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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
сс CC 143
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE Heated that specie bears may be takESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
ensure the secrecy of this documentr~-~-
This document was considered at ca.s(41) $10. Meeting.
SECRET.
0.0.S.(41) 717.
Also H.D.(41) 37 (FINAL)).
3RD DECEMBER, 1941.
1.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
COPY NO.33
MILITARY DEFENCE OF OIL INSTALLATIONS.
Report by the Home Defence Committee.
1
* The Chiefs of Staff at their Meeting on 21st November, 1941, invited us to examine a memorandum by the Oil Control Board and report on measures that could be taken to provide for the defence of oil installations against attack by parachute troops.
2. We would point out that the strength of the Home Guard detachments at Killingholme and Thameshaven is 40 and 120 respectively and not 30 and 74 as stated in the Oil Control Board's Memorandum.
3. Since receipt of our instructions the Vulnerable Points Advisor, together with Experts on parachute technique and sabotage, has inspected the Thameshaven installation, and as the result of his report we have formed the opinion that the chances of the enemy making a successful surprise attack by parachute troops on an oil installation are not very groat.
40
If the troops attempt to land inside the installation it is estimated that, due to the absence of cloar space, they would suffer casualties on landing of the order of 75%. The installations are surrounded by fences which would hamper access to the installation were the troops to land outside the perimeter.
5. Further, even after gaining access to the installation we consider it would take a considerable time to cause any serious damage to the tanks. Some would be empty and it would be necessary to find those which were full and then to ascertain the type of oil in them in order to determine the kind of explosive charge to use. The most vulnerable parts; of an oil installation are the pump houses and power stations and these should receive particular attention in the defonce plan for any installation.
6. In the light of these observations we reviewed the defence arrangements generally with particular reference to the installations specifically mentioned by the Oil Control Board in their Memorandum, namely Killingholmo, Thamo shaven and
Isle of Grain Installations
* C.O. S. (41) 395th Meeting, Minute 2. 6 C.o.s. (41) 689.
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