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18. The reason for this state of affairs is that in the past the orders for coast defence equipments have been on such a small scale that expansion of capacity, and the placing of orders abroad, have not been justified. The Committee strongly recommend that the War Office should be requested to place orders forthwith with the Ministry of Supply for 350 6-inch (45°) equipments, i.e., 250 to replace naval guns, 27 to complete known requirements, and 73 to provide for future unforeseen requirements. This will enable the latter to push ahead with a programme which will result in greatly increased numbers of guns coming forward in 1942. This will not ease the immediate shortage, but it will ensure that we shall not be faced with such a deplorable situation in the years to
come.
V. ANTI-MOTOR TORPEDO-BOAT DEFENCES.
(a) Outstanding Requirements.
19. The total requirements of 6-pdr. twin equipments can be seen from Table III in Annex II to be 84 (including 19 on order by Dominion Governments). Of these, 16 have been placed in order of priority, 45 are further requirements abroad, 3 are further requirements at home, and 20 are for a general reserve.
20. Fifty-four equipments have so far been ordered, including those ordered for Dominions; and the Committee recommend that the War Office should be authorised to place orders now for the remaining 30.
(b) Production.
21. The production of the 6-pdr. twin is at the rate of about four per month, so that by the end of 1942 this programme should have been completed. It is understood that its production clashes with that of the 25-pdr. and 2-pdr./6-pdr. anti-tank guns. Some slight acceleration may be possible.
VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
22. The Port Defence Committee are constantly engaged in reviewing the state of the coast defences at home and abroad, with the object of ensuring that the best possible use is made of the limited resources at our disposal. The out- standing point which emerges, however, is that we are now totally unable to meet unexpected demands, which are likely to become more urgent as the scope of opera- tions extends throughout the world; nor is there much likelihood of the position being improved before some time in 1942, and then only if considerable orders are placed forthwith. The Port Defence Committee feel it desirable that the Chiefs of Staff should be made aware of the situation.
23. The Chiefs of Staff Committee are asked-
(a) To give general approval to the classification and armament of ports at
home and abroad, as set out in Annex I.
(b) To approve that guns of larger calibre than 9.2-inch should, in principle, be provided at the chief ports abroad open to bombardment by capital ships (see paragraph 8).
(c) Whether the modernisation of counter-bombardment batteries at ports at home should be proceeded with on a programme taking account of the relative needs of individual ports at home and abroad (see paragraph 11).
(d) To approve the placing of orders for 350 6-inch (45°) equipments so as to ensure the maximum rate of production which is practicable without undue interference with more important needs (see paragraph 18). (e) To approve the placing of orders forthwith for the outstanding thirty
6-pdr. twin A/M.T.B. equipments (see paragraph 20).
N
Po
ORKNEYS
()
INVERGOR
ABERDEEN
DUNDEE
FORTH
BLYTH
TYNE
SUNDERLA
TEES AND
HAI
HUMBER
·
(Signed)
Great George Street, S. W. 1,
February 12, 1941.
E. I. C. JACOB, Secretary,
Port Defence Committee.
YARMOUTE
LOWESTOI
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