What did the declassified documents reveal?

TOP SECRET COMMANDER IN CHIEF PACIFIC COMMAND HISTORY, 1977, prepared by the Command History Branch, Office of the Joint Secretary, Headquarters CINCPAC, Honolulu, Hawaii. This declassified record offers a contemporaneous assessment of the Soviet threat in the Pacific theater as viewed by United States Pacific Command in the late 1970s. The document is available through the public archive at documents2.theblackvault.com. The material was released to the public through The Black Vault, the online repository that publishes declassified government records. The file was posted without a specific FOIA case number, and the declassification authority is noted as the United States Department of Defense. The release date listed on the archive is 2023, and the canonical URL for the text is https://archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI02107/CI02107djvu.txt. The document reads: TOP SECRET. COMMANDER IN CHIEF PACIFIC COMMAND HISTORY (1977). Prepared by the Command History Branch, Office of the Joint Secretary, Headquarters CINCPAC, H. M. SMITH, Honolulu, Hawaii nine six eight six one. 1978 TOP SECRET. SECTION II – THE SOVIET THREAT The CINCPAC assessment of the Soviet threat in 1977 differed little from the assessment for 1976, except for the continuing qualitative improvement in Russian weapon systems. The Soviet Union was the only world power which had the potential to challenge the United States militarily. Detente between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Sino‑Soviet confrontation, steps toward normalization of relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, Russian economic progress, and strategic parity tended to reduce the probability of overt Soviet moves against the United States. The Soviets were expected to continue to use “detente” as a means of achieving their political, economic, and military objectives as well as to enhance their position in negotiations with the United States. Militarily, the Soviet Union was expected to continue to emphasize the research and development of superior forces. The Soviets placed high priorities on modernization of their tactical air forces, their anti‑submarine warfare, their sea‑control technology, anti‑satellite and advanced air‑defense systems, surveillance system, and command and control systems. A highly effective Soviet naval force was designed to challenge U.S. control of the seas and was capable in some areas of achieving that goal. Soviet submarines and aircraft were a particular problem; for example, DELTA ballistic‑missile submarines equipped with a 4,900 nautical‑mile missile were assigned to the Soviet Pacific Fleet and more were expected. Continued development and operational deployment of new generations of aircraft and missiles gave the Soviets the capability to maintain local air superiority in many areas, as well as the ability to support ground forces. Tactical air forces were being modernized with new third‑generation tactical fighters having significantly…

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.

Top Secret Commander In Chief Pacific Command History, 1977, Prepared By The

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TOP SECRET COMMANDER IN CHIEF PACIFIC COMMAND HISTORY, 1977, prepared by the Command History Branch, Office of the Joint Secretary, Headquarters CINCPAC, Honolulu, Hawaii. This declassified record offers a contemporaneous assessment of the Soviet threat in the Pacific theater as viewed by United States Pacific Command in the late 1970s.

Date: AUG 4 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Top Secret Commander In Chief Pacific Command History, 1977, Prepared By The about?: TOP SECRET COMMANDER IN CHIEF PACIFIC COMMAND HISTORY, 1977, prepared by the Command History Branch, Office of the Joint Secretary, Headquarters CINCPAC, Honolulu, Hawaii. This declassified record offers a contemporaneous assessment of the Soviet threat in the Pacific theater as viewed by United States Pacific Command in the late 1970s.
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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