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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
29
This document was considered at C) 345 Meetin
Bumat 2.
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.)
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SECRET.
C.0.S.(41) 689.
18TH NOVEMBER, 1941.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
COPY NO. 33
1.
THE MILITARY DEFENCE OF OIL INSTALLATIONS.
Memorandum by the Oil Control Board.
The Oil Control Board were desirous that the Military protection of Oil should be as strong as practicable, and placed the matter before the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, through Major-General Sir Andrew McCulloch, Inspector of Oil Protection.
2.
The Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces pointed out that it was impracticable to give every Oil Installation an increase in its static defences. But he agreed to divide the important Installations into three groups and give additional safeguard as follows:-
(a) Those of vital importance and lying within reach
If these were threatened, of considerable bodies of troops. counter-measures would be taken by reserves of great strength.
(b) Those of vital importance but not lying so near large concentrations that reserves of great strength were available. The measures for safeguarding would be mobile columns in the vicinity.
(c) Those of lesser importance.
rely on their existing garrisons.
3.
These would have to
The Oil Control Board considered these proposals from the Commander-in-Chief at their 11th meeting on October 1st. They recognised that against the technique of a German invading force such measures would probably be of more avail than small static guards, and the Board was satisfied that the measures provided the maximum practicable precautions which could be taken against the threat of a full-dress invasion.
4.
The Board, however, viewed with grave concern the possibility of the enemy employing under normal war conditions relatively small bodies of parachute saboteurs to be landed in the oil storage areas, (and probably other vital points), with the specific task of rapid destruction of
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