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20. CAPIC concludes that the spares support arrangements will continue to be just adequate until 1982 or so. Any further predictions on spares availability would have to be made by DGST(N).
CHARACTERISTICS OF A REPLACEMENT CRAFT
21. General. Premeditated CCN attack is not envisaged and it is neither cost effective nor policy to match CCN numbers. However because of the small numbers of RN craft envisaged and their main functions (paragraph 8) it is important that the performance and characteristics
of these craft should be better than the Militia and Public Security vessels and desirably not markedly inferior to those of the CCN vessels operating regularly close to Colony waters (paragraphs 11 and 12). They must also be adequate to pose a realistic deterrent against larger single units of the CCN taking incursive action.
22. Hull
a.
2.
The hull should be of sufficient strength to withstand rough usage when engaged in junk searching, and the free-board high enough to ensure good seakeeping qualities and to allow junks to be boarded. Wooden hulls would be in hazard from the prevalence of the toredo worm in Colony waters, thus a hull immune to marine borer attack is required. It is highly desirable that the superstructure should have areas that give protection against anti-personnel weapons.
b.
Experience has shown that the present patrol craft (153 feet long) are able to operate in sea conditions where craft such as the largest Marine Police launches (110 feet) cannot. Provision of a hull to complement future Marine Police craft and capable of the roles in paragraph 8 points to a hull in excess of 150 feet.
23. Speed
a.
The present patrol craft have a speed of 15 knots which is inadequate for the following reasons:-
(1) They are unable to countermark potentially hostile CCN craft in a period of tension.
(2) In peacetime operations they can be outpaced by numerous junks, particularly when operating close to Colony boundaries.
(3) A quick reaction time, in Colony waters of preferably not more than one hour is desirable during a period of tension: this is only possible with five craft if they have a 25 knot maximum speed.
b. There is a requirement for both a low and high speed capability, the former for patrolling Colony waters, boarding suspect vessels and close manoeuvring; the latter to react quickly to any incident, to countermark an adversary and to increase flexibility and reduce response time. The ability at least to match an opponent's speed is vital in the circumstances of Hong Kong. To be first on the scene places on the opponent the onus of opening fire, whereas to have to resort to opening fire to deter an opponent could have disastrous repercussions.
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