CAB80-32 — Page 294

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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND

It is requested that special care may be ta!:

ensure the secrecy of this document.

e:

241

743

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMEN'

ab C.0.5(u)423rd

0.0.S.(41) 743.

ineeringNo.

33

14TH DECEMBER, 1941.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

COUNTER MEASURES ON ENEMY MINE-LAYING AIRCRAFT.

Memorandum by the First Sea Lord.

The night bombing by the enemy of this country has been negligible since the opening of the Russian campaign, but regular mine-laying by special groups of German aircraft takes place practically every night.

About 700 mines left enemy territory by air during the month of November. His output of mines can certainly be much greater than this, and it is thought probable that he could greatly increase his mining offensive,

Up to the present the German aircraft have laid their mines with little interference from either gun-fire or fighters

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A danger is foreseen in that if and when the enemy mine-laying attack is fully developed he uses perhaps a new mine which we are unable to sweep, we shall then be without any dofensive measures whatever, as our present mine-sweeping gear would be useless and mine-sweeping is at present the mainstay of our defence against enemy mines.

Every effort is being made to develop new sweeping gear in anticipation of German changes in their mine design, but, as we do not know the new designs of German mines, our efforts must be very largely a matter of speculation.

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Enemy mine-laying pays him a big dividend whether he sinks ships or not, as it involves us in a very great effort in men, mine-sweepers and materials and at the same time the enemy mines force our shipping into well defined lanes where it is easily found and attacked by enemy aircraft and E-boats,

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The present comparative immunity from bombing raids gives us an opportunity to organise our anti-mine-laying defences and counter-measures.

It is proposed that Fighter Command, on whom the responsibility of co-ordinating our night fighters, A/A gun- fire and balloon barrages rests, should now be directed to give high priority to the development of anti-mine-laying technique.

Great George Street, S.W.1.

14TH DECEMUSE, 1941.

Co

d.

This document was considered at C.0.5 (+1) 425 Meeting.

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