5. In certain cases, for reasons given below, vessels which had been requisitioned were also acquired. The acquisition of small craft and of certain larger vessels was undertaken by the Ships Purchase Committee which contained representatives of the Ministry, the Treasury and the Admiralty, and was set up to expedite action between departments in the purchase of vessels on hire to the Ministry for naval and similar purposes where purchase appeared to be preferable to hire.
6. In general the Committee acquired non-commercial small craft solely on the grounds of financial advantage. Commercial small craft were purchased when there was a
high probability of loss or the vessel had by conversion lost her commercial character.
7. The large vessels acquired by the inistry can be divided into four groups.
(a)
Ships bought in the early days of the war, some
of which were old and laid-up, required for block ships and various similar purposes or to be put to very hazardous use.
(b) Ships on special naval service which, owing to
conversion, had lost their commercial character, or might be retained by the Admiralty after the cessation of hostilities, either for a consider- able time or permanently.
(c)
(a)
Ships taken for various aspects of the invasion
of Normandy.
iscellaneous, including various ships purchased for the Navy before completion; various heavily damaged ships and a few old ships which the owners could not afford to run.
C
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/8., Summarising,
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