TNAG-0058-FCO40-94-Armed-Forces-exercise-Caricature-1967 — Page 47

SECRET

Category AC: no unclassified reply or reference,

Mr hoss Church Nowa Наша

EXCLUSIVE

SECRET

From:

CINCFE

To:

MOD UK

Info:

CHF Hong Kong

FRIORITY

RTT

WARNING

NO UNCLASSIFIED REPLY OR REFERENCE

0208472 February

bite: 2.2.67

Recd: 15372

CIRCULATION AUTHORISED BY MA/CDS 2 2 67

1.

SEACOS 15 EXCLUSIVE for CDS and CEF from CINC.

EXERCISE CARICATURE.

You will have seen Commorwealth Office to Hong Kong Tel 203 and

Hong Kong to commonwealth office Tel 153. \(2)

Z.

I agree with the Governors views, and I am prepared to accept cancellation right up to H-hour for the EXERCISE, as nevertheless some training will have been gained by both joint staffs at all levels and ships.

3. I regard CARICATURE as a most important EXERCISE for evaluating the command organisation of the Amphibious Force and commando BDE operating against opposition. You will recall that:

40

Ao

E。

It was decided that, after cancellation in the Middle East, Hong Kong was the only location for the EXERCISE in the Far East where full scale opposition could be provided.

The Governor Hong Kong accepted the EXERCISE in principle in Sep 66.

From the purely military point of view I would be particularly sorry to see the EXERCISE cancelled prematurely.

If it would help at all to make the EXERCISE more acceptable, I would be prepared to reduce the size of the EXERCISE force by cutting out participation by RAF FGA aircraft (8 Hunters) and escorting ships (1 frigate and 3 mine sweepers). These deletions would not seriously detract from the main aim of the EXERCISE, but in order not to waste effort, I would want to effect these changes by 7 Feb.

Advance copy:

CDS

Sent:

020847%

0215372

CDS

CNS (5

CGS

TO AS CAPL

DOC/COSSEC (14)

D of DP Seo DPS (4) DCDS (I)(2)

AUS (Poi) (2)

DS 11

TO Room 9 (6)

©

aa

Maj Gen McNeill Commonwealth Office (3)

SECRET

11109/

Mr. Carlow to see.