66.
SUFFLITS
XVI.
Furo 23.
CONFIDENTIAL
Supply satisfactorily carried out.
-
(a) Rations:
Units hold, in peace, the tinned portion of the. month's rati-n receiving only the fresh portion daily. This is desirable for reasons of climate and economy In the field, however it is not possible for units to hold a month's or half month's tinned nortion of the ration for roasons of mobility and changes in strength. CRASC had to recrganise his supply system to enable a daily issue of a complete balanced rution to take place. This meant a double issue on one day in order to bring the "rationing" of units from midnight to midnight, instead of lunch to lunch. At a later stage CR.SC would have had to call in the balance of the month's tinged ratien hold by units and left by them in their barracks when they took the field. Units could then be issued cach cvening because they could not be expected to held rations before the current day's rations had been cleared from their E echelons. Considerations of climate make it important that fresh sups are handled by units in the cool part of the day.
Some initial trouble was experienced in view of the foregoing remarks. 5de HQ op order laid down "7 days supplies" to be hold with units. This would have been impossible anyway because -
(1) Units had insufficient transport.
(ii) Units only had three days reserve ith them.
(iii) To get four more days reserves would have meant HQ
Land Forces authority - which was not asked for.
RASC experienced Teething troubles as well. Contractors had to be organised quickly to change their livery time; and no equipment for proservation of fresh sups in bulk exists.
Fresh sups were "split" to unit requirements at 53 Supply Depot and then shipped to TAI PO. The result was that they arrived in poor condition through boing tossed about at sea,
CRASC was not asked to provide an SRP but to deliver rations at TAI PO. It is considered that be hould have sent rations in bulk by sea with a Sup det to broak-bulk at TAI PO, this would have obviated the troublo. In other words an ERP was necessary.
(b) POL. Units did not draw their full number of Jerrycans
for 100 miles of POL. This may mean that they are already in possession of Jerrycans (contrary to CIs). It is essential that RASC know how much PCL unite held to ensure smooth replenishment.
2/10 GR Petrol tank at SAN AI ran dry at the beginning of "FULTUM". It is very important that units whr have potrel tanks keep them with at least one day's reserve at all times.
(c) Amn. Satisfactory.
SAKEN PLANT
70)......