Page 188
Page 188
се
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
•
162
Page 188
SECRET.
C.O.S.(40) 825.
11TH OCTOBER, 1940.
COPY NO.
NO.29
WAR CABINET.
CHTERS OF STAFT COMMITHER,
-
PROVISION OF V.L.A. BALLOON BARRAGE FOR ALEXANDRIA.
Note by the Chief of the Air Staff.
The Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean has requested that a V.L.A. balloon barrage be provided for Alexandria, and the Port Defence Committee have recommended" that a barrage of 24 I.E., V.L.A. balloons should be provided for Alexandria as soon as possible at the expense of naval requirements at home
#1
2. Subsequent to the meeting of the Port Defence Committee the Air Ministry carried out an investigation into the operational aspect of flying a V.L.A. balloon barrage at Alexandria. The result of this investigation showed that 22 V.L.A. balloons would be an effective deterrent against mine-laying and sorpedo attack in Alexandria Harbour, while
a further 8 balloons should give protection against mine-laying in the harbour approaches.
る。
An Inter-Service conference was held at the Air Ministry
on the 1st October, 1940, to discuss the provision and allocation of V.L.A. balloons.
At this conference à priority
list was recommended as between the following:-
(a) Admiralty
(b) Balloon Command
O N
(c) Alexandria
O G
for flying from ships for
convey protection.
for anti-minelaying barrages
in estuaries.
for protection of the harbour and its approaches against minelaying and low-flying attack.
A noto on the provision or V.L.A. balloons, together with the suggested priorities, is attached as an Annex to this papo-
40
Tests, Fall service trials of the V.L.A. 2,000 cubic
The Inter- foot type balloon have not yet been carried out. Service conference agreed that it was desirable to test V.L.A. balloons under sub-tropical conditions parallel with
P.D. C. (40) 9th Mig., Minute 1,
Page 188
825
Page 188