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a.
SECRET/LOCSEN
these can be averaged as follows:-
Limited Support Periods (LSP)
Base Maintenance Periods (BMP)
b.
C. Docking and Essential Defects (DED)
d.
Refit
Total
27 days
- 25 days
- 10 days (yearly average)
33 days (yearly average)
95 days/year
The above figures give an average, through life Availability of approximately 74% (365-95 x 100 = 73.97%).
365
NOTE: Time during Major Refit has been excluded from the Availability cal-
culation iaw normal practice. Its inclusion would make less than 1% difference. 35. Periods of Tension/Confrontation. The requirement is for 4 Patrol Craft to be at immediate notice. With 74% Availability, this would require a permanent nominal force of 5.4 vessels ie (4 x 100). However at the onset of a period of tension/unrest/confrontation it is assumed that LSP maintenance could/would be de deferred or that a craft could be brought forward from it. To facilitate this
arrangement the Notice for Sea during LSP's has been restricted to 8 hours -
NSR, Expanded Statement, Part J, paragraph 4f(3) refers. On the other hand, it might not be possible to bring forward a craft in BMP/DED/Refit in sufficient time to give immediate support to the other vessels. On this basis (ie by excluding the Limited Support non-operational periods from paragraph 37 Availability can be temporarily improved to approximately 81% ie (365-68 x 100 = 81.36%). On this basis a nominal force of 4.9 vessels ie (4 x 100365 would be required to ensure
that 4 were available at immediate notice. In practical terms, this indicates
a Squadron strength of 5 vessels.
36.
81
The above "tension/confrontation" requirements have been calculated on basis
of craft availability only, ie no allowances have been made for crew rest and
recreation or leave. While this is acceptable for short duration periods of unrest,
it cannot be used as a basis for prolonged operations, since, assuming one vessel was in Refit, it could involve the permanent use of the four remaining craft between BMP's (ie for 13 weeks). For an extended period of unrest, it would therefore
be necessary to "bring forward" the fifth vessel as soon as possible, or at least
rotate crews with the non-operational craft, so that a crew and then craft cycle of
5 days on and 2 days off patrol could be introduced. This would allow some LSP
maintenance and crew relaxation. Until the fifth vessel were available, this "unrest" operational nattern will be liable to disruption through craft defects, but this is not considered to justify an additional vessel (ie six Patrol Craft)
on a permanent basis.
37.
Peacetime. For prolonged peacetime operations, full account must be taken. of crew rest/recreation and leave requirements (ie crew availability in addition
13 SECRET/LOCSEN