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TO BE KEPT UNDER OOK ANP KIY It is requested that special care may be taken to eneurs the secrecy of this document,

C 291

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

SECREThis document was considered at 0.0.8(42) 5

Meeting

COPY NO. 33

C.0.S.(41)761.

31ST DECEMBER, 1941.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

"CONCRETE OR SUMPTY CONSTRUCTED LANDING CRAFT

Memorandum by the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

With reference to C.0.S. (41) 388th Meeting, Conclusion 3, item (e), the Admiralty have investigated the question of building concrete or other simply constructed self-propelled craft.

2.

uired fon

They do not consider that any satisfactory conorete craft can be constructed to fulfil the purpose the following reasons:-

3.

(a) A concrete barge is much heavier than a steel

barge of the same capacity, and her draught is correspondingly greater.

(b) Concrete is very susceptible to local damage,

and concrete vessels would not withstand beaching as well as those of steel or wood.

(c) The craft would be difficult to subdivide and

therefore vulnerable.

(d) Concrete craft could be built in bridge-building yards, as are T.L.C's, but the saving of steel would be comparatively slight, when account

is taken of the increased size of craft necessary for a given load.

As regards other simply constructed eft, these could be built and would not differ appreciably from existing T.L.C's or M.L.C's. They could be substituted for the present building programme, but could not be built in addition there to without interfering with other naval building requirements.

4.

It is considered that the present type or the not suitable and no change is recommended.

Great George Street, S.W.1.

31ST DECEMBER, 1941.

(Signed) H.R. MOORE.

This document was considered

it C.0.5. (42) 54

Min.

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761

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