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In this connection, and affecting the incidence of new orders, it must be confirmed at once that the 28 equipments for conversion will in fact be available as required. It is further essential that orders for the new equipments be placed at once in order that the trade capacity now under investigation can be retained and orders placed for material.
The production of 9.2" Mark XV Guns must be planned in conjunction with the Naval programme to ensure that available capacity is fully utilised.
Paragraph 23 (a).
the
If the full 6" programme were approved now, guns rather than the mountings would be the limiting factor if, as anticipated, the mounting capacity with the trade now under negotiation can be retained by immediate orders. Available production of guns in the United Kingdom could be increased from approximately
subject to 3 to 9 per month commencing in 15 months no interference by other orders, e.g. 7.2 Howitzer and Naval guns, at Beardmores, Vickers-Armstrongs, Elswick, and Dalmuir. Definite steps could also be taken to seek provision of Mark XXIV Guns from United States of America up to 12 per month, commencing possibly 18 months from order; capacity could probably be obtained for necessary mountings.
An enquiry has already been sent
to the British Purchasing Commission as regards Guns.
Exclusive of the above possible U.S.A. production, the present output of 3 per month could be increased in about 15/18 months to about 9 per month, subject to the provisos mentioned above and to a firm order being placed now for 200, including existing orders for 51.
Paragraph 3(e).
If the full balance of 30 6-pdr. orders is placed now, arrangements could be made to follow existing orders without any interruption, completing about the end of 1942. If not placed at once, a gap in production is inevitable.
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It should be noted that steps have already been taken, as the result of your preliminary enquiries, to allocate forging capacity and negotiate with firms for tentative arrangements for provision of the necessary machine tools. These negotiations must be brought to completion one way
Unless this is or the other in the very near future. done, it will adversely prejudice our prospects of completing the tentative forecast above.
Should the project be shelved, or only small orders be given as in the past, the opportunity for the increase in production shown will be lost.
Firm orders for spare barrels, gun bodies and breech mechanisms must be made concurrently with the original order
Requirements of other so that production may be planned. spares must follow as soon as possible but the main demands must not be held up on their account.
Great George Street, S.W.1.,
13th February, 1941.
X X X
(Signed) H.L. BROWN.
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