CONFIDENTIAL
(1) Use the SIC "13D" (7).
(2) Start with the words "OPERATION
" (Codeword).
(3) Contain a self-explanatory text following the same general format as for the warning order (paragraph 71c to 71g).
73. Spare.
TIMINGS
(4) Include the time of H hour and any other key timings.
(5) Be sent to the addressees listed in each Part 2 plan.
74. G Day/G Hour. G Day/G hour is the Date-Time Group of the signal from the Chiefs of Staff ordering the implementation of the plan.
75. H Hour.
76.
a.
H hour is the time at which the first ship or aircraft is to be despatched to begin the evacuation.
b.
Route activation aircraft will normally deploy before H hour; however, if one of these aircraft is subsequently to be used as an evacuation aircraft, its departure time will be declared as H hour for the operation.
C.
In the case of HM Ships or RFAs already at sea, or aircraft of the ATF already deployed on other tasks, H hour will be the time at which they are diverted to take part in an evacuation, unless other forces are to depart earlier.
Evacuation Timings.
For an evacuation by sea, the time of arrival of HM Ships will depend on their initial dispositions and passage times to the evacuation ports. Completion times will vary considerably depending on numbers of ships deployed, port facilities and numbers to be evacuated.
For an evacuation by air, an assessment of timings for each Part 2 plan is made based on the following assumptions that:
(1) UK based aircraft will be used.
(2) Aircraft availability will permit the maintenance of the planned flow rate.
(3) Planned facilities both in the country concerned and en route are available.
(4) The planned number of evacuees is to be moved.
18 CONFIDENTIAL