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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KE“
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
Ci
419
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.
Considered at cos (4.) 57th Meeting.
SECRE T.
C.0.S.(41) 90(REVISE)
18TH FEBRUARY, 1941.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
33
COPY NO.
CHEMICAL WARFARE.
PREPARATIONS FOR RETALIATORY MEASURES.
1
REPORT.
Reference paragraph 10 of our report on anti-gas defence, we now submit the following statement of our preparedness to retaliate:-
NAVY.
2.
In the opinion of the Naval Staff there is no requirement for the use of gas as an offensive weapon between ships at sea, and the use of cloud gases from ships at sea against enemy shore targets cannot be recommended.
30
There may be some demand for the use of gas shell with non persistent fillings for bombardment prior to an opposed landing, the object being to reduce the efficiency of the defence by enforcing the use of respirators. At present the Navy has no gas shell, but empty H.E. shell can be filled with phosgene as was done during the last war, It is now intended to fill with phosgene a small proportion of the bombardment 8" shell and below, so that some gas filled shell will be available in case a requirement for them does arisą in the future.
ARMY.
4.
Chemical Shell.
(a) 25 pounder Base Ejection. Approximately 50,000
have now been filled. There has been delay in the supply of fuzes but 23,000 are now available. 20,000 shell have been released to the Middle East.
(b) 6 and 5.5" B.E.
Deliveries of charged rounds are due to begin in February for the 6", and in April for the 5.5".
-1.
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