of the inland waterways came under Communist control, floating equipment and shore facilities left by the Nationalists came into the possession of the new regime. Some Nationalist warships, such as the light cruiser Chungking, defected to the Communists, and a considerable number of Nationalist naval personnel also went over to the other side. Thus, when the Chinese Communists gained control of China’s maritime regions, they acquired some definite naval responsibilities and…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Office Of Naval Intelligence: National Intelligence Survey Communist China, Section 82, Naval Forces

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. Today, we present a declassified C-I-A record titled "National Intelligence Survey Communist China, Section 82, Naval Forces," from January nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides a detailed overview of the People's Liberation Army Navy during the early years of the People's Republic of China, offering insight into its origins, organization, and capabilities.

Date: OCT 10 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Office Of Naval Intelligence: National Intelligence Survey Communist China, Section 82, Naval Forces about?: This is Declassified. Today, we present a declassified C-I-A record titled "National Intelligence Survey Communist China, Section 82, Naval Forces," from January nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides a detailed overview of the People's Liberation Army Navy during the early years of the People's Republic of China, offering insight into its origins, organization, and capabilities.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

Office Of Naval Intelligence: National Intelligence Survey Communist China, Section 82, Naval Forces

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Memorandum Of Conversation From The American Embassy In Taipei, Dated November

CIA Communist China: Air Forces

Today, A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record From December

Today, We Present A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A January

FBI From The United States Air Force, A Declassified Staff Summary Sheet

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Memorandum Of Conversation From The American Embassy In Taipei, Dated November

CIA Communist China: Air Forces

Today, A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record From December

Today, We Present A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A January

FBI From The United States Air Force, A Declassified Staff Summary Sheet

Get the next declassified case in your inbox