Page 241
8
place. We make the following suggestions which, on examination, may overcome these difficulties :—
(a) To adapt suitable troopships or liners to carry 2 S.L.Cs. and 10 A.L.Cs. at their davits in place of their normal lifeboats. The ships should also be capable of taking 2 M.L.Cs., if possible. The mercantile crews should be given a certain degree of training and stiffened by a nucleus of naval personnel. These ships would continue in their normal occupation until called in for a special operation. It will be necessary to earmark sufficient of these ships to ensure that at least 6 can be called in for operations at about a fortnight's notice.
(b) To construct in, or purchase from, the U.S.A. suitable ships. (c) To fit out A.M.Cs. on the lines of (a) above. Though these ships would in all respects be eminently suitable, this course may not be feasible in view of the grave shortage of ocean escorts and cruisers.
8. Whichever course is adopted we consider that a minimum of three additional Infantry assault ships are urgently required to meet the requirements of operations in 1941 and 1942, and a further three should also be prepared to cover losses.
M.L.C. Carriers.
9. Three new fleet oilers are being adapted to carry M.L.C's. and to hoist them in and out by using a gantry. Each ship will carry and hoist out 15 M.L.C's. loaded with vehicles. Since these ships are primarily fleet oilers they may not always be available when required for operations. We have, however, two L.N.E.R. Ferries, each being adapted to carry 13 M.L.C's., but limited to 1,200 miles endurance.
Our requirements (2 ships) with suitable reserve for loss are thus met.
Winettes and Maracaibos (Tank Assault Ships).
10. At present there are three ships being modified to make them capable of carrying tanks for long sea voyages and discharging them direct on to the shore. These are the Maracaibo oilers, whose completion date is approximately
June 1941.
11. The Admiralty has also prepared drawings of a ship (the Winette) which can carry and discharge tanks in this manner. Approval to build three Winettes has been given.
The Winette is a 3,000-ton ship of 16-18 knots with a big endurance. Its carrying capacity is-
Short sea voyage—
20 25-ton tanks, plus 31 vehicles,
or
no tanks and 53 vehicles.
Long sea voyage-
20 25-ton tanks and a few vehicles on deck.
It is also designed to carry cased aircraft.
12. The construction of a Winette in the United Kingdom involves cancelling either one destroyer or three corvettes. Serious as this situation is, there appears to be no other sure method of transporting tanks over an open sea passage for an assault.
13. We understand that Canada is anxious to assist in our shipbuilding programme and has offered to construct destroyers and even cruisers. The con- struction of a Winette is technically simple in comparison with that of destroyers or cruisers and would not involve the transfer of key personnel from this country. Alternatively, the U.S.A. might be asked to build Winettes.
14. We consider that a total of ten Winettes or Maracaibos will be required for operations in 1942. In addition, we should have a reserve of at least two ships to meet losses. We recommend that the question of construction in America or Canada should be examined. Since this is a completely new design which may have teething troubles, it will be desirable to build at least the first ship in this country.
Page 241
Page 241
Page 241