TNAG-1514-FCO40-2072-Shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 17

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAL

but generally would be consecutive as far as shipping was concerned.

Trans-Atlantic Reinforcement and Resupply

5

Munitions and freight would be moved from the US to Europe

under NATO's

NATO's Rapid Reinforcement Plan. The USA's merchant fleet

could not cope with the whole task. The other Alliance states have

identified vessels in their fleets that would be suitable for it and

are committed to supply them for it if the need arose.

Naval Needs

6

Merchant and other civil ships would be needed to meet a number

of operational and support roles for the Navy in crisis and war.

Civil Needs

7 There would be a wide range of requirements for shipping to

meet civil supply needs. (These needs include commodities eg oil

and fuel that would be of direct importance to the defence forces.)

Important commodities have been identified, and the need for

shipping to carry them assessed for a range of demand levels.

Allowance has been made for substitution of goods that would under

normal conditions be exported. Substantial resourcing of imports to

reflect wartime conditions has been assumed. The assumption has

also been made that shipping would not be allocated with export

needs in mind; exports would be shipped as opportunities allowed.

Allowance has also been made for reduced ship operating efficiency

during and immediately after war, and for attrition.

8

There would also be a number of more specific civil needs,

expressed as requirements for ships of particular types rather than

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