What did the declassified documents reveal?

U.S. Navy memorandum on Chinese Communist radar order of battle, December seventh, nineteen fifty‑three. This three‑page secret memorandum, now declassified, provides the most detailed U.S. intelligence assessment of People's Republic of China radar installations as of mid‑1953. It is hosted on the Black Vault archive. The record was released to the public through a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the Department of Defense. The Black Vault posted the full text on its website on the date indicated in the file’s metadata, and the declassification authority is listed as the Office of the Secretary of Defense, under the standard classification review process for historical intelligence documents. The document begins with a statement of purpose and distribution instructions. It reads: “The information contained in enclosure (1) is [four lines redacted under exemption B1]. The enclosure is to be handled in accordance with the classification markings and may be reproduced only by the Department of Defense if requested. Reproduction of enclosure (1) from the original is prohibited without proper authorization.” The memorandum then lists a series of coded entries that correspond to radar sites, equipment types, and associated identifiers. The text, as transcribed from the original, follows: “Factfile Fleet, H. t. thie Sony ve ai Dar (lass exc) oxNr ancl VADM MA, GinG, NGRS Navy ae ene) fier OC192 7 Das 1953 — 1. 22ut: $ 3: £13«208 2. 22a20N; 123-288. 36 22052Ks LI—37E de 22059Ns 116-078 Se 22057H; W1b8e29E é. 23000. ERs 652450 23—O07$ 1160 5E . A28u24Ny 121-338 Je 25—-28N ‘LL LE: LO. = 28-37Ns 1210178 Le § 2854Rp 1210348 13. 29-07; 11908 Lhe 29-34Np 121458 25. 29mh2Hy 121af) 16. 2G035H5. 121-868 L7. - 29-5483 122-008 29. BOn08Ry 122 TE 20, 30-15N; 1224L0E ale ¢ 222.268 Ree 30~58Ny 1216248 23. 3isOON; 1L226L0k Bhe Blalde Say AL-29.8 26. BLoLAN: 121-458 27. 31a20N; 121.~53E 28. 31-20N; 121-538 29. 31~33N3 121-515 3G, Blw4AN3. 121-368 Ble 31-50Ns 121-478 Bee 32/0N5 114-008. 33. 35 ~57N: 120298 3he 260120; 120~258 35. 36~32N3 1200275 36. 36-408; 121125 BT. = F%=BONs 121-208 38. 37 35Ny 120, 5E 39. 39-15H; 117.208 40. 39-5583 116

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.

CIA Navy Memorandum On Chinese Communist Radar Order Of Battle, December Seventh

◆ BLUF — The short version

S. Navy memorandum on Chinese Communist radar order of battle, December seventh, nineteen fifty‑three. S. intelligence assessment of People's Republic of China radar installations as of mid‑1953. It is hosted on the Black Vault archive. The record was released to the public through a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the Department of Defense.

Date: OCT 2 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Episode notes

U.S. Navy memorandum on Chinese Communist radar order of battle, December seventh, nineteen fifty‑three. This three‑page secret memorandum, now declassified, provides the most detailed U.S. intelligence assessment of People's Republic of China radar installations as of mid‑1953. It is hosted on the…

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Questions about this case

What was CIA Navy Memorandum On Chinese Communist Radar Order Of Battle, December Seventh about?: S. Navy memorandum on Chinese Communist radar order of battle, December seventh, nineteen fifty‑three. S. intelligence assessment of People's Republic of China radar installations as of mid‑1953. It is hosted on the Black Vault archive. The record was released to the public through a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the Department of Defense.
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.

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CIA Navy Memorandum On Chinese Communist Radar Order Of Battle, December Seventh

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