3
1
B
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Proposals in Paper No. C.O.S. (40), 18 (O) (J.P.).
ROYAL NAVAL RE- QUIREMENTS. SPE-
CIAL SHIPPING.
7. Infantry Assault Ships
(I.A.S.).
Ve estimated that
we should require 11 of these ships, not allowing for
reserves.
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Comments by the Chiefs of Staff.
Further considerations.
At present there are 3 such
ships, the Glens.
Decisions invited.
195
In the light of further experience we consider that 9 are required, thus leaving a balance of 6 to be provided.
Approval is requested to earmark sufficient ships to enable at least 6 to be withdrawn from their normal duties, &c., and made available for opera- tions at about a fort- night's notice. Alterna- tively to take up and convert 6 additional ships.
8. Tank Assault Ships
(T.A.S.).
We relied upon the T.L.C. being a craft suitable for this purpose, and esti- mated that 90 of these craft should be built for the Middle East and 90 for the U.K., making a total of 180, including
reserves.
Orders have been placed in the U.K. for 95 T.L.C.
44 Z-craft are also being built in India to the order of C.-in-C., Middle East.
As a result of trials recently carried out, the T.L.C. has proved to be an unsuitable and unreliable craft for an open-sea voyage. Conse- quently, 3 Maracaibo oilers have been approved to be taken up and con- verted into T.A.S.
We
consider that 12 such ships are required, and if they are provided, only those T.L.C.'s required to meet wastage* (i.e., 8) will have to be constructed after the existing pro- gramme has been com- pleted.
(* See para. 24.)
D.N.C. has designed a suitable T.A.S. (the Winette). The construc- tion of 3 of these ships in the U.K. has been approved, and it is under consideration to build 7 more in the U.S.A. or Canada. Approval is requested to proceed with the construc- tion of at least 6 T.A.S. in the U.S.A. or Canada.
9. Tank Landing Craft
(T.L.C.).
For details see para. 8.
10. M.L.C. Carriers. We stated that special ships would have to be provided to carry M.L.C's. to unload transport at the beaches.
3 Fleet
oilers specially adapted to carry and
hoist out M.L.C's. are in production. In addition 2 L.N.E.R. train ferries are under conversion for the same purpose. This will meet our requirements.
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Approval Is requested for the construction of 8 T.L.C's to complete reserves, to be undertaken when the existing pro- gramme of 95 is com- pleted.
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