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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
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179
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)
This dopt was considered at e o S(D) 4 13a Meeli. p
C.0.S.(41) 726.
5TH DECEMBER, 1941.
COPY NO.
33
WAR CABINET .
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITUZE.
SPECIAL CRAFT FOR COMBINED OPERATIONS.
Note by the Vice-Chief of Naval Staff.
With reference to C.0:8.(41) 388th Meeting, Minute 3, the points raised by the Committee at (a), (b), (c) and (d) have been investigated by the Controller who reports as follows:
(a) Invited the Admiralty to report what would be the
effect on our shipbuilding programme of constructing 1,000 T.L.C.'s by May, 1943.
(i)
The existing enlarged programme of 300 T.L.C's by May 1943 represents the most that can be done without a drastic cut in other shipbuilding. It is already proving a matter of great difficulty to provide the necessary labour. To complete on time 1A priority will be necessary.
(ii) To increase the programme from 300 to 1,000 T.L.C's by May, 1943 would require an additional labour force of 25,500 men. By way of comparison the number of men now employed on Naval shipyard work is 57,000 and on merchant shipyard work 35,000.
(iii) The provision of the right type of steel plating would present a problem of the utmost difficulty, Thicker plate would certainly have to be employed with consequent reduction in the carryir capacity of the TLC's.
(iv) It will be seen from the above that the 1,000 T.L.C. programme would require the complete re-organisation of much of the shipbuilding industry of the country. The effect would be most severely felt on merchant shipbuilding, The period required to effect such a re-organisation would be such that even if it were done it is extremely unlikely that the programme would complete on time,
(v) A further effect would be largely to un-balance the shipbuilding industry. The Steam Engineers would have little work and the fitting out trades would be required in different proportions from the normal.
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