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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

It is requested that special care may be taken to

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PRATITE The Sebrady of BHI TUQUIBOʻMAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ),

This document was cut cos(4) 435

SECRET,

C. O. S. (41)757.

c·0.8(u)435a meelung.

33

COPY NO.

(also P.D,C. (41)112)

24TH DECEMBER 1941.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

DEFENCES OF PORTS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN,

Report by the Port Defence Committee.

In accordance with the instructions" of the Chiefs of Staff, the Port Defence Committee have examined the scale of coast and anti-aircraft artillery defences required at certain ports in the Indian Ocean. They report as follows.

2.

The scales of coast artillery defences and estimates of anti-aircraft defences required have been prepared on the assumption that the enemy will have established bases with access to the Indian Ocean.

In general terms all naval bases require both coast artillery and anti-aircraft defences and main air bases must be defended against whatever scale of air attack is anticipated.

Coast Defences.

3.

'

In the case of most of the remaining ports fatisfactory scales of coast artillery had been approved. The action which the Port Defence Committee has thitiated to bring the existing defences of these ports up to the approved scales is shown in detail in Annex I.

Our resources of coast artillery guns are limited and their installation is a considerable and lengthy undertaking, which is not recommended at the more advanced bases, 1. e, Nancowry and Port Blair,

A. A. Defences.

4.

The assessment of the scale of A. A. guns requiredy must be considered in relation to all other forms of defence including fighter defence, warning systems, balloons, ground defences, etc. The composition of the Port Defence Committec is not suitable for consideration of these other forms of defence, most of which are highly technical. They, therefore, wish to emphasise that the scales of A.A. guns suggested (Annex II) are only an approximate estimate which will require detailed examination.

The Committee are informed that Service Departments are submitting to the Chiefs of Staff that a special Ad Hoc Committee should be set up to examine urgently the whole question of defence of bases in the Indian Ocean, The Port Defence Committee strongly support this proposal.

* C.0.S.(41)428th Meeting, Minute 8.

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