CAB80-8 — Page 282

Page 282

+

Page 282

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

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.

283

C.L

SECRET.

C.O.S.(40) 254. (Alao M.C. (40)61).

COPY NO. .30

8TH MARCH, 1940.

WAR BINAI,

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

SHORTAGE OF LIGHT A. A GUNS.

Memorandum.

War experience has shown conclusively that

low-flying attack, when practicable, is the most effective

means of hitting specific targets. It is the method which

we ourselves would prefer to use, when conditions are

suitable, if unrestricted air warfare should begin;

though the strength of the enemy's light anti-aircraft

artillery is so formidable that it is very doubtful whether

this form of attack would be practicable on any important

target in Germany. It is clear, therefore, that adequate

numbers of light anti-aircraft guns are essential if our

defence against air attack is to be effective.

2.

the forecast of the

At the beginning of the war,

Ministry of Supply budgeted for a production of 1,250 light

A.A. guns by the 1st September, 1940.

X

*

This forecast was later

scaled down to 770 Production does not seem to be keeping up even

to this drastically reduced forecast, and we have to face

the hard fact that, on the 1st March, out of a total

requirement on that date of well over 3,000 light

anti-aircraft guns, only 388 had been issued. The Britic..

Expeditionary Force had only 152 instead of the 352 authorised

*

Details of forecasts and issues are given in a

Table at the end of this Menorandum.

-J.-

Page 282

Page 282

254

Page 282