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REVIEW OF FIXED COAST DEFENCES AT DEFENDED PORTS AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Memorandum by the Port Defence Committee.

THE Port Defence Committee wish to bring to the notice of the Chiefs of Staff Committee the present situation, and the future programme of fixed coast defences at defended ports at home and abroad.

I-CLASSIFICATION OF PORTS AND APPROVED ARMAMENT.

2. At Annex I are tables containing lists of all defended ports at home and abroad, with the approved and existing scales of defences at each. Ports at home have been classified as major and minor ports-the meaning of the classification being-

Major defended ports.-Ports of sufficient importance to require the establishment of a full scale of defence, with a Port War Signal Station and Examination Service in accordance with Admiralty publications 1618 (Q) (R).

Minor defended ports.-Ports of less importance at which a lower scale of defence is necessary, which may not include fixed coast artillery. No Port War Signal Station is established. The War Signal Station holding the display signal controls entry, and a modified examination service is in force.

II. ORDER OF PRIORITY FOR THE ALLOCATION OF COAST DEFENCE EQUIPMENTS. 3. It will be seen from the tables in Annex I that a large number of equip- ments of various sizes remain to be supplied. The Port Defence Committee keep the position under review, and draw up an order of priority for the allocation of all equipments becoming available from new production. The Committee also reallocate any equipments which become available through being replaced by modern types. This procedure is modified in the United Kingdom, in that the actual distribution of guns, such as 6-inch or smaller naval guns, and 6-inch (15°) guns on temporary mountings, which do not involve long-term works projects, is in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces. Similarly, temporary defences at ports abroad, such as in Crete, are installed by Commanders-in-Chief, using whatever resources may be available. The Port Defence Committee, on which the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, is represented, holds the balance between home and abroad.

4. At Annex II are tables showing the allocations so far made of the three types of coast defence equipment now under production, namely, 9.2-inch (35°), 6-inch (45°), and 6-pdr. twin A/M.T.B. equipment. The tables also show the destination of the remaining equipments known to be required. An order of priority for these has not yet been settled, as their provision is not yet within sight.

5. 6-inch (15°) and 12-pdr. equipments are not included in these lists, as there is at present no new production of these types. 12-pdrs. are reallotted as and when they are replaced by 6-pdr. twins.

III.-COUNTER-BOMBARDMENT BATTERIES.

(a) Outstanding requirements.

6. The table of 9.2-inch (35°) equipments in Annex II, Table I, shows that 23 such equipments have been placed in order of priority. Thirty-seven other equipments are required abroad, and 25 for home ports, should it be decided to proceed with the modernisation of these. The total requirement, as can at present be foreseen, is thus 85 equipments, of which 17 have been ordered by Dominion Governments and 6 by Portugal.

(b) Provision of guns of larger calibre than 9·2-inch.

7. 9.2-inch (35°) equipments are at present produced by converting 15° mountings, and utilising the old pieces. Twenty-eight 15° mountings remain

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