18 FRONTIERS IN OCEANIC RESEARCH 



cently formalized within the Federal Council for Science and Tech- 

 nology, and the subcommittee, or the panel, I can't remember what it 

 is called, on oceanography, under Secretary Wakelin's direction has 

 been made an official subcommittee. 



There is every evidence that a broad national coordinated program 

 is emerging as a result of these efforts. 



Mr. King. The enactment of the bill under consideration would no 

 doubt accelerate the formulation of that one oceanographic program ; 

 is that correct ? 



Dr. Brown. I believe so ; yes. 



Mr. King. It would be a step in the right direction, would it, in 

 your opinion ? 



Dr. Brown. I believe it would be a step in the right direction ; yes. 



Mr. King. In fact, I believe it would be the heart of the oceano- 

 graphic program, would it not ? 



Dr. Brown. What bill are you speaking of now, to make sure I 

 answered you correctly ? 



Mr. King. I'm talking about H.E. 6298. 



Mr. Anfuso. Right. 



Dr. Brown. Yes, the National Science Foundation bill, yes. 



Mr. King. Now, let me pursue another matter briefly, Dr. Brown. 



You mentioned that you felt that we were being sort of pushed into 

 the sea with reference to, oh, the location of launching areas or sites 

 or bases for ballistic missiles — that is, as a part of our defensive 

 mechanism, we were going to the sea. 



Dr. Brown. Yes. 



Mr. King. The Air Force, of course, has come up with this mobile 

 unit for launching Minutemen from flatcars and so on. 



Would an extension or an elaboration of that concept of the mobile 

 launching base on the land in any way alter your statement that we 

 are being pushed into the sea ? 



Dr. Brown. I don't believe so. 



What I have said does not exclude the use of the mobile Minuteman 

 by any means. But if I were placing bets as to how things would go 

 during the course of the next 10 to 15 years, I would bet that the re- 

 turn to the sea would be much more predominant than the increasing 

 of flexibility on land. 



Mr. King. Could you explore that for just about 1 minute — and we 

 are pressed for time — but my question would be: What natural ad- 

 vantages would there be in establishing these bases in the sea, or by 

 the use of the submarine and the Polaris, over its counterpart on 

 land? 



In other words, why are we being pushed into the sea ? 



Dr. Brown. In the sea one gets three-dimensional maneuverability. 

 On a railroad track you get in effect one-dimensional maneuverability. 



One can map not only railroads but railroad ties, from fantastic 

 heights, with modern camera systems, and with modern reconnaissance 

 techniques one can certainly map railroad systems in detail, and it does 

 not take much effort to so disrupt the railroad system that your ma- 

 neuverability would not be terribly great. 



Now, please don't misinterpret me. I believe the mobile Minute- 

 man has its uses, but I believe that I he whole area of using the sea and 

 its three dimensions is in the long run more important. 



