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SECRET.

No.A.13/2.

Page 148

117

A.C.0's Office,

War Cabinet Offices Annexe,

1A, Richmond Terrace,

S. 4. 1,

3rd December, 1941.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

MANÊN LƯ KHA ZA ZM Sat No 2 Mp4,

In accordance with your instructions I have reviewed the Combined Operations Organisation and submit the following proposals for your approval:-

EXECUTIVE DUTIES.

29

The Admiralty wish us to take over the command and administration of all landing craft and crews which will amount to 500-700 T.L. Cs (250 tons each) and 2,000 smaller craft, involving 2,000 officers and 20,000 men joining my command within the next 16 months, They also wish me to organise and a îminister suitable bases. For this purpose a small Administrative Staff will have It is to be created, which may subsequently require expansion. proposed that this should be under a Rear Admiral (Retired) at my Headquarters to be known as Rear Admiral Landing Craft and Bases (R. L.B.) and I should like to propose Rear Admiral H.B. Horan for this appointment. Assault shipping and their associated Landing Craft would be under a Commodore in company with them to be known as Senior Officer Assault Ships and Craft (S.0.A. S. C.). For this appointment I propose Commodore G. L. Warren,

ROYAL MARINES.

30 I consider that a much closer liaison with the Royal Marines (the traditional combined operations force) is necessary and A. G. R. M. is willing to let me have a Colonel as Royal Marine Adviser. It is proposed that the present Major R.M, should become the latter's assistant, The work carried out by the Prosens Major R. M. will be undertaken by an Army Officer.

LOAN STAFF OFFICERS.

40

In order to comply with my directive to give advice to Force Commanders I wish to set up a small pool consisting of two

Teams will be lent in turn teams of Operational Staff Officers, to Force Commanders when appointed. On the (let us hope rare) occasions when not so employed they will be available to the Combined Training Centres, the Joint Planning Staff and myself to give us the benefit of their active service experience on combined operations, Two Commanders R.N. and four Majors, 2nd Grade, are required for this pool, of these, two Army Officers are already posted to 110 Force. It is proposed that, as far as as may be feasible, officers with recent experience on the staffs of Force Commanders should eventually form the pool,

PERSONAL STAFF.

5. My predecessor released his secretary, an Acting Paymaster Commander (Temporary Paymaster Captain) to take up an appointment in the U.S.A. The Paymaster Director General is willing to

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