United States Army in World War II: The Middle East Theater
The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia
by T. H. Vail Motter
1952
. . . to Those Who Served
Table of Contents
Part One: The Coming of the Americans
Chapter 1: Experiment in Cooperation
Supplying the Soviet War Machine – The British and the Americans – The Russians and the Americans – The Iranians and the Americans
Wheels Within Wheels – Planning and Action – The Civilian Contractors
The Engineer Tasks – The Ordnance Program – The Mission’s Tasks – Arrival in Iraq – All Change–New Priority
Chapter 4: Interlude of the Mission to the USSR
Why and Where? – Fifth Wheel – Command and Conflict – Russia Unvisited
Chapter 5: The Iranian Mission and Its Successors
Jobs, Geography, and Manpower – Unification of the Middle East Missions – Militarization of Contract Activities
Chapter 6: Wharves, Roads, and Barges
Making Bricks Without Straw – Barge Assembly at Kuwait – Administrative Problems – The Contract Terminated
Chapter 7: Aircraft Assembly and Delivery
Early Plans – The Battle of the Backlog – Militarization
Chapter 8: Motor Vehicle Assembly and Delivery
Plans and Plants – Problems and Performance
Before World War II – Inception of the American Advisory Missions – The Ridley and Schwarzkopf Appointments
Part Two: The Persian Gulf Command
Chapter 10: New Job, New Tools: The SOS Plan
The Midsummer Crisis, 1942 – Ways and Means – The SOS Plan – The Plan Approved – Unfinished Business – Implementing the Plan
Chapter 11: Blueprint for the Machine
The Structure of American Headquarters – The Districts – Evolution of the Persian Gulf Command – Division of Responsibility With the British
Chapter 12: The Machine at Work
A Bird’s-Eye View – The Army Takes Over Construction – Signal Communications – The Command and Air Activities – Logistical Support of FRANTIC Mission – The Command and Project LUX
Chapter 13: The Air Corps Takes Over Aircraft Assembly
The Pressure of the Protocols – Manpower, Procedures, and Production – Abadan Air Base
Chapter 14: The Army Takes Over The Tap’s
Plant – Problems – The End of Operations
Early Pipeline Projects – Increase of Middle East Refinery Capacity–Bahrain – Container Plants at Abadan and Bahrain – Supply of POL Within the Command – Gasoline for Russia
The Preliminaries – The Trucks Start Rolling – Operations and Obstacles – The Score
Authority and Responsibility – The Power of the Purse – The Americans Take Over – Men at Work – Problems and Solutions – The Last Months
Evolution of American Responsibility – The American Organization and Its Functions – The Ports and Their Problems – Performance
The Process of Contraction – Evacuation and Redeployment – Liquidation of Property – Comparative Score
Part Three: Iran – The Fourth Partner
Chapter 20: The US Army and Aid to Iran
The Question of Status – Broadening the Directive
Chapter 21: The Military Advisory Missions
The Contracts – The Work of the Missions – Priorities and Policy – The Question of Continuing the Missions
1. Cargo Shipped from the Western Hemisphere to the USSR by Route of Delivery, 22 June 1941–20 September 1945
2. Cargo Shipped from the Western Hemisphere to Persian Gulf Ports for the USSR, by Type, November 1941–May 1945.
3. Cargo Discharged at American-Operated Ports in the Persian Gulf, January 1943–May 1945
4. Supplies Delivered to the USSR through the Persian Corridor, by Type of Transport, 1942–1945
5. Freight Hauled by Rail North of Andimeshk, Iran, August 1942–May 1945
6 Freight Hauled in the Persian Corridor by the Motor Transport Service, 1943–1944
7. Number of Vehicles Assembled at Truck Assembly Plants in the Persian Corridor, March 1942–April 1945
8. Monthly Output of Assembled Vehicles at Truck Assembly Plant II, Khorramshahr, Iran, 26 January 1943–19 April 1945
9. Monthly Output of Assembled Vehicles at Truck Assembly Plant I, Andimeshk, Iran, March 1942–December 1944
10. Monthly Deliveries of Aircraft, to the USSR by US Army in the Persian Corridor, 1942–1945
11. Aircraft Delivered to the USSR by US Army in the Persian Corridor, by Type, 1942–1945
12. Assigned Strength of US Army Forces in the Persian Corridor, 1943–1945
13. Distribution of US Army Civilian Employees in the Persian Corridor, 1943–1945
14. Estimated Costs of Constructing Fixed Installations in the Persian Corridor, 1943–1945
15. Drum Production at Bahrain, 1944–1945
1. United States Army Forces in the Middle East
2. Manpower in US Army Operations in the Persian Corridor, 1941–1945
3. Aircraft Delivered to the USSR at Abadan, Iran, 1942–1945 . .
4. Vehicles Assembled at Truck Assembly Plant I, Andimeshk, Iran, 1942–1944
5. Vehicles Assembled at Truck Assembly Plant II, Khorramshahr, Iran, 1943–1945
6. Freight Hauled in the Persian Corridor by the Motor Transport Service, 1943–1944
7. Freight Hauled North of Andimeshk, Iran, on Iranian State Railway, August 1942–May 1945
8. Cargo Discharged at American-Operated Ports in the Persian Gulf, January 1943–May 1945
9. Discharge and Inland Clearance Operations at Khorramshahr, Iran, August 1942–May 1945
10. Discharge and Inland Clearance Operations at Bandar Shahpur, Iran, August 1942–January 1945
11. USSR Cargo Landed at Cheybassi, Iraq, July 1943–September 1944
12. Cargo Shipped to the USSR from the Western Hemisphere, by Route, 22 June 1941–20 September 1945
Principal Russian-Aid Routes – The Ports
Sketches & Illustrations
Approaches to the Middle East
The Districts, 1942–1945
American-Operated Routes
Declaration of the Three Powers Regarding Iran
Aerial Photo of Khorramshahr
Aerial Photo of Bandar Shahpur
The Frontispiece, supplied by the Department of State, is from the White House files. The two photos are from the US Air Forces, Department of Defense.