CAB80-13 — Page 372

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(iv) The second duty of the Air Force in Home Defence

is to attack concentrations of sea transport or carrier and other aircraft as soon after they are discovered as possible, and if practicable to bomb the concentrations of troops.

(v) The first duty of the Navy also is reconnaissance,

but their capacity for this is rather limited compared with the Royal Air Force. Their second duty is to attack the enemy's transports and escorts with all the means at their disposal at the earliest possible moment at which they can be located at sea and throughout the voyage.

(vi) On arrival at ports or beaches it is the duty of

the Officer Commanding to send the fullest information at the earliest possible moment to the Commander- in-Chief, Home Defence. It is the duty of the Air Force to supplement this information to the best of its ability.

(vii) The beaches and ports are the main line of defence

of this country, and the enemy must be repulsed there by all possible means. The land forces on the beach will usually be rather than, Their action must be supplemented as soon as possible by action by Naval forces and by Air Forces, which latter can be most quickly on the spot. Even if the Air Force cannot prevent the operation of landing, they can do much to shatter the morale of the would-be invader. As both feints and real attempts at landing may be numerous,

all three Services must be careful about throwing in their reserves too soon.

(viii) If a landing is effected and especially if large numbers of armoured fighting vehicles are put on shore, they must be attacked furiously by the Army and Air Force. Rusort must be made to every kind of ambush and trap.

2.

The following are some of the points that require probing:-

(a) The details of Royal Air Force reconnaissances should

be examined to ensure that they are comprehensive. (Secret Service is at present rather limited owing to difficulties of communication).

(b) It is essential that the Staff machinery should

tuned to such a point (if this is not already the case) that at any time during the day or night prompt decisions can be taken as to operations on the receipt of any reliable intelligence.

(c) The Naval Staff should be asked to submit daily to

the Prime Minister (for examination by someone in his confidence) particulars of all surface and submarine vessels available to resist invasion or raids.

(a) The Air Staff should be asked to report the arrangements at the different aerodromes for

resisting attacks by parachutists and troops landed from carrier aircraft.

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